Carolina Hurricanes vs Edmonton Oilers Picks and Predictions for Thursday October 22 2026
I wouldn’t want to play Carolina right now. The Hurricanes just put six goals on Vancouver, and it wasn’t even their usual big names doing all the damage. Nicolas Deslauriers scored twice. So did Logan Stankoven and Nikolaj Ehlers. Three guys with two goals apiece. That’s a pretty good way to bounce back after losing to Calgary.
Edmonton has been winning too, although Tuesday’s game against Minnesota was a little more work. The Oilers needed overtime, and Evan Bouchard finally ended it on the power play. Connor McDavid had three assists, Leon Draisaitl scored twice, and Edmonton walked away with a 4-3 win. Nothing new there. Those two have been making life miserable for opposing teams for years.
Carolina visits Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta, on Thursday, October 22, 2026. Puck drop is at 9:00 PM ET. The Hurricanes are favored around -218, with Edmonton at +182 and the total sitting around six goals. Check out our free NHL picks for more predictions throughout the season.
Carolina Hurricanes Are A Tough Team To Deal With
Carolina is 8-2-1 after beating Vancouver 6-3 Tuesday night. The Hurricanes had their seven-game winning streak snapped by Calgary on Sunday, but they didn’t waste much time getting back to winning. Deslauriers, Stankoven, and Ehlers each scored twice against the Canucks, and Jackson Blake picked up three assists. That’s a lot of offense from guys who aren’t named Sebastian Aho. Carolina has been getting contributions from different lines, and that’s a big reason the Hurricanes have been so tough to beat.
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The Hurricanes are going to come after Edmonton. That’s what they do. They pressure the puck, keep it in the offensive zone, and make the other team work to get out of its own end. The Oilers have enough talent to handle that, but they can’t get careless. Give McDavid a little room and he’ll make something happen. Carolina knows that. The Hurricanes will try to keep the puck away from him as much as possible, although that’s easier said than done. Edmonton’s power play is another problem. Draisaitl scored twice with the man advantage Tuesday, so Carolina can’t spend half the night killing penalties.
Stankoven and Ehlers were terrific against Vancouver, and Deslauriers scoring twice was a nice bonus. Pyotr Kochetkov made 14 saves and improved to 6-0-0. He’s been winning, although Vancouver didn’t exactly test him much. The Hurricanes have some injury concerns up front. Seth Jarvis has been dealing with a shoulder problem, Jordan Staal has a calf injury, Taylor Hall is out with an upper-body issue, and Mark Jankowski has a lower-body injury. That’s a lot of forwards to be missing when you’re heading into Edmonton.
Edmonton Oilers Keep Finding Ways To Win
Edmonton is 7-1-1 after beating Minnesota 4-3 in overtime. The Oilers have been winning games even when they aren’t at their best, and Tuesday was another example. Draisaitl scored twice, Mathieu Joseph added a goal, and Bouchard finished it on his birthday. McDavid had three assists, because apparently he doesn’t believe in taking a night off. The Oilers have been getting enough offense to cover for the occasional defensive mistake, and that’s a pretty nice luxury to have.
The problem for Carolina is that Edmonton doesn’t need a ton of chances to score. The Hurricanes might control the puck for five minutes, then McDavid gets loose and suddenly it’s in the net. That’s what makes the Oilers so dangerous. Carolina’s forecheck can give Edmonton trouble, no question. The Hurricanes are one of the better teams in the league at keeping opponents pinned in their own end. But Edmonton has the kind of speed and skill that can turn one mistake into a goal. I don’t expect either team to dominate this game for long stretches.
McDavid had three assists Tuesday and now has 26 points. Draisaitl has scored five goals in his last four games, including two against Minnesota. Bouchard is dangerous from the blue line, especially on the power play. Devon Levi made 27 saves against the Wild, and he’ll need to be sharp if he gets the start Thursday. Carolina just scored six, and the Hurricanes aren’t shy about putting pucks on net. Edmonton needs a good night from its goalie, but I trust its offense to give him some help.
Carolina Hurricanes vs Edmonton Oilers Picks and Predictions
Edmonton Oilers Moneyline (+182)
I’ll take Edmonton at +182. Carolina is a terrific team, and I wouldn’t argue with somebody who thinks the Hurricanes are going to win. Their forecheck can make anybody miserable. But I’m not laying more than two dollars against McDavid and Draisaitl in their own building. That’s asking a lot. Edmonton is 7-1-1, McDavid is piling up points, and Draisaitl has been scoring almost every night. Carolina’s injuries up front don’t help, either. At this price, I’ll take my chances with the Oilers.
Over 6 Goals
I’m going over six, although a push is possible if the game lands right on the number. Carolina just scored six against Vancouver, and Edmonton has been getting plenty of offense from McDavid and Draisaitl. Both teams can score in a hurry, and neither goalie is going to have an easy night. Kochetkov has been winning, but he only faced 17 shots against Vancouver. Edmonton will test him a lot more than that. Carolina will get its chances too. I think both teams score at least three, and somebody gets the extra one. Edmonton 4, Carolina 3.
Final Picks: Edmonton Oilers Moneyline (+182) and Over 6 Goals (price dependent)
This preview was completed October 21, 2026. Betting lines, injuries, and starting goaltenders may change before puck drop.
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