9:07 pm
April 1

Blues @ Oilers

Who will WIN this matchup?

St. Louis Blues (37-20-9)

@ Edmonton Oilers (38-25-5)

 

Starting Goalies:

Jordan Binnington (STL): Likely

Mike Smith (EDM): Confirmed

 

Current odds:

St. Louis Blues: (+127)

Edmonton Oilers: (-154)

 

• Connor McDavid already has become the first NHL player this season to reach the 100-point mark — for the fifth time in his career — and Leon Draisaitl needs one more goal to earn his second career 50-goal season. But the Edmonton Oilers head into Friday’s home date with the St. Louis Blues looking for to continue a more important run of rarified air.

• Having won eight straight games at home, the latest a 4-3 shootout win over the Los Angeles Kings on Wednesday, another victory would tie for the longest home-ice run in franchise history and loom large in Edmonton’s push up the Pacific Division standings. The Oilers head into the clash sitting third in the division, but division leading-Calgary Flames and the second-place Kings are not out of reach.

• To no surprise, Draisaitl and McDavid have been leading the way. McDavid has collected eight goals and 13 assists during an 11-game point streak. Draisaitl, who has collected eight goals during a five-game goal streak and 11 in his last 10 outings, is in the chase for the goal-scoring title.

• The Blues arrive in Edmonton on the heels of claiming both halves of a home-and-home series with the Vancouver Canucks. St. Louis claimed a 4-3 road victory on Wednesday to kick off a three-game road swing that ends with a clash against the Flames on Saturday.

• The Blues have an impressive 13-3-2 record against Pacific Division teams this season, but they are happier about drumming up consecutive wins after posting a 3-6-3 run prior to meeting the Canucks. Vancouver appears to be fading from the playoff picture, but positive momentum is important.

• Wednesday’s win was tighter than it should have been, with Vancouver’s Elias Pettersson scoring a late goal to bring the hosts within one and setting up a frantic finish. Nonetheless, the Blues believe they are putting their game back in order after a difficult few weeks and are back in the hunt for home-ice advantage in the opening round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.

• Blues forward Jordan Kyrou returned to practice Thursday after he missed Wednesday’s game due to illness, but there is no word on whether he will play Friday. Kyrou leads St. Louis with 62 points.

5/10
Confidence
StreakSmarter Pick
Edmonton Oilers
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