NHL: Red Wings vs Oilers Betting Preview
Wings Hanging Onto Last Wild-Card Spot, Oilers Hope to Start New Streak
The Detroit Red Wings (27-18-6, 60 points) start their four-game road trip with a stop in Alberta to face the Edmonton Oilers (30-17-1, 61 points). Detroit has not played postseason hockey since 2016 when they were eliminated in the first round by the Tampa Bay Lightning in five games. These two played just over a month ago when Darnell Nurse knocked home the overtime winner (3-2).
Edmonton has won six of their last 10 meetings. The ‘Get-Out’ game’ on the 11-game NHL schedule shows the Oilers as a -210 favorite with a total of 6.5 (over -120). The puck is scheduled to drop from Rogers Place at 9:00 p.m. ET / 6:00 p.m. PT.
Red Wings vs Oilers 
Location: Rogers Place in Edmonton
Day/Time:
Improper Emphasis On Road Trip
For some reason, the writers who cover the Red Wings are saying that this may be a season-defining road trip. With 31 games left, perhaps we should pump the breaks on that. Detroit owns a 4-point lead over the New Jersey Devils and New York Islanders, who are a combined 7-10-3 over their last 20 games, for the last wild card spot.
With Vancouver, Calgary, and Seattle filling out the rest of the trip, we think if the Wings get four points on the road it’s a massive win. Detroit will be in a revenge spot against Edmonton (3-2 OT) and Seattle (5-4 OT), but were able to take out the Canucks (4-3 OT) and Flames (6-2) in their last meeting. Detroit finished off a 4-1-1 homestand to improve to 10-2-2 since the start of the new year. A sign of a team ready to turn the corner is their road record and Derek’s Lalande’s team is a respectable 12-10-1 away from Little Caesars Arena.
The last time the Wings were over .500 on the road was in the 2015-16 playoff season. For bettors, it’s been four seasons since Detroit turned a profit (103-188, -36.19%). Only the Anaheim Ducks (-61.28 units) and San Jose Sharks (-59.69 units) were worse. This season has been a turnaround, producing 4.31 units, the fourth most in the NHL. The Red Wings are ranked 17th in our recent NHL power rankings. We continue our Wings vs Oilers betting preview by turning our attention to Edmonton.
Edmonton In The Middle Of A Six In Seven Games Road Trip
Even with what is technically a home game, the Edmonton Oilers will play one game and then head out on the road for three more games against the Central Division. Playing one game at home feels like another road game, so it’s fair to say that this road trip for Edmonton may be more defining than that of the Wings. After a 16-game win streak, Edmonton proceeded to drop two of their next three.
The win streak was one short of the NHL record, but handicappers should still have questions after losing to the Vegas Golden Knights who seem to be the team that either starts massive win streaks with a win or paves the road for doubt with a loss. Since the Oilers’ 3-1 loss to Vegas to start the second season, Khris Knoblauch’s team beat the Anaheim Ducks (5-3) but then were shut out 4-0 at Los Angeles.
Edmonton is still in the red this season with 1.14 units lost but history tells us anything, their place in the negative won’t last long considering it’s been since the 2018-19 season when Edmonton finished in the red (-11.10 units). They technically lost 0.50 units in 2021-22 (according to our numbers) but that depends on the number that your book offered. Some books will have Edmonton in the black. The Oilers are the top-ranked team in our recent NHL power ranking. We conclude our Wings vs Oilers betting preview with our official selection.
We’re Never Going To Lay Big Numbers
We don’t care how much better the Edmonton Oilers are, especially at home, than the Detroit Red Wings we don’t have a desire to lay -210 under any circumstance. We could bet them in regulation but some still don’t have that option so we’ll stick to the basics which means we’ll be involved with the total. Just under 65% of the early tickets are on the over but we’re more attracted to the under which will yield a small plus-money winner (+105) if it hits. If you think that Edmonton is going to control the game then they’ll do so playing well defensively in front of sold goaltending.
Most bettors think of the Oilers as an over team but they have been an under team for most of the season with 26 under in 47 decisions. That’s a change from the last two seasons when they were 93-65 to the over. It should be one of the more entertaining hockey scores but anticipate a defensive game.
Red Wings vs Oilers Betting Odds
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