Edmonton Oilers vs Columbus Blue Jackets 12/16/21 NHL Picks, Predictions, Odds

The Columbus Blue Jackets and Edmonton Oilers meet Thursday in NHL action at the Rogers Place. The Columbus Blue Jackets need a win after losing seven of their last nine games. The Edmonton Oilers look to snap a six-game losing streak.

The Columbus Blue Jackets are averaging 3.2 goals per game and are scoring on 19.4 percent of their power play opportunities. Boone Jenner leads Columbus with 11 goals, Jakub Voracek has 21 assists and Zach Werenski has 80 shots on goal. Defensively, the Columbus Blue Jackets are allowing 3.3 goals per game and are killing 80 percent of their opponent’s power plays. Elvis Merzlikins has allowed 50 goals on 578 shots faced, and Joonas Korpisalo has allowed 31 goals on 269 shots.

The Edmonton Oilers are averaging 3.4 goals per game and are scoring on 31.7 percent of their power play opportunities. Leon Draisaitl leads Edmonton with 23 goals, Connor McDavid has 29 assists and Darnell Nurse has 77 shots on goal. Defensively, the Edmonton Oilers are allowing 3.1 goals per game and are killing 82.7 percent of their opponent’s power plays. Mikko Koskinen has allowed 54 goals on 553 shots faced, and Stuart Skinner has allowed 20 goals on 244 shots.

The Blue Jackets are 16-40 in their last 56 road games and 3-7 in their last 10 Thursday games. The Oilers are 7-3 in their last 10 Thursday games and 0-5 in their last 5 games as a favorite. The over is 4-1 in Blue Jackets last 5 overall. The under is 4-0-1 in Oilers last 5 overall. The Blue Jackets are 0-4 in the last 4 meetings.

This is a lot of respect for an Edmonton Oilers team that’s been riding the struggle bus for a week and a half, but it’s an indication of just how bad the Blue Jackets are on the road and in the underdog role. The Oilers have also owned the Blue Jackets over the years, which includes 20 wins in the last 27 meetings in Edmonton. Give me the Oilers and the PL for max betting value.