by Chuck Sommers
Friday, Feb 17, 2023
Time: 9 p.m. ET
Venue: Rogers Place, Edmonton, AB
Where to watch: TVAS, SNW, MSG
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: Oilers -125, Kings +105
FanDuel: Oilers -122, Kings +102
BetMGM: Oilers -120, Kings +100
Caesars: Oilers -125, Kings +105
Season record
Rangers: 32-14-8
Oilers: 30-19-6
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!
Rangers - Oilers preview, prediction and analysis
The New York Rangers will be playing the Edmonton Oilers on Friday, February 17 in Edmonton.
The New York Rangers won against the Vancouver Canucks last Wednesday, February 15 at Rogers Arena in Vancouver with a score of 6-4. The New York Rangers currently rank 3rd in the Metropolitan Division.
Artemi Panarin and Mika Zibanejad each scored twice and had an assist for the New York Rangers in their sixth straight win. Panarin has eight points (six goals, two assists) in his past two games for the Rangers (32-14-8), who have points in eight straight (7-0-1).
"He says he's a passer, but he can score too," said Zibanejad, who has seven goals in a five-game goal streak and nine points on a five-game point streak.
Igor Shesterkin made 25 saves for New York, which has averaged five goals per game during the winning streak.
"We have the high-powered offense to do that," Rangers forward Jimmy Vesey said. "[Panarin and Zibanejad] are world-class players and they can be game-breakers every night so if one's not going, the other one might be going that night. But tonight, Mika had two and [Panarin] had two, so I think if that's going to happen, we're going to be tough to beat."
Curtis Lazar put Vancouver ahead 1-0 when a rebound shot deflected in off him at 4:52, but Zibanejad tied it 1-1 at 5:51 when he faked a shot coming down the right wing, then shot it between Silovs.
"I got some pretty good speed coming down and tried to freeze him and see what he gives me," Zibanejad said. "I don't know if he bit on the pump fake, and I saw opening between his legs there and tried to put it five-hole and it went in."
Panarin made it 2-1 with a one-timer over a sprawling Silovs from the bottom left face-off circle after a cross-ice pass from Vesey.
Panarin made it 3-2 at 15:36 by deflecting a point shot between Silovs' legs, giving him 12 points (six goals, six assists) during a five-game point streak.
Chris Kreider scored on a backdoor pass from Zibanejad on a 3-on-2 rush 50 seconds into the second period to make it 4-2. Kreider has seven points (three goals, four assists) on a six-game point streak. It was also Kreider's 251st NHL goal, all with the Rangers, moving him ahead of Mark Messier (250) for sixth place in franchise history.
"Good for him," Rangers coach Gerard Gallant said. "Mark Messier is a Hall of Famer and a great player, one of the great players of all time, so it's good for [Kreider]."
Conor Garland cut it to 4-3 with a rebound goal at 9:26 after Andrei Kuzmenko hit the crossbar after a pretty move in tight just after a power play expired. K'Andre Miller made it 5-3 with a screened point shot at 13:28.
Kuzmenko took a drop pass from Pettersson and scored on a glove-side wrist shot from between the top of the circles at 8:51 of the third period to make it 5-4. Zibanejad scored into an empty net with 1:34 left for the 6-4 final.
"We can always look at the defensive side and say we need to clean up this and that, but they can score as well," Zibanejad said. "We keep talking about doing the right things and we know we can score and [we've] just got to make sure we make the right decisions, that we don't try to sacrifice the defensive part."
The New York Rangers have won eight of their last 10 games.
The Edmonton Oilers lost against the Detroit Red Wings last Wednesday, February 15 at Rogers Place in Edmonton with a score of 5-4 in a shootout. The Edmonton Oilers currently rank 4th in the Pacific Division.
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins had two goals and an assist, and Jack Campbell made 19 saves for the Oilers (30-19-6), who have lost two straight and three of four (1-1-2). Connor McDavid had two assists and has 99 points (42 goals, 57 assists) in 55 games this season.
"We had control of a lot of parts of that game. We generated enough chances to win, but we were a little sloppy on some of our details," Edmonton coach Jay Woodcroft said. "They have to get corrected, there is no excuse for them. We can be better in those situations, and the individuals responsible understand that. We lost the special teams game, which isn't conducive to winning hockey games."
