We are coming down the stretch of regular season NHL betting on the schedule, with postseason races picking up steam this week. Josh Inglis body checks the NHL odds, giving you his best picks and predictions on the ice.
COLORADO AVALANCHE AT LOS ANGELES KINGS
NOT TOO LATE TO CROWN THEM
The Los Angeles Kings have ripped off five straight wins against some of the league’s best teams and host the Avalanche on Monday. Over the winning streak, the Kings have outscored their opponents 16-6 and face a Colorado team that has conceded 10 goals in its last two games.
The Kings have taken three of four points in the previous two matchups this year with the Under hitting comfortably in both those contests. We may be getting on the Kings’ train a little late, but with wins of +260, +155 and +125 in their last three it might be worth a half-unit or more to take L.A. on the moneyline as home underdogs on Monday, especially with the Avs on the backend of a back-to-back.
TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING AT TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS
LIGHTNING TO ZAP LEAFS’ OFFENSE
The Toronto Maple Leafs return home on Tuesday after a three-game California trip that saw them gain just one of six points. The Buds’ offense has turned stagnant as the usually high-scoring club has potted just three goals in its last three games. The offense will have to find a solution as Tuesday’s opponents, the Tampa Bay Lightning, have scored 10 goals in the two meetings with the Leafs this year.
The Lightning are coming off a huge win on Saturday versus the Bruins and have an 18-4 SU record versus the Atlantic division this year. Toronto, on the other hand, has played to an 11-10 SU record against the Atlantic this year. We are taking the Lightning on the moneyline in what should be decent odds for the away team.
PITTSBURGH PENGUINS AT NEW JERSEY DEVILS
RUNNING WITH THE DEVILS
If you are looking for an underdog on Tuesday’s eight-game slate, maybe New Jersey is your team. The Devils host a struggling Pittsburgh Penguins team that has lost its two most recent games by a combined score of 11-4. New Jersey has ripped off five straight wins on home ice which includes wins against the Capitals and Blues.
The surprisingly competitive play from the Devils has a lot to do with its goaltending. Teams have only been scoring 2.44 goals per game in New Jersey since the beginning of February and the team sits second in scoring chance save percentage, fourth in high-danger save percentage and fourth in overall save percentage over that time. We are running with Devils on the moneyline Tuesday night.
NEW YORK RANGERS AT COLORADO AVALANCHE
INTERCONFERENCE SCORING
Sometimes when we are looking for Overs late in the season, digging into interconference games is the best bet. Wednesday brings us an East versus West matchup in the New York Rangers and the Colorado Avalanche. Both teams are scoring and giving up nearly three goals per game over their last five with the Rangers having conceded a league-high 24 goals in their last five. New York has also hit the Over in five straight away games and is 7-2 O/U in its last nine away games versus the West.
Colorado was riding some of the league’s best goaltending but the Avs have looked sloppy defensively of late giving up 13 goals in its last three. Their offense has also turned a bit of a corner having netted three goals or more in five of its last six. We think this game can easily get to 3-3 so we are riding the Over 6 with confidence on Wednesday.
GOALIE PROFILE: JUUSE SAROS, NASHVILLE PREDATORS
Juuse Saros has taken over the No. 1 spot in Nashville as he has started 14 of the Predators’ last 20 games. Over those 14 games, the young goaltender has a 10-4 record with three shutouts including back-to-back blankings of the Stars last Thursday and Saturday.
The Under has hit in Saros’ last three games and Nashville is 0-3 O/U in its last three away games ahead of its road trip that will see stops in Montreal on Tuesday, Toronto on Thursday and Columbus on Saturday. We are riding the Preds’ new recipe for victory which is to keep the scoring to a minimum. Nashville is on strict Under protocol going forward.
INJURY UPDATE: VICTOR HEDMAN D, TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING
The Lightning may be without stud defenseman Victor Hedman for Tuesday’s match with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Hedman is nearly a point-per-game d-man and captain of the powerplay. The veteran is dealing with a lower-body injury and already missed Sunday’s game against the Red Wings.
Tampa Bay has scored 47 powerplay goals on the year with Hedman getting a point on 22 them. With the team scoring on the PP at 26 percent over the last three weeks, we are expecting a regression with the man advantage. The Lighting may be a good team to back the Under with Hedman on the shelf, especially while on the road as they are 15-18-1 O/U away from Tampa on the season.
HAT TRICK TRENDS
• The underdogs crushed it over the last seven days going 27-20 SU for 57.2 percent. Home dogs led the charge with an 11-6 record for an impressive 64 percent. Over the last month, dogs have been hitting at 45 percent and 44 percent across the season.
• The Dallas Stars have the best Under record on home ice in the league. On the year, the Stars are 8-24-1 O/U at home and host the New York Rangers on Tuesday. The New York Islanders have one of the best away Under records as they sit 9-19-4 O/U on the road this year. They travel to Vancouver on Tuesday.
• Looking at teams’ goals for and against over the last two weeks, the Washington Capitals, Vancouver Canucks and Ottawa Senators are the only teams that averaging at least three goals a game and allowing at least three goals a game.
Odds to win the 2019-20 Stanley Cup
| Team | Odds to win 2019-20 Stanley Cup |
|---|---|
| Boston Bruins | +500 |
| St. Louis Blues | +650 |
| Colorado Avalanche | +650 |
| Tampa Bay Lightning | +700 |
| Vegas Golden Knights | +800 |
| Washington Capitals | +1,100 |
| Dallas Stars | +1,400 |
| Pittsburgh Penguins | +1,400 |
| Philadelphia Flyers | +1,400 |
| Edmonton Oilers | +1,800 |
| Toronto Maple Leafs | +2,000 |
| New York Islanders | +2,200 |
| Calgary Flames | +2,500 |
| Vancouver Canucks | +2,800 |
| Carolina Hurricanes | +2,800 |
| Columbus Blue Jackets | +3,000 |
| Nashville Predators | +3,500 |
| Minnesota Wild | +4,000 |
| New York Rangers | +4,000 |
| Winnipeg Jets | +4,000 |
| Arizona Coyotes | +4,000 |
| Florida Panthers | +7,000 |
| Buffalo Sabres | +25,000 |
| Montreal Canadiens | +25,000 |
| Chicago Blackhawks | +27,500 |
| San Jose Sharks | +100,000 |
| Anaheim Ducks | +200,000 |
| New Jersey Devils | +200,000 |
| Los Angeles Kings | +300,000 |
| Ottawa Senators | +400,000 |
| Detroit Red Wings | OTB |
