Free NHL Picks Today: Columbus Blue Jackets vs Edmonton Oilers 2/25/23

The Edmonton Oilers (32-19-8) travel to face the Columbus Blue Jackets (18-35-5) at Nationwide Arena on Saturday. Edmonton is coming off a high-scoring 7-2 win over the Penguins on Thursday.

The Oilers committed four penalties in the game, conceding one power play goal. Connor McDavid was the top goalscorer for the Oilers with two goals. Stuart Skinner saved 22 of 24 shots in the win.Columbus fell 2-0 to the Wild on Thursday. Joonas Korpisalo had 23 saves in the loss.

HEAD TO HEAD

The Blue Jackets won the first meeting between the teams this season, a 3-2 (OT) victory in January. Kent Johnson (1G 1A) and Adam Boqvist (0G 2A) each had two points to lead Columbus. Derek Ryan and Zach Hyman were on the scoresheet for Edmonton. Korpisalo got the win, saving 34 of 36 shots (.944%).

FACING OFF

Edmonton is averaging 3.81 goals per game for the season, best in the NHL. The visitors will hope to take advantage of a Blue Jackets team that is allowing 3.67 goals a game (30th).

Meanwhile, Columbus has found the net 2.50 times a game on average, 30th in the league, and the Oilers are allowing opponents to score 3.24 goals per game (21st).

The Oilers’ 32.68% power play percentage is the best in the league, while the Blue Jackets rank 29th with a conversion rate of just 16.45%. When it comes to penalty killing, Columbus has the league’s 19th-ranked PK% at 77.40%, while Edmonton is 24th at 75.48%.

TOP PERFORMERS:

With 109 points this season, most in the NHL, McDavid is the top skater for the Oilers. He leads the league in both goals (46) and assists (63). In the net, Skinner (14-11-4) is Edmonton’s top goaltender by goals against average.

He has a 2.92 GAA and a .913% save percentage. Johnny Gaudreau leads the Blue Jackets in scoring with 52 points. He has 15 goals and 37 assists in 56 games. Korpisalo (10-10-3) has the best goals against average for Columbus at 3.14. He has a save percentage of .912%.