Sean Allen, a fantasy analyst for ESPN.com, highlighted the upcoming NHL matchups between the Wild vs. Blues and Flyers vs. Oilers. The Edmonton Oilers, despite a slow start, have historically performed well in the third game of their western Canada road trip. In the past three seasons, the Canucks, Flames, and Oilers have a combined record of 15-12 in these three-game series.
The Oilers, in particular, have outscored opponents 26-11 in the final leg of the trip and have covered the spread in four out of five games they won. Eastern Conference teams doing the trip are 7-8 overall, but only 5-10 against the spread. The Flames, Canucks, and Oilers have a combined 17-10 record against the spread in these third games.
In terms of betting trends, the spread is a popular option for NHL games. Favorites on the road have covered the spread 46% of the time this season, compared to 34% at home. The Vegas Golden Knights are another road favorite to watch, as they face the Washington Capitals without Matt Roy and with Logan Thompson making his debut against his former team.
In the Wild vs. Blues matchup, the odds have shifted in favor of the Blues due to uncertainty surrounding the injury statuses of Joel Eriksson Ek and Jared Spurgeon. Ryan Hartman and Jake Neighbours are potential prop bets to consider in this game.
For the Flyers vs. Oilers game, the under odds have become more enticing given the Oilers’ struggles to score. However, there is optimism that the Oilers can turn things around, especially with Connor McDavid leading the charge. Jeff Skinner and Travis Konecny are players to watch for potential parlay bets.
Overall, the Oilers have historically performed well in the third game of their western Canada road trip, and betting trends suggest that road favorites may have an edge this season. As the NHL season progresses, monitoring these trends and looking for deeper insights will be crucial for bettors looking to make informed decisions.