Welcome to this October 21st edition of NHL Predictions featuring a couple of Canadian teams looking to get it going in 2025-26, from us here at Last Word On Hockey. The Edmonton Oilers led by Connor McDavid make their only visit to the Nation’s capital this season to take on the Brady Tkachuk-less Ottawa Senators side. Neither team has lived up to expectations thus far, luckily the season isn’t even two weeks old.
NHL Predictions for the Senators and Oilers
2024-25 Regular Season Series: Oilers won 2 – 0
Time: 7:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT)
How to Watch TV: TSN5, Sportsnet West, RDS, ESPN+
Location: Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, Ontario
Coming into this matchup, the Oilers hold an edge in the all-time series. They have a 33-19-4-5 record against Ottawa, that is good for a .615 win percentage. Last year, the Oilers took both contests, by a combined scored of 8-3. Both teams come into this one looking to right their respective ships.
The Oilers Story
The #Oilers have activated defenceman Jake Walman from injured reserve. pic.twitter.com/pLY6G0ZYOI
— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) October 20, 2025
As we mentioned, the Oilers would love to win this one. Getting Jake Walman back should help the team defensively. Furthermore, Evan Bouchard needs to help lead the defensive improvements. He’s had a tough start to the season, and needs to turn it around.
Upfront the Oilers have their top end going, but the supporting cast isn’t going yet. Only four players have more than two points. In addition, even McDavid is still goal-less. However, he does lead the team in points with seven, all assists.
As of print, Stuart Skinner is the expected starter. He is putting his 1-2-1 record on the line. We will add our disclaimer at this time, please check for the very latest lineup news before locking in your fantasy starters.
More Rico 1,000 @NHL games shirts 🏁 #LetsGoOilers pic.twitter.com/lGHYU7LuEj
— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) October 21, 2025
As a note, this game sets up to be a milestone. Assuming the lineup is set, Adam Henrique will skate in his 1000th career NHL regular season game. The Oilers were marking the occasion with customized shirts for each of the players to wear to the rink.
What’s Happening in Ottawa?
Today's alignment #Sens
Stutzle-Cozens-Batherson
Giroux-Pinto-Amadio
Cousins-Greig-Perron
Kaliyev-Eller-Zetterlund
MacDermidSanderson-Zub
Chabot-Jensen
Kleven-Spence
Matinpalo— Bruce Garrioch (@SunGarrioch) October 20, 2025
The Sens come into this one in rough shape. They’re 31st in the NHL in goals-against per game at 5.00. Their penalty kill is 60.9%, also good for 31st. On the other hand, it has been some bad luck. In terms of team expected goal percentage, the Sens rank sixth in the NHL. They have a 54% rating. For comparison, Edmonton is slightly over 50%, good for 15th in the league.
We have to mention Shane Pinto. He has been scoring at an unreal clip with seven goals in six games. In addition, he is doing so on the power of a 33% shooting percentage. This being a contract season, he is doing what he can to grow his value.
Goaltending needs to be better, we are looking at you Linus Ullmark. He is expected to go today. Moreover, he wants to get his play on track, but maybe the Oilers are a bad team to get your goals too high on.
NHL Predictions
This is a strange one. The potentially high-power Oiler offence is tough to expect to shutdown. You need to plan to contain them, and hope for some help on the offence yourself. We think Ottawa wins it as the home team.
Prediction: Ottawa win 4-3 in regulation.
Prop Bets
For our anytime scorers, we like the two Germans. Take Leon Draisaitl and Tim Stutzle, as both would love to one-up the other.
Main Photo Credit: Perry Nelson-Imagn Images
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