The Edmonton Oilers (13-15-1) take on the New Jersey Devils (16-12-2) for the second time this season on Thursday, December 21 at Prudential Center at 7:30 PM ET. The Devils are slightly favored to win this matchup with a moneyline at -115.

The Oilers have lost their last three games heading into this event. Their most recent defeat was a 3-1 outing against the New York Islanders. This also marked their third game in a row in allowing three goals or more.

 

Connor McDavid has currently established 41 points and 30 assists, which leads the Oilers for most on the team. Zach Hyman has accumulated 18 goals so far and is tied for fifth in the league.

 

Their offense is competitive with a majority of the league, as they score 3.34 goals and take 34.3 shots per game. They have done well in power plays with 27 goals scored and 23 allowed. This has resulted in a power play percentage at 27.3.

 

The Oilers have allowed 3.45 goals and 28.2 shots from opposing teams, which makes it difficult to win games. They also have a penalty kill percentage at 78.3, which is slightly higher than the Devils.

The Devils have lost their last two games and need to find consistency while they can at home. Their previous defeat was a 3-2 overtime loss to the Philadelphia Flyers, which put them 2-3 over their last five games now.

 

Jack Hughes happens to lead the Devils in all offensive categories. This includes 38 points, 14 goals, and 24 assists. His performance must be superb to have an edge here.

 

Their offense stacks up well against the Oilers, as they average 3.43 goals and 31.7 shots each matchup. Their robust power play opportunities are even better than the Oilers’, as they have scored 30 and have allowed 23 goals. Their power play percentage stands at 31.3, which could turn in their favor here.

 

The Devils’ defense is nearly as bad as the Oilers, as they have been allowing 3.53 goals and 29.2 shots from opponents. Their penalty kill percentage hovers near the Oilers’ at 76.5, which might even out both sides.

MyBookie has the odds nearly coming to a coin flip for this matchup, but with the New Jersey Devils as slight contenders for success. 

In their previous matchup, the Oilers were at home when they defeated the Devils 4-1 earlier this month. This was a consistent offensive showing that proved to be too much for the Devils to overcome. The Devils will be ready to run this one back to even the series.