Edmonton Oilers vs Columbus Blue Jackets Picks and Predictions December 5th 2024

Planning on watching today’s Blue Jackets and Oilers game? Catch the action at Rogers Place in Edmonton, AB, as the Oilers hosts this showdown at 9:00 ET on ESPN+. The over/under for this game is set at 6.5 goals, and the Oilers are favored by -1.5 vs. the Blue Jackets in a non-conference matchup.

Columbus vs. Edmonton Key Information

• Teams: Blue Jackets at Oilers
• Where: Rogers Place Edmonton
• Date: Thursday, December 5th
• Betting Odds EDM -275 | CBJ +225 O/U 6.5

The Blue Jackets Can Win If…

Columbus dropped to 11-10-3 after a 7-2 loss to the Capitals. As underdogs on the puck line, the Blue Jackets failed to cover. The total was set at 6.5 goals, and the combined 9 goals easily surpassed that mark.

Defensively, Columbus struggled right from the start, allowing five goals in the first period. They managed to score their first goal at 19:11 in the second period, but by then, the Capitals had already built a substantial lead.

Columbus fired 36 shots on goal but only found the net twice in their 7-2 loss to Washington. Damon Severson scored his 4th goal of the season, while Kevin Labanc added his 2nd. Sean Monahan picked up his 5th assist on Labanc’s goal, and Zach Aston-Reese earned his 2nd assist.

The Blue Jackets were held scoreless in the 1st period before Severson got them on the board 49 seconds into the 2nd. They added a second goal at the 5:24 mark of the same period. Columbus had 13 giveaways in the game.

Columbus’ defense struggled early, allowing five goals in the first period. They gave up another in the second and one more late in the third, leading to a 7-2 loss. Goalie Daniil Tarasov made 15 saves but had a save percentage of just 68.2%.

• Columbus will look to keep things rolling as they have put together a mark of 2-1 over their past three games. In terms of betting, the team went 2-1 puck line in these matchups. Their over/under record in these matchups is 2-1.
• Columbus has put together a record of 6-4 in their last ten games (regular season). In these matchups, they ended with an puck line record of 6-4 and an over-under mark of 7-2-1.

The Oilers Can Win If…

Edmonton improved to 13-10-2 with a 4-2 win over the Flames. The Oilers covered the puck line as -1.5 goal favorites, and the total of 6 goals fell short of the 6.5 goal line.

Four different Oilers found the net in this one. Edmonton jumped out to a 2-0 lead, but the Flames tied it up before the Oilers scored twice in the third period to seal the win.

Edmonton’s offense delivered four goals in their 4-2 win over Calgary, with Leon Draisaitl scoring his 9th goal of the season. Zach Hyman added his 3rd goal, which came on a power play. Mattias Janmark sealed the game with an empty-netter, his 2nd goal of the year. The Oilers’ first goal came just 20 seconds into the first period, courtesy of Draisaitl.

Edmonton took 31 shots on goal and had 10 giveaways. Draisaitl also contributed with two assists, bringing his season total to 8. Jeff Skinner scored his 3rd goal, while Hyman picked up his 2nd assist of the season.

On defense, the Oilers will look to build on their last performance, where they gave up just two goals to the Flames. Stuart Skinner made 29 saves with a 93.5% save percentage. The defense also recorded 2 takeaways, 19 hits, and 25 blocks. Both goals allowed came early in the 2nd and 3rd periods.

• Edmonton has put together a record of 2-1 over their past three games. Across these games, they have put together an puck line mark of 1-2 as well as an over-under record of 1-2.
• Through their last ten regular season contests, Edmonton has a record of 6-4. In these matchups, they ended with an puck line record of 3-7 and an over-under mark of 6-4.

The Lean

If you’re looking for a moneyline bet in this one, we have the Oilers coming out on top. However, with the lines sitting at -275, I’d recommend looking to the spread as our projections have the Oilers winning by more than one goal.

For a puck line pick, we are going with the Oilers to win and cover. Look for the Oilers to win this one by multiple goals over the Blue Jackets.

For those assessing the over/under line set at 6.5 goals, our expectation is that this game will stay below that mark, and we suggest making a bet on the under.

Both Teams Seeking Redemption After Offensive Lapses

The Edmonton Oilers (11-12-2) and Columbus Blue Jackets (9-11-3) both aim to reignite their offenses when they face off Thursday in Edmonton. Both teams were shut out on Tuesday, with the Oilers falling 1-0 to the Vegas Golden Knights and the Blue Jackets losing 3-0 to the Calgary Flames.

While both squads have shown flashes of offensive brilliance this season, their recent scoring struggles are cause for concern. Edmonton, which features two of the league’s brightest stars in Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, ranks a disappointing 21st in goals scored, while Columbus is battling inefficiency on special teams.

Oilers Looking to Regain Momentum at Home

The Oilers’ loss to Vegas snapped a three-game winning streak where Edmonton scored 14 goals. Despite their offensive firepower, the Oilers have already been shut out four times this season—tied for the second-most in the league.

Coach Kris Knoblauch highlighted the team’s inability to capitalize on key chances against Vegas.

“It was a tight-checking game. There wasn’t much room,” Knoblauch said. “We just didn’t get a good shot or connect on some great opportunities.”

McDavid (31 points) and Draisaitl (32 points) remain among the NHL’s top scorers, but secondary scoring and consistency have been elusive for Edmonton. The Oilers will aim to turn things around on home ice, where they are 6-4-1 this season.

Blue Jackets’ Special Teams Woes Continue

The Blue Jackets’ six-game point streak came to an abrupt halt against Calgary, as they managed only 16 shots on goal. Coach Dean Evason acknowledged the lackluster effort but avoided blaming the team’s emotional pregame tribute to Johnny Gaudreau, the late former NHL star, for their performance.

“We were just kind of a step behind all night, literally,” Evason said.

Special teams remain a glaring issue for Columbus. Over the past 10 games, the Blue Jackets have allowed 14 power-play goals while converting just four of their own 25 opportunities. Improving their penalty kill and man-advantage execution will be crucial against an Oilers team with dangerous power-play weapons.

Key Matchups to Watch

McDavid and Draisaitl vs. Columbus’ Defense

Stopping Edmonton’s dynamic duo will be a tall order for Columbus. Defenseman Zach Werenski, who recently had his eight-game point streak snapped, will need to anchor a strong defensive effort to keep the Oilers in check.

Special Teams Battle

Edmonton boasts a dangerous power play led by McDavid and Draisaitl, while Columbus struggles mightily on the penalty kill. The Blue Jackets must avoid undisciplined play to stay competitive.

Goaltending Duel

With Edmonton’s Stuart Skinner and Columbus’ tandem of Elvis Merzlikins and Spencer Martin under scrutiny, solid goaltending could make the difference in this tightly contested matchup.

What’s at Stake

• Oilers: A chance to rebound and maintain momentum in the Pacific Division playoff race.
• Blue Jackets: An opportunity to regain their offensive spark and salvage their Western road trip.

Prediction

The Oilers’ offensive depth and home-ice advantage should provide the edge they need to prevail against a struggling Blue Jackets penalty kill. However, Columbus’ recent fight suggests this game won’t be a walkover.

Oilers 4, Blue Jackets 2