Wild vs. Oilers: Four-game road trip begins against one of top teams in the West
By Tim Johnson
Bally Sports North . 17-6-1. 98. Tuesday, Dec. 7. 16-7-0. 148. Oilers -1.5. 8 p.m. CST
The Minnesota Wild beat one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference at home on Saturday. Now they get a road matchup against one of the leaders in the West.
The Wild — coming off a 4-3 shootout win over the Toronto Maple Leafs — begin a four-game road trip against the offensively-potent Edmonton Oilers.
The Oilers sit in second place in the Pacific Division and have the NHL’s leading scorer Leon Draisitl, whose 43 points are one better than teammate Connor McDavid. Edmonton is also fourth in the league in goals per game — one spot behind the Wild — with an average of 3.65 per contest.
Edmonton also has the top power-play unit in the NHL as the Oilers have converted on 34.3% of their opportunities.
The Central Division-leading Wild, who are riding a six-game winning streak, has seven victories on the road this season, which is second in the Western Conference. Minnesota is 26-14-7 all-time at Edmonton.
The Wild also are 15-3 in its last 18 trips to Edmonton.
“I just think it’s the way that we play,” Wild coach Dean Evason said during a media availability session on Monday. “The way we emphasize as a group, not only the coaching staff but the players, that we play grit first and then skill second. When you get out on the road, that’s the type of hockey game you have to play.
“You’re in hostile environments, obviously, and (opponents) are as fired up as we are to play at home,” Evason said. “You have to do the right things, especially early, in hockey games to not only take the crowd out of the game, but hopefully we take the game over because of that.”
Yeah… it’s vvv cold outside 🥶#mnwild pic.twitter.com/tJIpV8yXUH
— Minnesota Wild (@mnwild) December 6, 2021
Minnesota has an 18-7-1 record over its last 26 matchups with the Oilers and swept both games during the 2019-20 season.
The Wild also are 15-3 in its last 18 trips to Edmonton.
Roster news
He might not make his NHL debut against the Oilers, but forward Mason Shaw was called up from the Iowa Wild in advance of the start of Minnesota’s road trip.
The 23-year-old was selected in the fourth round of the NHL Entry Draft in 2017.
Shaw has six goals and 14 points in 18 games with Iowa this season.
The #mnwild today recalled forward Mason Shaw from the @IAWild. https://t.co/V4lzCAym8r
— Minnesota Wild PR (@mnwildPR) December 6, 2021
Power rankings
For what it’s worth, the Minnesota Wild’s recent play has established them as a team to contend with. It is reflected in the latest power rankings by NBC Sports Pro Hockey talk.
The Wild are ranked third in the most recent poll, behind the Florida Panthers and New York Rangers.
Last week the Wild were 10th in the poll.
Betting odds
The Wild vs. Oilers odds on WynnBET has Edmonton as a 1.5 goal favorite at home.. The Oilers are listed as -125 favorites on the moneyline with Minnesota the road underdog at +112 The total goals is set at an over/under of 6.5.
Upcoming Wild schedule
Thursday, Dec. 9: @San Jose, 9 p.m., CST
Saturday, Dec. 11: @ L.A. Kings, 9:30 p.m., CST
Sunday, Dec. 12: @Vegas, 8 p.m.