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It feels like just yesterday that I backed the Edmonton Oilers to beat the Florida Panthers in seven games. Oh, what could have been. I'm guessing my anguish pales in comparison to what the Oilers have gone through since losing the Stanley Cup Final by a measly goal.
We're 104 days removed from that fateful day in Sunrise, Fla., and our best NHL betting sites expect the Oilers, the Stanley Cup odds favorites, to make an immediate return to the Promised Land.
The Winnipeg Jets, meanwhile, will need to rely on Vezina Trophy odds front-runner Connor Hellebuyck more this season, which sounds even more unfeasible when I repeat it aloud.
Our Jets vs. Oilers prediction leverages Edmonton's home-ice exploits from last season while targeting the world's greatest hockey player to have yet another banger.
Jets vs. Oilers prediction
Odds via our best NHL betting sites; pick confidence based on a 1-to-5-star scale.
Odds: +135 via Betway | Implied probability: 42.55%
Remember when the Oilers stunk up the joint in the first month of last season? If you don't recall their hot-garbage-smelling 2-9-1 start, call Jay Woodcroft. He'd be happy to discuss his enduring misery at length.
If you can't get a hold of him, reference last season's opener against the Vancouver Canucks, which Edmonton lost 8-1.
As if the Oilers require further motivation after seeing their lifelong dreams dashed by the Panthers, last season's second-worst start overall and worst at Rogers Place (1-4-1) will provide all the get-up-and-go they need to ground the Jets.
The Oilers were an indomitable 27-5-3 at Rogers Place after Kris Knoblauch took the reins.
That .814 points percentage was a league-best. During that 35-game stretch, they allowed the third-fewest goals against (2.43), scored the most per game (4.40), and won 22 games by at least two goals. That all has Knoblauch as a Jack Adams Award odds contender.
Did I mention that we're about to see a palpably more angry Connor McDavid, who has no intention of being the generational talent who took the longest to win a Stanley Cup. He has four seasons before taking longer than Alex Ovechkin to get his hands on the giant piece of silverware.
The Jets were excellent on the road last season, at least defensively.
But they mustered just 2.98 goals per game in enemy rinks, tied for the 14th fewest. Two of their most formidable offensive threats, Tyler Toffoli and Sean Monahan, moved on, and Dylan Samberg will be asked to step up after Brenden Dillon landed in New Jersey with the Devils.
The Oilers' only loss to the Jets last season came in October, and we all know how Edmonton was playing at that point.
And it's Scott Arniel's first regular season game as Winnipeg's head coach after assisting Rick Bowness for two years. Talk about a baptism of fire.
A $10 winning bet will profit $13.50.
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Jets vs. Oilers player prop bet
Odds: -115 via Betway | Implied probability: 53.49%
Winnipeg averaged 29.7 shots per game on the road, the 15th fewest, while Edmonton allowed 28.6 shots per game at Rogers Place.
I feel the Oilers might take a bit of time to get up to speed, which should prevent them from hitting last season's average. Also, the Oilers will stifle the Jets' lackluster attack, making it difficult for them to get more than 25 shots.
A winning $10 bet will profit $8.70.
Odds: +105 via Betway | Implied probability: 48.78%
McDavid finally adopted a shoot-first mentality in the final third of last season. He had at least four shots on goal in 11 of the final 17 home games, including seven of the last 10.
While he'll always look to set up his tea mmates, I expect McDavid to shoot on sight from the first puck drop. And that should lead to cashing this prop. A winning $10 bet will profit $10.50.
Best odds: -115 via Betway | Implied probability: 53.49%
The Hart Trophy odds favorite will score more goals than last season. That's a fact. Well, maybe it's not, but it's an educated guess, as his 32 goals were the second-fewest of his career in 82-game seasons.
And what better way to start a season than seeing McDavid fill the twine? He scored six goals in the final four home games last season. And he's shooting more, remember?
Don't ask Woodcroft that one because he stopped watching the Oilers after receiving his pink slip. A winning $10 bet will profit $8.70.
Jets vs. Oilers live odds & info
- When: Wednesday, Oct. 9
- Puck drop: 10 p.m. ET
- Where: Rogers Place (Edmonton, Alberta)
- How to watch: Sportsnet, ESPN+
- Favorite: Oilers (-170 via Betway)
Jets-Oilers predictions made Wednesday at 11 a.m. ET.
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