Expect High-Scoring Affair as Oilers Visit Toronto

The Edmonton Oilers head east for their first road trip of the season, Sportsbook up a two-game series against the Toronto Maple Leafs. These teams play each other four times in their next six games, and while the Leafs offense has been humming along nicely, the Oilers have struggled mightily.

Sportsbook Odds Analysis

The game opened with the Leafs favored at -172 and the line has settled in the -145 to -150 range. The total is locked in at 6.5, Sportsbook with the OVER as the heavy favorite, but money has come in on the UNDER, evening the odds out at -110.

Edmonton News & Notes

It has been a tough start to the season for the Edmonton Oilers, who have lost three of their first four games – all at home – and have looked bad in the process. Other than a four-point explosion for both Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl in their second game of the year, the dynamic pair has combined for two assists in the other three games.

The power play is a big reason for the struggles. Last year’s top unit at 28 percent, the Oilers have scored two goals on 18 chances this year, good for only an 11.1 percent clip.

Until the team figures out this unit, it will have a hard time winning games considering the lack of depth scoring. Outside the trio of McDavid, Draisaitl and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, only one forward has more than one point through four games (Kailer Yamamoto with three).

The questions persist as you turn to the goaltending. Mikko Koskinen is 1-3-0 with a .897 save percentage and 3.80 goals-against average and the team has no backup of consequence with veteran Mike Smith on injured reserve.

Toronto News & Notes

Outside of a hiccup game against the Ottawa Senators in their second outing, the Leafs have had a strong start to the season, going 3-1-0 and controling the lion’s share of scoring chances in their three wins.

A hot power play has been a driver of the team’s success offensively as the Leafs have converted on a whopping 42.9 percent of their manpower advantages (third in the league), but the team’s play at even strength has been impressive as well. In their last two games – against the Senators and Jets – the Leafs out-chanced their opponents a combined 56-25.

In net, some Leafs fans may have their questions about starting goalie Frederik Andersen and the numbers back that up to an extent. Andersen has a 2-1-0 record with a .881 save percentage and a 3.32 goals-against average. He will get the start against the Oilers on Wednesday.

Betting Pick: OVER 6.5