Blackhawks vs Oilers Prediction, Odds & Picks | NHL on ESPN (Dec. 12): Bedard vs. McDavid

NHL enthusiasts get to see two generational talents going head-to-head when Connor Bedard’s Chicago Blackhawks pay a visit to Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday, Dec. 12.

Connor Bedard watch: No. 1 picks face off when Blackhawks visit McDavid, Oilers for 1st time ⤵️https://t.co/p3Ay1mWCMe

— NHL.com (@NHLdotcom) December 11, 2023

The Blackhawks return to the road tonight after going 2-1-1 across a four-game homestand. On the other side, the Oilers are gunning for their eighth-consecutive win after notching Sunday’s 4-1 victory over the New Jersey Devils.

What’s interesting to note is that these teams each have an award favorite on their roster. Bedard is BetOnline’s -300 favorite to win the Calder Trophy as the NHL’s top rookie while McDavid is favored to win another Hart Memorial Trophy at +325 odds.

But enough about the future — let’s focus on the present. Continue reading for my Blackhawks vs Oilers prediction and best bets, plus everything else you need to know before tonight’s Western Conference clash.

Blackhawks vs Oilers NHL on ESPN Tonight (Dec. 12)

Blackhawks vs Oilers Matchup Information

• Matchup: Chicago Blackhawks (9-17-1, 4-10-0 Away) vs. Edmonton Oilers ( 12-12-1, 8-4-1 Home)
• Venue & Location: Rogers Place (Edmonton, AB)
• Date: Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2023
• Game Time: 10 p.m. Eastern Time
• Blackhawks vs. Oilers TV Info: ESPN

Blackhawks vs Oilers Odds

NHL game odds courtesy of BetOnline as of Tuesday, Dec. 12 at 10:09 a.m. ET. Odds from other top online sportsbooks may also be mentioned in this article.

Blackhawks vs Oilers Spread

• Chicago Blackhawks +1.5 (+155)
• Edmonton Oilers -1.5 (-175)

Blackhawks vs Oilers Over/Under

• Over 6.5 Goals (-143)
• Under 6.5 Goals (+124)

Blackhawks vs Oilers Moneyline

• Chicago Blackhawks (+395)
• Edmonton Oilers (-465)

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Blackhawks vs Oilers Betting Trends

• Chicago is 0-6 straight up in its last six road games.
• Edmonton is 5-0 straight up in its last five home games.
• The total hit the Under in four of Chicago’s last six games.
• The total hit the Over in 13 of Edmonton’s last 19 games played in December.
• The total hit the Over in five of the last six Chicago-Edmonton matchups.

Blackhawks vs Oilers Prediction & Pick (Nov. 30)

Hockey bettors are excited for tonight’s showdown and rightfully so. After all, it’s the first of many meetings between Bedard and McDavid, leaving time to tell which of the two superstars comes out on top at Rogers Place.

Bedard hasn’t had much of an issue transitioning to the NHL, leading the Blackhawks in goals (11), assists (12), and points (23) through 27 games. At the same time, McDavid is up to his usual antics, tallying 36 points through 23 games, which puts him on pace for 125 points (assuming that he doesn’t miss another outing).

But even with both players’ success, their teams are heading in opposite directions. The Blackhawks are tied with the San Jose Sharks for the fewest points in the league at the moment. What’s even worse is that Chicago has lost five straight road games, averaging just 1.6 goals while losing by an average of 3.0.

The club’s special teams also struggled during that span, highlighted by a 14.2% power play percentage and a 58.8% success rate on the penalty kill.

At the same time, the Oilers have been playing lights out at Rogers Place, winning five consecutive home games. They outscored their opponents 26-11 on aggregate in those contests while going 6-for-17 (35.3%) on the man advantage and killing all 16 penalties.

Edmonton has been playing much better as a whole since Kris Knoblauch took over head coaching duties on Nov. 12. The Oilers have gone 9-3 SU across 12 games since then and have notched seven consecutive wins heading into tonight’s game, which includes winning the last three by multi-goal margins.

At the end of the day, I’m backing the Oilers to stand tall at home. Edmonton looks like a legitimate threat with Knoblauch on the bench and shouldn’t have an issue with a Chicago team that hasn’t won on the road since Nov. 9.

There isn’t a ton of value in the standard bets, though, so let’s take the Oilers at -2.5 on the alternative puckline. After all, Edmonton owns a plus-3.1 average scoring margin during its seven-game winning streak, earning four of those victories by three or more goals.

Considering how the Blackhawks’ last four road losses came by an average of 3.3 goals, it’s clear that the alternate puckline is the way to go.

Blackhawks vs Oilers Prediction: EDM wins

Best Blackhawks vs Oilers Bet: EDM -2.5 Alt. Puckline (+110 on BetOnline)

Best Blackhawks vs Oilers Player Prop

After searching through the Blackhawks vs. Oilers player props, I’m going with a Leon Draisaitl anytime goal as the best option.

The veteran sniper began the season slowly but has picked up pace in recent games, scoring five goals in his last seven outings. Things look promising for him not only because the Blackhawks allow the fifth-most goals per game, but because he also has 13 goals in his last 14 meetings with the franchise.

With the entire Oilers’ offense clicking at the moment, I’d be shocked if Draisaitl doesn’t find the twine tonight.

Bet: Leon Draisaitl Anytime Goal (+100 on BetOnline)

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