Edmonton Oilers vs. Tampa Bay Lightning: Prediction, Preview, Picks & Odds - 11/8/2022

Time: 7:30 p.m. ET

Venue: Amalie Arena, Tampa, FL

Where to watch: TNT

DraftKings: Lightning -155, Oilers +135

FanDuel: Lightning -164, Oilers +136

BetMGM: Lightning -154, Oilers +130

Caesars: Lightning -155, Oilers +130

Oilers: 7-6-0 (14 points)

Lightning: 7-4-1 (15 points)

Oilers: lost 5-4 at Capitals on Monday; lost three straight

Lightning: won 5-3 vs. Sabres on Saturday; won four of five

There are two things that we can get excited for when the Edmonton Oilers take on the Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday night. First, it’s Connor McDavid vs. Tampa Bay. You can even throw Leon Draisaitl vs. Tampa. Starpower galore. It’s great. Second, the Lightning have gotten it together in the short time here and are getting an Oilers team on the ropes just a tad after a dismal home stretch. For those (like me) who think the Oilers are frauds, get ready for another instance.

The three-time Eastern Conference champs have reeled off four wins in five games – not the strongest points of competition – but have gotten back on the wagon and have gotten some wins. They’ve given up 3 goals in each of those games, but baby steps on defense, I’d say. This also has a lot to do with trying to find a suitable replacement, at some point, for Ryan McDonagh. I think we can safely say the Lightning are getting a defenseman at the deadline in some capacity.

Tampa Bay is coming off a thrilling 5-3 win over the red-hot Buffalo Sabres that saw the Lightning score three times in the third to secure the win. One way to do that is have the superstars take over, and that’s what Nikita Kucherov exactly did. Kucherov had four points – a goal and three assists – three of those points coming in the third period, to get Brian Elliott a win after a 21-save effort.

"I really like the result and for a large part of the game I like the things we did," Tampa Bay coach Jon Cooper said. "The problem was when we gave up a chance ... too many Grade-A chances in the slot. We really needed 'Moose' (Elliott) tonight."

Tampa has played more hockey than any other team the last three years, and it’s shown in this first month of the year. Sometimes, you just need to have belief that your big-time players can make the plays and get the goals on the board. If your defense is lagging behind a month in, you know you’re feeling good at where you’re game’s at if you can still put up 4, 5 goals and win a game.

That’s the complete opposite from what’s going on with the Oilers right now. They addressed the whole goaltending thing by signing Jack Campbell to a five-year deal, and so far, that is not returning well on investment. Edmonton is scoring almost 4 goals a game, but the Oilers are giving up 3.50 goals per night and just gave up 14 in a three-game homestand. One of those games, against the Predators, required Edmonton to score 7 in order to win. Other than that, they were outscored 10-5 against Dallas and New Jersey.

Not only did they get lambasted by Dallas and New Jersey, but the Oilers then lost 5-4 at Washington on Monday and are playing the second night of a back-to-back on travel, on a three-game losing streak. The Oilers gave up four power play goals, a nightmare scenario for McDavid in his 500th NHL game. But no matter who is in net between Campbell or Stuart Skinner, the Oilers aren’t getting many answers right now.

"You can't give up four power-play goals in a game an expect to win it. Flat out not good enough on the penalty kill," Oilers coach Jay Woodcroft said. "I'd also say we put ourselves in positions to take those penalties that, you know, I didn't think that all of them we needed to take."

When you have Tampa Bay getting things right and you’re coming into their barn completely depleted and have no answer, this is another perfect opportunity for the Lightning to get a win and continue to build that early-season confidence. Lightning win 4-2

Oilers are 17-19 in non-conference games the last three years.

Oilers are 31-17 after playing a second game in five days the last three years.

Lightning are 68-37 after a division game the last three years.

Lightning are 26-15 in non-conference games the last three years.

Oilers:

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins -- Connor McDavid -- Jesse Puljujarvi

Evander Kane -- Leon Draisaitl -- Zach Hyman

Warren Foegele -- Ryan McLeod -- Derek Ryan

Devin Shore -- Dylan Holloway -- Kailer Yamamoto

Darnell Nurse -- Cody Ceci

Brett Kulak -- Evan Bouchard

Ryan Murray -- Tyson Barrie

Jack Campbell

Lightning:

Brandon Hagel -- Brayden Point -- Nikita Kucherov

Alex Killorn -- Nicholas Paul -- Steven Stamkos

Ross Colton -- Vladislav Namestnikov -- Cole Koepke

Corey Perry -- Pierre-Edouard Bellemare -- Pat Maroon

Ian Cole -- Erik Cernak

Mikhail Sergachev -- Nick Perbix

Haydn Fleury -- Cal Foote

Andrei Vasilevskiy

Points: Connor McDavid -- 27

Goals: Connor McDavid -- 13

Assists: Leon Draisaitl -- 17

Goalie: Stuart Skinner -- 2-2-0, 2.10 GAA, .944 SV%

Points: Nikita Kucherov -- 20

Goals: Steven Stamkos -- 7

Assists: Nikita Kucherov -- 14

Goalie: Andrei Vasilevskiy -- 4-3-1, 2.87 GAA, .911 SV%