by Chuck Sommers
Friday, Feb 24, 2023
Time: 12:30 p.m. ET
Venue: Nationwide Arena, Columbus, OH
Where to watch: BSOH, SNW, SN360
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: Odds not yet available.
FanDuel: Odds not yet available.
BetMGM: Odds not yet available.
Caesars: Odds not yet available.
Season record
Oilers: 32-19-8
Blue Jackets: 18-35-5
The All-Star break is over, the second half of the NHL season can officially begin, and we're bound for what should be a very exciting second half of the hockey season. Basketball and hockey are about to rule the roost in the sports betting world once the Super Bowl is done with, and we should all be very excited for what's to come. When the trade deadline hits and players switch teams, you know things are about to get hectic over these final 30 games or so. One way you can stay tuned with the action is following what our champion handicappers are doing in the world of the NHL. Look at ASA, Inc., reeling in a $6,750 profit off a 17-9-0 run. Al McMordie is also doing well on the ice with a 13-5-0 run and a net profit of $6,050. Scott Rickenbach has also been hanging strong with a lot of betting action, in what's been an unusual year, with a 24-18-0 run and reeling in $5,950. You know this action is going to be great now that games are back and a busy second half if on the horizon. All you need to do is head to our BEST BETS page at bigal.com to find out all of what we're trying to tell you. Make sure you're locked in at bigal.com and go to our Best Bets page to find out what our champion handicappers have to say in the world of the NHL!
Avalanche - Blue Jackets preview, prediction and analysis
The Edmonton Oilers will be playing the Columbus Blue Jackets on Friday, February 24 in Columbus, Ohio.
The Edmonton Oilers won against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday, February 23 at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with a score of 7-2. The Edmonton Oilers currently rank 2nd in the Pacific Division.
Connor McDavid had two goals and two assists for the Edmonton Oilers. McDavid set an NHL career high with his 46th goal in his 59th game after he had 44 in 80 games last season. He leads the League in goals, assists (63) and points (109).
Leon Draisaitl extended his goal streak to an NHL career-high six games and had an assist, and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins also had a goal and an assist for the for the Oilers (32-19-8), who have won their past two games and have a five-game point streak (2-0-3). Stuart Skinner made 22 saves.
"I heard someone say it's like living at the foot of Everest; you almost get numb to what you're seeing every day," Edmonton coach Jay Woodcroft said of McDavid. "I think it's important that everybody takes a step back and understands that we're seeing someone at the top of their craft in the prime of their career putting out there what he's putting out."
Pittsburgh scored the first goal before McDavid tied it 1-1 on a power play at 13:18, driving below the goal line for a wrist shot that went in off Jarry's back for his 45th goal of the season.
Draisaitl made it 2-1 with a power-play goal at 17:49, scoring on a rebound off a slap shot from Tyson Barrie. Kailer Yamamoto extended the lead to 3-1 at 6:06 of the second period when he tapped in a loose puck in the crease.
Devin Shore scored at 7:50 to make it 4-1. Jesse Puljujarvi intercepted a clearing attempt from Jarry along the end boards and set up Shore for a wrist shot in the left face-off circle. It was Shore's first goal in 32 games this season, and 50th in 407 NHL games.
"I doubt I'll get to 100, so it's nice to have a nice round number like that," Shore said. "I didn't know that. But never say never. It was fun."
Warren Foegele pushed it to 5-1 at 15:10 with a quick shot off a pass from Draisaitl on a 2-on-1, and Nugent-Hopkins made it 6-1 at 18:54 with a wrist shot set up by McDavid. The goal was Nugent-Hopkins' 600th point (224 goals, 376 assists) in 778 games since being the No. 1 pick in the 2011 NHL Draft.
"I've been lucky to be part of this group for a long time and play with some great players," Nugent-Hopkins said. "I think every year, like everybody else, I'm trying to get better and better and work out my game, try to round it out a lot. I want to be that two-way player. Trying to find my stride."
