Edmonton Oilers vs New Jersey Devils Prediction, 12/31/2021 NHL Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Edmonton Oilers vs New Jersey Devils

Date: Friday, December 31, 2021

Location: Prudential Center in Newark, NJ

TV: MSG+

Odds/Point Spread: Oilers (-182) Devils (+150)

The New Jersey Devils (11-15-5) will go up against the Edmonton Oilers (18-12-0) at Prudential Center on Friday. The odds on this game have Edmonton at -182 while New Jersey opens at +150. The over/under is 6.

The Edmonton Oilers will need a bounce back game after taking a 4-2 loss against the Blues in the last game they played. Edmonton compiled 2 minutes in the box in this game. The Oilers didn't have a great showing offensively in this defeat. Moreover, they had 1 power play try but didn't get a goal. In the game, they finished 2 of the 28 shots they put on goal.

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In relation to their goal scoring prowess, the Edmonton Oilers have racked up 101 goals (9th in the National Hockey League) on the campaign and have surrendered 94. For the year, they have racked up 36 points and their points percentage sits at .600. Edmonton comes into the game with 92 power play chances and they have scored 29 goals out of those tries, garnering them a rate of 31.52%. When at even strength, the Oilers have conceded 78 goals while scoring 72 on offense. Edmonton has taken 985 shots and has a shooting percentage of 10.3%. The Oilers have had 988 shots tried against them and hold a save percentage of .905. Edmonton Oilers opponents have totaled 92 power play opportunities (11th in pro hockey) and have come away with 16 goals in those chances.

The player guarding the cage in this matchup is Mikko Koskinen. For his professional hockey career, Koskinen has earned 62 quality starts and his quality starts percentage is .477. His save percentage currently sits at .907 in his 7,780 mins on the ice. Koskinen has seen 4,153 shots taken against him and has recorded 3,765 total saves. Opponents have been able to score 388 goals against Koskinen in his pro hockey career and his goals against average per contest is 2.99. He has compiled an overall record of 70-54-9 and was named the starter in 130 games. Koskinen has been in goal for 141 games throughout his pro hockey career.

When they were on the ice last, New Jersey went up against the Sabres in an outing where the Devils took home the victory by a final score of 4-3. The Devils scored 4 goals out of the 42 shots on goal they attempted. They had 2 power play opportunities in this outing and tallied 1 goal out of those opportunities.

The Devils are sitting with 73 goals at even strength and 12 goals (29th in the NHL) while on the power play. New Jersey has put up 974 shots (13th in the NHL) and has earned a shot percentage of 8.73%, while allowing the other team 943 shots. For the year, the New Jersey Devils have notched a total of 85 goals, 27 points, and a points percentage of .435. They have a tally of 87 power play opportunities and they have a power play percentage of 13.79%. They have a penalty kill rate of 80.65% on their oppositions 93 chances on the power play, and their save percentage currently comes in at 89.0%. They have allowed 104 goals to be scored by of a combination of 86 goals at even strength and 18 goals while they were shorthanded.

Across the ice you are likely to see Mackenzie Blackwood in goal. The opposition is averaging 2.87 goals per game and he has surrendered 333 goals in total. Blackwood's quality start rate comes out to 53.0% and he has qualified for 61 quality starts in his pro hockey career. He was named a starter in 115 contests and his ice time sits at 6,958 minutes. Blackwood has accumulated a lifetime mark of 52-47-15 and has been in goal for 122 games. He has racked up 3,348 saves out of 3,681 shots taken against him, giving him a save % of .910.

Who will win tonight's NHL game ATS?

Josh's Pick: Take New Jersey (+150)

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