Head-to-head info
These two teams met twice in the 2023-24 season, both winning one game apiece. In the last five games, the Maple Leafs have a 3-2 advantage. In the last six meetings, there’s been a minimum of six goals scored. Given the high-profile players on both sides, there could be lots of offense again.
Oilers finding their way
It hasn’t been the greatest start to the season for the Oilers, which is exactly what happened in ‘23-24 as well, yet they made the Stanley Cup. Edmonton sits at 9-7-1, putting them in fourth place in the Pacific Division. The Oilers are 7-3-0 in their last 10 however and have won three straight, beating the Canucks, Islanders, and Preds. The last two victories came in OT.
McDavid reached the 1,000-point milestone on Thursday, becoming the fourth-fastest player in NHL history to reach that mark. Darnell Nurse also scored twice while Leon Draisaitl tallied a pair of assists. The Oilers have actually struggled to score the puck this season, ranking 20th in the league. That’s on the second-most shots in the NHL. They simply aren’t capitalizing.
While McDavid and Draisaitl have combined for 41 points, the supporting cast isn’t doing a whole lot. Evan Bouchard and Mattias Ekholm are the only two players who are in double figures in points. The likes of Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Nurse, and Zach Hyman, among others, need to step it up and produce more if this squad is going to make another Cup run. Edmonton is a road favorite with -125 odds at Sports Interaction.
Maple Leafs need more offense
Toronto is always seen as a contender but fails to get it done in the playoffs. They are actually playing very well defensively this season but offensively, the Leafs aren’t getting it done, similar to Edmonton. Yes, Auston Matthews is out due to injury, but the reality is they need to be more consistent as a whole. William Nylander is the only player in double digits in scoring with 12 goals. He has 20 points in total. As for Mitch Marner, he leads the squad with 22 points.
John Tavares is also doing his part but outside of that, Toronto doesn’t have the greatest supporting cast, either. On a more positive note, Matthews does have 11 points in 13 outings, which is respectable. Once he does return, the hope is the former Hart Trophy winner can find some consistency. Tavares played hero on Wednesday in a comeback win over the Caps, scoring in overtime. Marner tied things up late in the third to force OT, too.
The Leafs do play well at home. They have a 7-3-0 record at Scotiabank Arena compared to a 3-3-2 record on the road. However, their last two meetings with the Oilers at home resulted in losses. That’s likely part of the reason the hosts are a slim underdog at NHL sportsbooks.