McDavid gave Edmonton a 7-1 lead when he scored on a penalty shot with 3:33 left in the third. After being tripped by Pittsburgh defenseman Brian Dumoulin, he went forehand to backhand and back to his forehand for a shot around DeSmith.
Kris Letang scored Pittsburgh on a power play with 1:48 remaining for the 7-2 final.
The Edmonton Oilers have won five of their last 10 games.
The Columbus Blue Jackets lost against the Minnesota Wild on Thursday, February 23 at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio with a score of 2-0. The Columbus Blue Jackets currently rank 8th in the Metropolitan Division.
Joonas Korpisalo made 23 saves for the Blue Jackets (18-35-5), who are 3-2-1 in their past six games.
"They don't give up much. There are a big body team, they're well coached, they're big on the wings," Columbus coach Brad Larsen said. "They've got solid [defensemen]. Their goaltender's good. They defend. They are a hard man-on-man [team] too, so if you're not getting inside and you're not beating your guys, it's going to be a long night.
"They're one of the top teams in their goals against for a reason. It's not by fluke; it's by design."
Marc Andre Fleury made 12 saves in the second period.
"We had our opportunities," Blue Jackets defenseman Erik Gudbranson said. "They made it tough for us to score for sure. To get the first two that quick there were little mistakes that we wish didn't happen."
The Columbus Blue Jackets have won three of their last 10 games.
Prediction
The Blue Jackets got the best of Edmonton earlier in the year in Edmonton. Thinking the revenge happens this time. Oilers 4, Blue Jackets 2
The Edmonton Oilers won against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday, February 23 at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with a score of 7-2. The Edmonton Oilers currently rank 2nd in the Pacific Division.
Connor McDavid had two goals and two assists for the Edmonton Oilers. McDavid set an NHL career high with his 46th goal in his 59th game after he had 44 in 80 games last season. He leads the League in goals, assists (63) and points (109).
Leon Draisaitl extended his goal streak to an NHL career-high six games and had an assist, and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins also had a goal and an assist for the for the Oilers (32-19-8), who have won their past two games and have a five-game point streak (2-0-3). Stuart Skinner made 22 saves.
"I heard someone say it's like living at the foot of Everest; you almost get numb to what you're seeing every day," Edmonton coach Jay Woodcroft said of McDavid. "I think it's important that everybody takes a step back and understands that we're seeing someone at the top of their craft in the prime of their career putting out there what he's putting out."
Pittsburgh scored the first goal before McDavid tied it 1-1 on a power play at 13:18, driving below the goal line for a wrist shot that went in off Jarry's back for his 45th goal of the season.
Draisaitl made it 2-1 with a power-play goal at 17:49, scoring on a rebound off a slap shot from Tyson Barrie. Kailer Yamamoto extended the lead to 3-1 at 6:06 of the second period when he tapped in a loose puck in the crease.
Devin Shore scored at 7:50 to make it 4-1. Jesse Puljujarvi intercepted a clearing attempt from Jarry along the end boards and set up Shore for a wrist shot in the left face-off circle. It was Shore's first goal in 32 games this season, and 50th in 407 NHL games.
"I doubt I'll get to 100, so it's nice to have a nice round number like that," Shore said. "I didn't know that. But never say never. It was fun."
Warren Foegele pushed it to 5-1 at 15:10 with a quick shot off a pass from Draisaitl on a 2-on-1, and Nugent-Hopkins made it 6-1 at 18:54 with a wrist shot set up by McDavid. The goal was Nugent-Hopkins' 600th point (224 goals, 376 assists) in 778 games since being the No. 1 pick in the 2011 NHL Draft.
"I've been lucky to be part of this group for a long time and play with some great players," Nugent-Hopkins said. "I think every year, like everybody else, I'm trying to get better and better and work out my game, try to round it out a lot. I want to be that two-way player. Trying to find my stride."
