Boston (37-11-12) at Edmonton (32-21-6)
When: Wednesday, February 19th, 2020
Where: Rogers Place,
Edmonton, Alberta
Time: 8:38 ET | TV: NESN
Opening Odds: Boston -165/6
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There was a sense of panic that set in for most of central Alberta as superstar Connor McDavid went down with a quad injury a week and a half ago. The Edmonton Oilers are in the middle of an extremely tight race in the Pacific Division and Western Conference, but the team has responded to win three of four since McDavid went down. It won’t get easy on Wednesday night as the Oilers welcome in the top points team in the NHL – the Boston Bruins. Division-leading Edmonton has moved all the way up to the No. 2 seed in the West after a 4-3 overtime win at Carolina on Sunday, but the the top five teams in the Pacific are separated by just two points. Boston has won three in a row and nine of 10 but their lead in the Atlantic Division is down to a single point over the surging Tampa Bay Lightning, who have closed the gap by winning 11 games in a row. The Bruins started a four-game road trip with a 3-1 win at the New York Rangers on Sunday afternoon. Edmonton has won the last two meetings including a 4-1 win at TD Garden on Jan. 4 – one of only two regulation home losses for the Bruins all season.
Some of the Bruins success can be attributed to goaltender Tuukka Rask, who has not allowed more than two goals in a game since December 23rd versus Washington. Boston has also received an offensive spark from defenseman Charlie McAvoy, who has three goals in the last six games after going 51 contests without one. Forward – and Dukin Donuts spokesperson – David Pastrnak, who is second in the NHL with 42 goals, has six tallies in eight games versus the Oilers after netting one back in January. Boston continues their Western Canada trip on Friday in Calgary.
The injury-plagued Oilers are not only without McDavid, but James Neal (foot), Zack Kassian (suspension), and defensemen Oscar Klefbom (shoulder) are on the shelf so the team is looking elsewhere for scoring punch. That has come in the form of the young Kailer Yamamoto, who has nine goals and nine assists in 18 games, including four of each in the past six. Leon Draisaitl is running away with the league scoring race, collecting three goals and seven assists in the four games since McDavid was hurt to bump his season total to 95 points including a goal and assist versus Boston earlier this season. Edmonton will host the Minnesota Wild on Friday.
The Oilers still have some scoring punch despite the abscence of McDavid and I think they keep their momentum going here against a Boston team that is starting to feel the pressure of Tampa Bay on their tails.
Pick: Oilers +160
Bruins are 9-1 in their last 10 overall.
Bruins are 8-1 in their last 9 vs. a team with a winning record.
Bruins are 4-1 in their last 5 games as a road favorite.
Bruins are 4-1 in their last 5 road games.
Bruins are 41-15 in their last 56 games playing on 2 days rest.
Bruins are 37-15 in their last 52 vs. Pacific.
Bruins are 51-21 in their last 72 games following a win.
Bruins are 36-15 in their last 51 vs. Western Conference.
Bruins are 46-20 in their last 66 after allowing 2 goals or less in their previous game.
Bruins are 58-28 in their last 86 games as a favorite.
Oilers are 5-1 in their last 6 vs. Eastern Conference.
Oilers are 4-1 in their last 5 overall.
Oilers are 4-1 in their last 5 vs. Atlantic.
Oilers are 6-2 in their last 8 home games.
Oilers are 8-3 in their last 11 games as an underdog.
Oilers are 17-35 in their last 52 games as a home underdog.
Oilers are 33-74 in their last 107 vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Oilers are 0-5 in their last 5 Wednesday games.
Under is 4-0 in Bruins last 4 overall.
Under is 6-0 in Bruins last 6 Wednesday games.
Under is 5-1 in Bruins last 6 after allowing 2 goals or less in their previous game.
Under is 5-1 in Bruins last 6 games following a win.
Under is 5-1 in Bruins last 6 games as a road favorite.
Under is 4-1-1 in Bruins last 6 vs. a team with a winning record.
Under is 4-1 in Bruins last 5 road games.
Under is 15-5-1 in Bruins last 21 games as a favorite.
Under is 5-1 in Oilers last 6 vs. Atlantic.
Over is 9-2-1 in Oilers last 12 vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Over is 4-1-1 in Oilers last 6 home games.
Over is 6-2 in Oilers last 8 games following a win.
Under is 5-2 in Oilers last 7 vs. Eastern Conference.
Bruins are 1-4 in the last 5 meetings in Edmonton.
Bruins are 2-8 in the last 10 meetings.
Underdog is 7-3 in the last 10 meetings.
Under is 4-0 in the last 4 meetings.
