The Minnesota Wild and Edmonton Oilers are set to face off in what promises to be an engaging matchup on Tuesday night, December 2, at 9:00 p.m. EST at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta. With significant stakes, this game will be available for live viewing on ESPN+.
The Oilers enter the contest as -150 favorites to win, while the Wild are positioned at +125 for an upset. The odds suggest that the Oilers are expected to cover a puck-line of -1.5 at +170, with an over/under total set at 6 (O -115 / U -105).
The Minnesota Wild (14-7-5) have been performing well, particularly in their recent stretch, boasting an impressive record of 8-0-2 in the last ten games. Positioned third in the Central Division, they are well on their way to solidifying a playoff spot, but will face challenges from the Dallas Stars and Colorado Avalanche. The team’s success can be attributed to its strong goaltending duo, featuring Filip Gustavsson and rising star Jesper Wallstedt. Wallstedt will be the starting goaltender in this matchup, and he has shown exceptional form, leading the league with a .938 save percentage and a substantial +7.3 GSAx rating.
While the Wild’s winning record is remarkable, their underlying metrics indicate some vulnerabilities. Over the past ten games, their expected goal share of 49.21% and an average of just 2.81 xGF/60 highlight that their offensive capabilities may not be as robust as their record suggests. They do have standout players such as Kirill Kaprizov and Matthew Boldy, yet their current offensive contributions need to improve for sustained success.
The Edmonton Oilers (11-10-5), meanwhile, are looking to rebound from an embarrassing 8-3 loss to the Dallas Stars in their last home game, which preceded a more encouraging 4-0 win against the Seattle Kraken. The Oilers boast a significant rest advantage, having played only two games in a week compared to the Wild’s third game in four nights. Despite a rocky start to the season, the potential for improvement exists. The return of Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, who scored a goal and added an assist in his first game back, is a positive sign for the team’s offensive depth.
Edmonton’s defensive play has raised concerns, with shot quality issues leading to a higher goals-against average. Their goaltending duo of Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard has faced scrutiny, yet they rank as one of the more underrated defensive teams in the league based on historical metrics. Skinner, despite his mediocre .885 save percentage, reflects the challenges of the Oilers’ defensive organization rather than a lack of skill in goal.
As the game approaches, the prediction leans toward the Oilers asserting more control over the game. Given the Wild’s dependence on goaltending performance, one strategy could be to target prop bets related to Wild forwards scoring fewer shots on goal, particularly for Joel Eriksson Ek. With odds at +128 for Ek to shoot under 2.5 shots on goal, the case is supported by his limited shot attempts in recent matchups.
Tonight’s game carries the potential for both teams to showcase their strengths and address their weaknesses on the ice, setting the stage for an exciting evening of NHL action.