Nugent-Hopkins cut Detroit’s lead to 2-1 at 1:26 of the second period, taking a drop pass from McDavid and scoring blocker side from the right face-off circle, but Fabbri made it 3-1 on a power play at 9:06 when his shot from the right circle deflected in off the skate of Broberg.
Nugent-Hopkins scored again to cut it to 3-2 at 11:32, finishing a backdoor pass from McDavid at the right post.
Olli Maatta responded for Detroit to make it 4-2 at 16:12. He stepped into a face-off win by Dylan Larkin and scored on a slap shot from above the left circle.
"Obviously, we wanted the extra point," Nugent-Hopkins said. "I thought we played pretty well through the first 40. We headed into the second down two, headed into the third down two, and I thought we did a pretty good job battling back and getting at least one point."
Leon Draisaitl got the Oilers to within 4-3 at 3:26 of the third period with a one-timer from the right circle off a pass from Tyson Barrie on a power play.
Derek Ryan tied it 4-4 at 5:27 with a redirection of a shot from Klim Kostin.
"I thought we played pretty good. We had a couple of breakdowns that they capitalized on," Draisaitl said. "They really didn't get much. I thought we dominated the entire game pretty much. It was definitely frustrating, but it is hard to win in this league when you give up four."
Campbell kept the game tied at 12:36 when he got across the crease to make an outstanding pad save on a one-timer from Tyler Bertuzzi on a 2-on-1 with Dylan Larkin.
Prediction
In Vlad we trust. Rangers 5, Oilers 3
The New York Rangers won against the Vancouver Canucks last Wednesday, February 15 at Rogers Arena in Vancouver with a score of 6-4. The New York Rangers currently rank 3rd in the Metropolitan Division.
Artemi Panarin and Mika Zibanejad each scored twice and had an assist for the New York Rangers in their sixth straight win. Panarin has eight points (six goals, two assists) in his past two games for the Rangers (32-14-8), who have points in eight straight (7-0-1).
"He says he's a passer, but he can score too," said Zibanejad, who has seven goals in a five-game goal streak and nine points on a five-game point streak.
Igor Shesterkin made 25 saves for New York, which has averaged five goals per game during the winning streak.
"We have the high-powered offense to do that," Rangers forward Jimmy Vesey said. "[Panarin and Zibanejad] are world-class players and they can be game-breakers every night so if one's not going, the other one might be going that night. But tonight, Mika had two and [Panarin] had two, so I think if that's going to happen, we're going to be tough to beat."
Curtis Lazar put Vancouver ahead 1-0 when a rebound shot deflected in off him at 4:52, but Zibanejad tied it 1-1 at 5:51 when he faked a shot coming down the right wing, then shot it between Silovs.
"I got some pretty good speed coming down and tried to freeze him and see what he gives me," Zibanejad said. "I don't know if he bit on the pump fake, and I saw opening between his legs there and tried to put it five-hole and it went in."
Panarin made it 2-1 with a one-timer over a sprawling Silovs from the bottom left face-off circle after a cross-ice pass from Vesey.
Panarin made it 3-2 at 15:36 by deflecting a point shot between Silovs' legs, giving him 12 points (six goals, six assists) during a five-game point streak.
Chris Kreider scored on a backdoor pass from Zibanejad on a 3-on-2 rush 50 seconds into the second period to make it 4-2. Kreider has seven points (three goals, four assists) on a six-game point streak. It was also Kreider's 251st NHL goal, all with the Rangers, moving him ahead of Mark Messier (250) for sixth place in franchise history.
"Good for him," Rangers coach Gerard Gallant said. "Mark Messier is a Hall of Famer and a great player, one of the great players of all time, so it's good for [Kreider]."
Conor Garland cut it to 4-3 with a rebound goal at 9:26 after Andrei Kuzmenko hit the crossbar after a pretty move in tight just after a power play expired. K'Andre Miller made it 5-3 with a screened point shot at 13:28.
Kuzmenko took a drop pass from Pettersson and scored on a glove-side wrist shot from between the top of the circles at 8:51 of the third period to make it 5-4. Zibanejad scored into an empty net with 1:34 left for the 6-4 final.
"We can always look at the defensive side and say we need to clean up this and that, but they can score as well," Zibanejad said. "We keep talking about doing the right things and we know we can score and [we've] just got to make sure we make the right decisions, that we don't try to sacrifice the defensive part."
The New York Rangers have won eight of their last 10 games.
