Free NHL Picks Today: Edmonton Oilers vs St. Louis Blues 10/22/22

The St. Louis Blues (2-0-0) travel to take on the Edmonton Oilers (2-2-0) at Rogers Place on Saturday. St. Louis is coming off a 4-3 overtime win over the Kraken on Wednesday. Justin Faulk led the Blues with two goals. Vladimir Tarasenko had three assists to lead the team in scoring. Jordan Binnington saved 32 of 35 shots in the win.

Edmonton beat the Hurricanes 6-4 on Thursday. Six players found the net for the Oilers. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Connor McDavid both scored and provided three assists to lead the team in scoring. Jack Campbell surrendered four goals on 40 shots (.900%).

HEAD TO HEAD

The Oilers won two of the three games between the teams last season, including a 6-5 (OT) victory in their final meeting in April. Evander Kane led Edmonton with three points (1G 2A). Four players had two points for St. Louis. Mike Smith got the win despite allowing five goals on 36 shots (.861%).

FACING OFF

St. Louis is averaging 4.50 goals per game so far this season, second in the NHL, and they are taking on an Oilers team that is allowing 3.75 goals a game (25th). Meanwhile, Edmonton has found the net 4.00 times a game on average, fifth in the league, and the Blues are allowing opponents to score 2.50 goals per game (7th).

St. Louis averages fewer shots per game (27.0) than most teams in the league, ranking 28th, though the team’s 16.7% shooting percentage is first. Edmonton’s average of 33.8 attempts ranks 13th.Look for a few power play opportunities for the Blues, as the Oilers have been penalized 5.75 times a game, fourth-most in the NHL, for an average of 12.00 minutes (seventh-highest).

The visitors are averaging 2.50 penalties (1st) and 5.00 penalty minutes a game (1st). The Oilers’ third-ranked power play offense (37.50%) will face a tough test against the Blues, who are the league’s best penalty killing team (100.00%). St. Louis, meanwhile, has scored on 16.67% of their power play opportunities (20th), which the visitors will be looking to add to against Edmonton’s 19th-ranked 76.19% penalty killing rate.

TOP PERFORMERS:

With five points so far this season, Tarasenko is the top skater for the Blues. He has two goals and three assists in two games. In the net, Binnington (2-0-0) is St. Louis’ top goaltender. He has a 2.46 GAA and a .917% save percentage. McDavid leads the Oilers in scoring with 10 points.

He has five goals and five assists in four games. Stuart Skinner (0-1-0) has the best goals against average for Edmonton at 1.68, fourth-best in the league. He has a save percentage of .944%, fifth-best. Campbell (2-1-0) has played the most games in net for the Oilers this season. He has a 5.08 GAA and a .874% save percentage.