USA -> NHL

Just like every weekend we get to see some NHL matches at a more sensible time for the fans in Europe. Tonight Detroit Red Wings are hosting the Edmonton Oilers and we really have quite a match to look forward to. We will get to see two teams, which added some youth to their squads. On one side we have Adnreas Athanasiou, Dylan Larkin, Riley Sheahan and Petr Mrázek. And the visitors acquired Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Anton Slepyshev. Let’s take a closer look at the current situation inside the two teams.

Detroit Red Wings

The home team is currently in 7th place with 13 points and a score of 34:33. Currently the team’s form is not great, three points in last five matches just go to prove this . Hand in hand with form goes the performances by their goaltender Mrázek, who will probably be the backup tonight and we will see experience in the net, veteran Jimmy Howard, who started this season as number two. However, in the few matches he started his performance was at peak level and the Detroit Red Wings have prevailed. Detroit Red Wings will have to be without:

forward Thomas Vanek (4+4) – 2nd line

forward Tomáš Jurčo (0+0) – 3rd line

defenseman Obránce Vili Saalijarvi (0+0) – farm

forward Joe Vitale (0+0) – farm

defenseman Obránce Dan Renouf (0+0)  – farm

Questionable are:

forward Tomáš Nosek (0+0) – 4th line

forward Johan Franzén (0+0) – long term injury

 

Edmonton Oilers

Visitors are still staying at the top of the competition with 15 points and a score of 34:27. However, after a winning streak came three losses and we shall now see how the young and less experienced team is able to overcome this episode and get back to its winning ways as at the start if the NHL season. McDavid’s point drought seems to spread across his teammates. In addition the Oilers are not converting their power play opportunities. Only one power play goal in last 3 matches is really a weak performance.

The following cannot help tonight due to injuries:

defenseman Obránce Mark Fayne (0+1) – farm

defenseman Brandon Davidson (0+0) – 3rd defense pair

defenseman Drake Caggiula (0+0) – farm

forawrd Iiro Pakarinen (0+0) – 3rd line

forward Matt Hendricks (0+0) – 4th line

Questionable are:

forward Jesse Puljujarvi (1+2) – 3rd line 

defenseman Kriss Russel (0+3) – 2nd defense pair

 

In the early morning hours of European time the Oilers defeated the New York Islanders 4:3 after penalty shootout. Tonight’s game is another tough test in the Motor City, Detroit. The visitors do not have much time to recover as the start of tonight’s game against the Detroit Red Wings is less than 20 hours  from the end of their last match in New York. Take away travel time from this and what you get is a tired Oilers team. The home team had plenty of rest since their last game was on Friday night at home against the Winnipeg Jets 3:5. This match against the Oilers is a perfect opportunity for the Detroit Red Wings to break their streak of four losses. This is the reason why our tip is a win by the home team, just like last night we chose Montreal, article here.

 

Jan E – verified

Tip: 1

Odds: 2.10