The Edmonton Oilers lost against the Detroit Red Wings last Wednesday, February 15 at Rogers Place in Edmonton with a score of 5-4 in a shootout. The Edmonton Oilers currently rank 4th in the Pacific Division.
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins had two goals and an assist, and Jack Campbell made 19 saves for the Oilers (30-19-6), who have lost two straight and three of four (1-1-2). Connor McDavid had two assists and has 99 points (42 goals, 57 assists) in 55 games this season.
"We had control of a lot of parts of that game. We generated enough chances to win, but we were a little sloppy on some of our details," Edmonton coach Jay Woodcroft said. "They have to get corrected, there is no excuse for them. We can be better in those situations, and the individuals responsible understand that. We lost the special teams game, which isn't conducive to winning hockey games."
Nugent-Hopkins cut Detroit’s lead to 2-1 at 1:26 of the second period, taking a drop pass from McDavid and scoring blocker side from the right face-off circle, but Fabbri made it 3-1 on a power play at 9:06 when his shot from the right circle deflected in off the skate of Broberg.
Nugent-Hopkins scored again to cut it to 3-2 at 11:32, finishing a backdoor pass from McDavid at the right post.
Olli Maatta responded for Detroit to make it 4-2 at 16:12. He stepped into a face-off win by Dylan Larkin and scored on a slap shot from above the left circle.
"Obviously, we wanted the extra point," Nugent-Hopkins said. "I thought we played pretty well through the first 40. We headed into the second down two, headed into the third down two, and I thought we did a pretty good job battling back and getting at least one point."
Leon Draisaitl got the Oilers to within 4-3 at 3:26 of the third period with a one-timer from the right circle off a pass from Tyson Barrie on a power play.
Derek Ryan tied it 4-4 at 5:27 with a redirection of a shot from Klim Kostin.
"I thought we played pretty good. We had a couple of breakdowns that they capitalized on," Draisaitl said. "They really didn't get much. I thought we dominated the entire game pretty much. It was definitely frustrating, but it is hard to win in this league when you give up four."
Campbell kept the game tied at 12:36 when he got across the crease to make an outstanding pad save on a one-timer from Tyler Bertuzzi on a 2-on-1 with Dylan Larkin.
Prediction
In Vlad we trust. Rangers 5, Oilers 3
Betting trends
Rangers are 15-9 after an over this season.
Rangers are 11-11 after a win by 2 goals or more this season.
Oilers are 2-6 off a home loss by 1 goal this season.
Projected lines
Rangers:
Chris Kreider -- Mika Zibanejad -- Vladimir Tarasenko
Artemi Panarin -- Vincent Trocheck -- Jimmy Vesey
Alexis Lafreniere -- Filip Chytil -- Kaapo Kakko
Jake Leschyshyn -- Barclay Goodrow -- Julien Gauthier
Ryan Lindgren -- Adam Fox
K'Andre Miller -- Jacob Trouba
Niko Mikkola -- Braden Schneider
Igor Shesterkin
Chris Kreider -- Mika Zibanejad -- Vladimir Tarasenko
Artemi Panarin -- Vincent Trocheck -- Jimmy Vesey
Alexis Lafreniere -- Filip Chytil -- Kaapo Kakko
Jake Leschyshyn -- Barclay Goodrow -- Julien Gauthier
Ryan Lindgren -- Adam Fox
K'Andre Miller -- Jacob Trouba
Niko Mikkola -- Braden Schneider
Igor Shesterkin
Oilers:
Leon Draisaitl -- Connor McDavid -- Evander Kane
Klim Kostin -- Ryan Nugent-Hopkins -- Zach Hyman
Dylan Holloway -- Ryan McLeod -- Warren Foegele
Mattias Janmark -- Derek Ryan
Darnell Nurse -- Cody Ceci
Brett Kulak -- Tyson Barrie
Philip Broberg -- Evan Bouchard
Vincent Desharnais
Stuart Skinner
Leon Draisaitl -- Connor McDavid -- Evander Kane
Klim Kostin -- Ryan Nugent-Hopkins -- Zach Hyman
Dylan Holloway -- Ryan McLeod -- Warren Foegele
Mattias Janmark -- Derek Ryan
Darnell Nurse -- Cody Ceci
Brett Kulak -- Tyson Barrie
Philip Broberg -- Evan Bouchard
Vincent Desharnais
Stuart Skinner
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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.
