Game Time February 23, 2022 at 07:30 pm ET
The defending Stanley Cup Champions welcome Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl to town on Wednesday in a matchup that will have the hockey world watching. The Oilers have gone 5-1 under new head coach Jay Woodcroft, with three of those wins coming on the road. Edmonton did just lose their last game at home to Minnesota by a score of 7-3, but will look to regroup and kick off a five-game Eastern road trip that begins with back to back games against two of the best teams in the NHL in Tampa Bay and Florida. Tampa certainly has a size advantage over Edmonton and a serious edge in net as well with Andrei Vasiilveskiy likely manning the crease. He’ll have to contend with Edmonton’s ninth ranked offense which averages 33.8 shots on goal per game and has the fourth best power play unit in the league.
Goaltending has been the Achilles heel for Edmonton, and general manager Ken Holland has openly said he is looking for goaltending and defense ahead of the NHL trade deadline. These are two high powered offenses going head to head, and while Vasilevskiy is putting up Vezina like numbers again, I think the Oilers can get to him, given the Lightning average more than five minor penalties per game this year, giving Edmonton plenty of powerplay chances. If I were to play a side I’d take the Lightning, but instead I’m going to bet the Over in this game on Wednesday.
Buddy M.
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