Edmonton Oilers vs. Columbus Blue Jackets Prediction, Preview, Picks & Odds - 4/24/2022

Time: 1 p.m. ET

Venue: Nationwide Arena, Columbus, OH

Where to watch: Bally Sports Ohio, SNW

DraftKings: Check back later

BetMGM: Check back later

Caesars: Check back later

Oilers: 46-26-6

Blue Jackets: 35-36-7

The Edmonton Oilers are going back to the playoffs as my good buddy Connor McDavid has made his way back to the postseason with the hope he won’t get swept this time. It might help not facing all the Canadian teams, but if there was ever a time for McDavid and the boys to actually win something, it might be this year.

They’re likely not passing the Calgary Flames for the top spot in the Pacific Division, but they’ll at least have a firm grip on home-ice advantage and can further that with a win over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Sunday.

The Oilers have won eight of their last 10 and have put together some impressive wins along the way in order to get there. Edmonton is coming off a 6-3 win over the Colorado Avalanche, who haven’t really looked that sharp down the stretch, but are still one of the top teams in the NHL for a reason.

As horrible as it is to think, Evander Kane has actually done a fine job since coming to Edmonton. He had a hat trick and an assist in Edmonton’s win at home against the top-seeded Avalanche, and Connor had three assists of his own to re-take the scoring lead in the Art Ross Trophy race.

"It was a good team win, it's great to clinch the playoffs here at home," Kane said. "I thought in the first period we came in a little flat, we didn't do what we talked about heading into the game, but we got off to a strong start in the second and carried the momentum all the way through."

The talk of the Oilers has gone from getting to the playoffs to actually doing something when they get there. That loss last year in the first round, and even the loss to Chicago in the qualifying round, did them no favors. For as good as McDavid and Leon Draisaitl are, the narrative remains they have yet to win anything big, and that’s got to change this year, especially with the way the bracket is shaping up on the Pacific side.

"We obviously didn't get off to the start that we wanted and came out in the second and did a lot of good things," McDavid said. "Kane had some real nice goals, some big goals for our group. He was great."

Not that any game is easy this time of year, but with Columbus coming in off four straight losses, you have to wonder if they’ve just accepted the fact this season is over or if they’re going to play hard down the stretch here.

Columbus is coming off a 2-1 overtime loss at home to the Ottawa Senators, their fourth straight loss and five in the last seven. Jack Roslovic, as he’s been doing every game lately since the dawn of time, scored the only goal for Columbus to at least give folks something to look forward to next year.

"It's two young teams trying to battle at it," Roslovic said. "I'm not sure they were the better team tonight."

Ah, the great battle between two young teams who have no prospect other than to fight each other for 10 rounds in the hopes they get a victory.

"We had some looks," Blue Jackets coach Brad Larsen said. "We were hoping to cash in in the second when we missed the net. We had some looks early in the third. We just couldn't get the next one." 

As much as I’d want to agree that the losing team has nothing to play for and should play free willing in this matchup, the Oilers still have something to play for and should absolutely manhandle the Blue Jackets. It really shouldn’t take this long. Oilers win 5-1

Oilers are 20-5 this season off a home win.

Oilers are 20-9 following a two-game unbeaten streak.

Blue Jackets are 15-16 in non-conference games this season.

Oilers:

Evander Kane -- Connor McDavid -- Kailer Yamamoto

Ryan McLeod -- Leon Draisaitl -- Zach Hyman

Warren Foegele -- Ryan Nugent-Hopkins -- Jesse Puljujarvi  

Derick Brassard -- Zack Kassian -- Derek Ryan

Darnell Nurse -- Cody Ceci

Duncan Keith -- Evan Bouchard

Kris Russell -- Tyson Barrie

Mike Smith

Blue Jackets:

Gustav Nyquist -- Jack Roslovic -- Jakub Voracek

Kent Johnson -- Cole Sillinger -- Justin Danforth

Eric Robinson -- Sean Kuraly -- Oliver Bjorkstrand

Emil Bemstrom -- Brendan Gaunce -- Carson Meyer

Jake Bean -- Andrew Peeke

Vladislav Gavrikov -- Nick Blankenburg

Gabriel Carlsson -- Gavin Bayreuther

Elvis Merzlikins

Points: Connor McDavid -- 110

Goals: Leon Draisaitl -- 54

Assists: Connor McDavid -- 68

Goalie: Mike Smith -- 12-9-2, 3.04 GAA, .907 SV%

Points: Patrik Laine -- 56

Goals: Patrik Laine -- 26

Assists: Jakub Voracek -- 51

Goalie: Elvis Merzlikins -- 25-21-6, 3.32 GAA, .905 SV%