McDavid gave Edmonton a 7-1 lead when he scored on a penalty shot with 3:33 left in the third. After being tripped by Pittsburgh defenseman Brian Dumoulin, he went forehand to backhand and back to his forehand for a shot around DeSmith.
Kris Letang scored Pittsburgh on a power play with 1:48 remaining for the 7-2 final.
The Edmonton Oilers have won five of their last 10 games.
The Columbus Blue Jackets lost against the Minnesota Wild on Thursday, February 23 at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio with a score of 2-0. The Columbus Blue Jackets currently rank 8th in the Metropolitan Division.
Joonas Korpisalo made 23 saves for the Blue Jackets (18-35-5), who are 3-2-1 in their past six games.
"They don't give up much. There are a big body team, they're well coached, they're big on the wings," Columbus coach Brad Larsen said. "They've got solid [defensemen]. Their goaltender's good. They defend. They are a hard man-on-man [team] too, so if you're not getting inside and you're not beating your guys, it's going to be a long night.
"They're one of the top teams in their goals against for a reason. It's not by fluke; it's by design."
Marc Andre Fleury made 12 saves in the second period.
"We had our opportunities," Blue Jackets defenseman Erik Gudbranson said. "They made it tough for us to score for sure. To get the first two that quick there were little mistakes that we wish didn't happen."
The Columbus Blue Jackets have won three of their last 10 games.
Prediction
The Blue Jackets got the best of Edmonton earlier in the year in Edmonton. Thinking the revenge happens this time. Oilers 4, Blue Jackets 2
Betting trends
Check back later for trends.
Projected lines
Oilers:
Leon Draisaitl -- Connor McDavid -- Derek Ryan
Zach Hyman -- Ryan Nugent-Hopkins -- Kailer Yamamoto
Warren Foegele -- Ryan McLeod -- Jesse Puljujarvi
Klim Kostin -- Devin Shore -- Mattias Janmark
Darnell Nurse -- Cody Ceci
Brett Kulak -- Tyson Barrie
Philip Broberg -- Evan Bouchard
Stuart Skinner
Leon Draisaitl -- Connor McDavid -- Derek Ryan
Zach Hyman -- Ryan Nugent-Hopkins -- Kailer Yamamoto
Warren Foegele -- Ryan McLeod -- Jesse Puljujarvi
Klim Kostin -- Devin Shore -- Mattias Janmark
Darnell Nurse -- Cody Ceci
Brett Kulak -- Tyson Barrie
Philip Broberg -- Evan Bouchard
Stuart Skinner
Blue Jackets:
Johnny Gaudreau -- Boone Jenner -- Patrik Laine
Kent Johnson -- Cole Sillinger -- Kirill Marchenko
Eric Robinson -- Sean Kuraly -- Mathieu Olivier
Liam Foudy -- Jack Roslovic -- Emil Bemstrom
Tim Berni -- Erik Gudbranson
Nick Blankenburg -- Andrew Peeke
Gavin Bayreuther -- Adam Boqvist
Joonas Korpisalo
Johnny Gaudreau -- Boone Jenner -- Patrik Laine
Kent Johnson -- Cole Sillinger -- Kirill Marchenko
Eric Robinson -- Sean Kuraly -- Mathieu Olivier
Liam Foudy -- Jack Roslovic -- Emil Bemstrom
Tim Berni -- Erik Gudbranson
Nick Blankenburg -- Andrew Peeke
Gavin Bayreuther -- Adam Boqvist
Joonas Korpisalo
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Chuck Sommers
About the Author:
Chuck Sommers has camped outside of sportsbooks since he can remember, learning the tricks and nuances of the trade. He still has nightmares of betting $5,000 on the Raiders in the Tuck Rule game but has since turned that to 25 years of veteran handicapping greatness. You can find him mostly in the shadows at the Red Rock or Aliante casinos wondering if the over is cashing on any given Sunday.
