Following a fantastic 11-game run, the Edmonton Oilers looked like they were starting to turn the corner and make a surge up the Western Conference standings. But thanks to losses in six of their last seven games, the Oil find themselves in 12th place in the West ahead of a road contest with the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday. Sportsbooks opened the Oilers as +155 road underdogs with a total of 6.
- The total has gone OVER in the Oilers’ last four games vs the Sharks (avg. combined score: 8.0).
- The Sharks are 2-10 ATS in their last 12 games.
- The Oilers are 0-4 SU in their last four games on the road (avg. losing margin: 2.5).
Oilers face tough test in the Golden State
The Oilers, who are beginning a three-game road trek through California, simply haven’t been able to recapture the magic that saw them go 8-2-1 SU in the aforementioned streak, with the latest loss coming in the form of a 6-2 setback to the Vegas Golden Knights. Cam Talbot, who has 99 wins with the Oilers, has been waiting five games to get his 100th, as the netminder has posted a brutal 4.63 goals-against average and .845 save percentage during that span.
Tuesday afternoon, the Oilers announced they had relieved head coach Todd McLellan of his duties. Replacing him behind the bench is veteran coach Ken Hitchcock. Last year, Hitchcock guided the Dallas Stars to a 42-32-8 SU record. In his career, he’s 823-506-60-20.
San Jose is sitting pretty in a tie for first place in the Pacific Division with the Calgary Flames while winning three of its past four games. Newly acquired defenseman Erik Karlsson finally scored his first goal as a Shark in San Jose’s 4-0 victory over St. Louis on Saturday – his first tally since March 27 when he was a member of the Ottawa Senators. The Sharks have been excellent when it comes to killing penalties lately, as the squad hasn’t allowed a power-play goal in its last six contests and is 44-for-46 on the penalty kill in its past 17 tilts.
OVER is trending in this series
OVER bettors love seeing the Oilers and Sharks get together, and for good reason. In the past four meetings between the clubs, the OVER is 4-0 with an average combined score of eight goals. When it comes to covering the puckline, the Sharks simply haven’t been getting the job done lately. San Jose is 2-10 on the puckline in its past 12 games, and the Sharks’ -1.5 number is listed at +145 for tonight’s game.
San Jose has proven to be a reliable moneyline wager when facing divisional teams at home. In the Sharks’ previous 11 at SAP Center against Pacific Division clubs, they’re 8-3 SU.
Sharks turn to Jones in net
Martin Jones is expected to get the start in between the pipes for the Sharks. Jones (9-5-1, 2.94 goals-against average, .894 save percentage) allowed five goals on 34 shots in the Sharks' loss to the Maple Leafs last Thursday. Jones is 4-2-2 in November but boasts a 3.88 GAA and .883 SV%.
