It’s a four-game Friday slate in the National Hockey League, beginning with an early start in Vegas as the Golden Knights host the Tampa Bay Lightning. After a slow start, Vegas has picked up a bit of steam lately (3-0-1 in its last 4) and it’ll be interesting to see how the Knights fare in this showdown with the red-hot Bolts.
We enjoyed a 2-0 night yesterday, winning with the Canadiens first period moneyline and the Blue Jackets/Blues first period over. Leans went 3-2 as well, so it’s encouraging to feel like we’re finally starting to get a feel for the league after a slow start to the betting season.
Winnipeg certainly looks like the easiest play on the board, but we’d recommend being cautious about fading the Red Wings here. Detroit coach Jeff Blashill (who can’t be feeling that great about job security these days) put his team through the ringer in practice Tuesday and his team’s had three days to prepare for this one. Detroit struggles to score goals on the best of days, but the Wings might finally get a few tonight facing a Jets defense that has been leaky so far this season and a backup netminder in Laurent Brossoit.
As you’ll read below, we considered backing the Red Wings (and still might). For now, we’re just going with one play on the early game between Tampa Bay and Vegas.
Good luck on whatever you play!
Odds below are at the time we made the pick. Be sure to check out our live odds page for updated odds on today’s games.
Reasons to bet Tampa: The Lightning is 5-0-1 in its last 6 games and has yet to lose in regulation on the road (2-0-1). Vegas has scored 2 regulation time goals or less in 8 of its first 9 games, excluding empty netters.
Reasons to bet Vegas: The Golden Knights are 3-0-1 in their last 4, allowing only 4 regulation time goals during that stretch. Tampa is playing its fourth straight road game.
Other things to know:
- Tampa has allowed 2 goals or less in 4 of its last 6 games
- The Under is 5-0 in Vegas’ last 5 games
- Tampa has allowed 1 power play goal this season
- Vegas has scored only 2 power play goals this season
- The Over is 19-8-4 in Tampa’s last 31 road games
Probable goalies: Vasilevskiy, Fleury
Reasons to bet Winnipeg: The Jets are 4-1-1 in their last 6 games and have scored at least 4 goals in 4 of their last 5. Detroit has won just 1 of its first 9 games, and that win came in OT.
Reasons to bet Detroit: The Red Wings split their 4 meetings with Winnipeg last year and are 2-0-2 in their last 4 home games versus the Jets. Winnipeg is playing its first road game since Oct. 11 and may look past the Wings with a visit to Toronto scheduled tomorrow night.
Other things to know:
- Winnipeg has allowed 3+ goals in 4 of its last 5 games
- Winnipeg has allowed 34+ shots in 5 of its last 6 games
- Detroit has allowed 3+ goals in all 9 of its games (7 times in regulation)
- Detroit has scored 3+ goals in 7 of its last 8 games versus Winnipeg
- The Under is 12-5 in Detroit’s last 17 home games
- The Over is 7-3 in the last 10 meetings in Detroit
Probable goalies: Brossoit (confirmed), Howard (confirmed)
Reasons to bet San Jose: The Sharks are coming off a 5-4 comeback win at Nashville on Tuesday and have scored 14 goals in their last 3 games. Carolina has allowed 3+ goals in 6 of its last 7 games, the only exception coming against a struggling Red Wings attack.
Reasons to bet Carolina: The Hurricanes have outshot their last 5 opponents by a combined total of 102 shots. San Jose has lost 7 of its last 10 trips to Carolina.
Other things to know:
- Carolina has scored just 6 goals in its last 4 games, excluding empty netters
- Carolina has held 7 straight opponents to 27 shots or less
- San Jose has outshot each of its opponents this year, 6 of the 9 by double digits
Probable goalies: Dell, Mrazek (confirmed)
Reasons to bet Ottawa: The Senators have won 4 straight meetings with the Avs and 6 of the last 8. Colorado was limited to just 11 shots over the last 2 periods of Wednesday’s 1-0 home loss to the Lightning.
Reasons to bet Colorado: The Avalanche is playing tremendous defense so far this year, allowing 1 goal in each of its last 3 games and holding 8 of 10 opponents to 2 regulation time goals or less. Ottawa has surrendered 3+ goals in 6 of its 8 games this season.
Other things to know:
- Ottawa’s 2 wins over Colorado last year came on back-to-back days in Finland
- Ottawa had scored 4+ goals in 4 straight games before Tuesday’s 4-1 loss to Boston
- Ottawa is playing its first road game following a 5-game homestand
- The Under is 5-1 in Colorado’s last 6 games
- The Over is 7-1 in the last 8 meetings
Probable goalies: Anderson (confirmed), Grubauer (confirmed)
Good luck!
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