Welcome back to NHL Predictions. Each day, Last Word on Hockey takes a look at the games that are happening and gives our predictions for each one, breaking down head-to-head matchups and other factors that may play in. Today, we are looking at a game featuring two of the six Canadian teams in action on Wednesday evening, each of the two team’s respective 2024-25 regular season opener the Winnipeg Jets versus the Edmonton Oilers. Be sure to check out more NHL predictions in the coming days as the 2024-25 season starts.
NHL Predictions
Winnipeg Jets at Edmonton Oilers, from Rogers Arena
Time: 8:00 PM Mountain Daylight Time (MDT)
TV: Sportsnet (East, Ontario, & West), ESPN+
2023-24 Regular Season Series: Edmonton won (2-0-1)
Head Coach Scott Arniel Begins Jets Season Proving they Belong
The Winnipeg Jets want to prove to the rest of the league that they belong among that upper echelon. What better way to kick-start such a demanding task than against the Stanley Cup contending Oilers. New head coach Scott Arniel’s mission is to clean up the club’s faults. Then he can focus on turning them into a proven winner. Arniel isn’t new to the organization, as he was on the now retired, Rick Bowness’s staff the previous two seasons, so he should have a good idea of what to change. What that is, starts and ends with the power play, but maybe mix in a bit of players’ ice time distribution.
The Jets have the reigning Vezina Trophy winner in net, Connor Hellebuyck. They have star players, such as Mark Scheifele, Kyle Connor, and Josh Morrissey. Furthermore, they were an excellent team 5v5 last season. Now, they need to put it altogether, clean up some of their flaws, and prove to the rest of the NHL they belong in the conversation with those who are perennial Stanley Cup contenders or at least, going on deep playoff runs. That would be unlike last season when the fizzled out in the first round to the Colorado Avalanche four games to one.
One question is whether or not their defence continues to develop such as Dylan Samberg to help round out their depth. If players like Nikolaj Ehlers and Cole Perfetti can find comfort in their dispersion under Arniel’s strategy, the Jets should have a winning formula. Finally, they must improve on their power play. Last year it was ranked 22nd at 18.8%. For a team with their skill and depth upfront, that is inexcusable. That is Arniel’s task for the upcoming season and it begins tonight versus the Connor McDavid led Oilers. But hey, no point in saying you are among the best if you can’t take on the best as the Oilers and Jets square off in their season opener.
The Mission Begins Now
If the Winnipeg Jets have a tall task of redemption ahead of them, the Edmonton Oilers must have a monumental one. The Oilers struggled out of the gate last year at 3-9-1, which led to the firing of coach Jay Woodcroft. Combined with the inconsistent preseason and still working out the kinks of their defensive pairings and forward combinations, they want to avoid a similar start to the new campaign upon us. However, this season Connor McDavid and the rest of his long-time Oiler teammates have one thing on their mind. That is the ultimate redemption, after coming within one win of a Stanley Cup title victory in 2024, this year they want to win it all.
McDavid is 27, Leon Draisaitl is almost 29, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins is 31, Darnell Nurse is 29, well you get the idea. The Oilers have a ton of experience, and like the players we mentioned, have maintained a lot of their original, homegrown talent. That is quite impressive. However, the group is growing weary of not getting it done. This team, the city, the players. Need a cup, and now!
The Star-Studded Oilers and Jets 2024-25 Regular Season Opener Will Be Action-Packed
The Jets pose an excellent matchup for the Oilers. They are almost designed to counteract the Oilers attack. Therefore, it is a great test for McDavid, Draisaitl, and the rest of their high-powered attack to see if they can start firing on all cylinders early on to get the season off and running. The Jets forward group, with the depth and offensive talent is a great test for the Oilers defence alignment, one that experienced turnover from last year. Cody Ceci, Philip Broberg, and Vincent Desharnais, all switched teams this past offseason.
Prediction in the Jets and Oilers Regular Season Opener
Man, this is exciting. It boils down to McDavid versus Hellebuyck and the rest of the matchups among the depth. Both teams have exceptional defencemen. That is including one from each side battling for a Team Canada inclusion on the 4 Nations Face-Off squad. Josh Morrissey and Evan Bouchard are among the premier defenders when selecting such a plausible Team Canada lineup. If, despite facing one of the best goaltenders in the game, the Oilers can mix in some top-end scoring with some depth contributions, they should prevail against Hellebuyck and the Jets.
Prediction: Oilers win in overtime, 4-3.
For a couple bets, as an anytime goal scorer, let’s markdown Connor McDavid, at a fairly probable value of +140. It won’t pay a lot, but it is a way to get your parlay tipping the needle. We are going to take the over on 6.5 total goals at -105, as the Edmonton offence is poised to fill the net. Finally, taking Edmonton as the moneyline is around -166. Based on Fanduel’s books, that totals the line at +409. That is a fairly conservative wager, if the game plays out as such.
Main Photo: Perry Nelson-USA TODAY Sports
