Prediction, Odds & Starting Goalies for Oilers vs Blackhawks on Wednesday Night Hockey

• The Edmonton Oilers (33-16-4) visit the Chicago Blackhawks (16-31-5) on Wednesday, February 5, 2025
• Edmonton is road favorites in the Oilers vs Blackhawks odds for Wednesday Night Hockey
• Read below for Oilers vs Blackhawks prediction, preview and odds for tonight’s game

A clash of Western Conference foes takes place in the Windy City as the Edmonton Oilers (33-16-4) battle the Chicago Blackhawks (16-31-5) at United Center on Wednesday, February 5, 2025. Puck drop is scheduled for 9:30 PM Eastern Time, with national coverage on TNT.

The Oilers are heavy -275 road favorites on the moneyline, while the total is set at 6.5 goals. Can Edmonton continue its strong play away from home and take care of business against the struggling Blackhawks?

Here’s our Oilers vs Blackhawks prediction for Wednesday night hockey.

Oilers vs Blackhawks Prediction

I’m backing the Oilers -1.5 puck line (-105) to win by multiple goals in Chicago. Edmonton has been dominant on the road this season, posting an impressive 15-7-2 record away from Rogers Place. The Oil can beat you in a variety of ways thanks to their elite offense (3rd in goals/game) and stingy team defense (7th in goals against/game).

Not only are the Oilers 12-5 in their last 17 games overall, but they’ve also had the Blackhawks’ number of late. Edmonton has won 7 of the past 8 meetings with Chicago, including 4 of the last 5 at United Center. Look for Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl and company to keep that trend going on Wednesday.

Playing the second half of a back-to-back set is no issue for this battle-tested Oilers squad. Edmonton is 4-2 in the second game of consecutive nights, with quality wins over contenders like Colorado, New Jersey and the NY Islanders. That resiliency will serve them well against a Blackhawks team that has lost 15 of its last 19 overall.

At 5v5, Edmonton has dominated possession lately with a 55.96% Corsi For percentage over their last 10 games. Conversely, Chicago has been routinely outplayed, sporting an abysmal 40.54% CF% over that same span. The Hawks’ ugly underlying numbers, coupled with their unsustainably high PDO (1.038), mean they’ve been quite fortunate to even muster their recent 2-5-3 mark.

While the Oilers are expected to start backup Calvin Pickard (13-4-0), he’s proven more than capable when called upon. Pickard has won five straight and gives Edmonton an edge in net over Chicago’s Arvid Soderblom, who owns a 2.89 GAA and .909 SV% in 23 appearances.

Edmonton is deeper, more talented and playing far better hockey than Chicago right now. Back the Oilers’ puck line at an affordable -105 price and watch them outclass the overmatched Blackhawks on the road.

• Wednesday NHL Pick: Oilers -1.5 Puck Line (-105 at Bet365)

Oilers vs Blackhawks Odds

The Oilers are prohibitive -275 road favorites on the moneyline, meaning you’d need to wager $275 to win $100 if Edmonton prevails. The Blackhawks are sizeable +225 home underdogs, offering a potential $225 return on a $100 bet.

Edmonton is priced at -105 to cover the -1.5 puck line and win by two goals or more. Chicago is +115 to stay within 1.5 goals – a $100 bet would net you $115 if the Hawks either win outright or lose by a single tally.

The total is set at 6.5 goals, with the over sitting at +104 and the under coming back at -128. This suggests a relatively high-scoring affair, especially considering the Oilers’ explosive offense.

Odds courtesy of Bet365 as of February 5, 2025. Bet on Oilers-Blackhawks with the Bet365 promo code.

Oilers vs Blackhawks Projected Starting Goalies

Here’s who we anticipate to start in goal for Wednesday’s Oilers vs Blackhawks showdown:

Edmonton Oilers: Calvin Pickard (13-4-0, 2.47 GAA, .901 SV%)
The Oilers are playing the second half of a back-to-back after defeating St. Louis 3-2 in overtime on Tuesday. As a result, head coach Kris Knoblauch will likely turn to his veteran backup Pickard between the pipes in Chicago.

The 32-year-old journeyman has been a pleasant surprise for Edmonton, going 13-4 with a solid 2.47 GAA. Most impressively, Pickard has won five straight starts and hasn’t allowed more than three goals in any of those victories.

In his last outing against the Blackhawks on January 11, Pickard stopped 19 of 22 shots to backstop the Oilers to a 4-3 road win. He’ll look to replicate that performance and improve upon his solid numbers on Wednesday night.

Chicago Blackhawks: Arvid Soderblom (7-12-3, 2.89 GAA, .909 SV%)
Soderblom draws the unenviable task of trying to slow down the Oilers’ high-powered attack. The 25-year-old Swede is just 1-2-2 in his last five starts despite posting a respectable .921 save percentage over that stretch.

Overall, Soderblom owns a 7-12-3 record to go along with a 2.89 GAA and .909 SV% in 23 appearances this season. His volume stats are decent, but it’s clear the Blackhawks’ leaky team defense has often left him out to dry.

With Chicago struggling mightily to control play at 5v5 and hemorrhaging high-danger chances against, Soderblom will need to stand on his head for the Hawks to have any chance of hanging with the Oilers. Considering he’s won just twice in his last eight starts, that seems like a tall order.

The Edmonton Oilers will be facing off against the Chicago Blackhawks in a highly anticipated Wednesday Night Hockey matchup. Both teams are coming off strong performances in their previous games, making this game a must-watch for hockey fans.

In terms of prediction, the Oilers have been on a hot streak lately, winning six of their last seven games. Led by superstar Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, the Oilers have one of the most potent offenses in the league. On the other hand, the Blackhawks have struggled this season, currently sitting near the bottom of the Central Division. However, they have shown flashes of brilliance and have the ability to surprise any team on any given night.

As for the odds, the Oilers are favored to win this game. According to sportsbooks, the Oilers have a 60% chance of coming out on top, while the Blackhawks have a 40% chance of pulling off an upset. The over/under for total goals scored in this game is set at 6.5, indicating that oddsmakers expect a high-scoring affair.

In terms of starting goalies, the Oilers are likely to start Mikko Koskinen between the pipes. Koskinen has been solid for the Oilers this season, posting a .914 save percentage and a 2.65 goals against average. On the other side, the Blackhawks are expected to start Kevin Lankinen in goal. Lankinen has been a bright spot for the struggling Blackhawks, with a .919 save percentage and a 2.72 goals against average.

Overall, this game promises to be an exciting matchup between two talented teams. The Oilers will look to continue their winning ways, while the Blackhawks will be aiming to pull off an upset. With high-powered offenses and solid goaltending on both sides, fans can expect a fast-paced and entertaining game on Wednesday night.