Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the NHL regular season match.
The Edmonton Oilers are starting to find their form after a shaky start. The Stanley Cup finalists have picked up points in five of their last six games. On Tuesday night, they travel to Ohio to face off against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Columbus Blue Jackets
There's prevailing scepticism regarding the scoring potential of the Columbus Blue Jackets. They tend to score more than their chance creation suggests, as evidenced by both team and individual metrics. The team generate 2.18 xG per 60 minutes at even strength, ranking 30th in this category. It's telling that unexpected heroes are finding the back of the net for the Blue Jackets. With Boone Jenner, Dmitri Voronkov, and Kent Johnson on the injured list, players like Mathieu Olivier, Kirill Marchenko, Yegor Chinakhov, and Sean Monahan have stepped up, each displaying an unusually high conversion rate akin to top league scorers. This level of scoring is unlikely to be sustainable.
Edmonton Oilers
Expectations for the Edmonton Oilers should also be adjusted slightly. The Oilers consistently see a total over six goals or more, yet in only two of their nine games this season has that line been surpassed. The visitors have undergone significant roster changes and are trying out new combinations in their forward group. Furthermore, the newcomers, who were expected to revitalise the Canadian side, haven't impressed yet. Stuart Skinner, Viktor Arvidsson, and Vasily Podkolzin, playing in the top six, have netted just two goals between them.
Columbus Blue Jackets vs Edmonton Oilers Prediction
In 7 of the last 10 meetings between these teams, the total under has been successful, and there are plenty of reasons to expect a similar outcome this time. The Columbus Blue Jackets are unlikely to maintain their scoring pace, while the Edmonton Oilers are currently relying heavily on Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl to get results. We recommend taking the total under.
