We hit our 3rd straight Best Bet on Tuesday with the Ducks beating the Preds in regulation.
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There are 10 games on Thursday’s NHL slate. We detail our favourite play (and one other we like) as well as a few opinions below.
Good luck with whatever you play!
It’s never easy going against the Sharks in San Jose, but the situation and price looks right to give it a shot here.
After playing a hellish schedule throughout the last few weeks, the Panthers are finally well-rested. Florida is coming off a much-needed three-day break to recover from a stretch in which the Cats played five-in-seven at one point as well as a trio of back-to-backs since February 23. And although Florida lost six of eight games during that span, the Panthers were remarkably competitive given how busy they were. They’ve earned a point in 11 of their last 14 games (it’d be 12 of 14 if not for an incredible late-game collapse in Boston last week, when they allowed the tying and winning goals in the final minute of regulation), and they’ve earned points in six of seven on the road.
While Florida has had three days off, San Jose is playing its third game in four nights and fourth in six. That’s about as opposite as it gets from a rest perspective in the NHL, especially after the Sharks were pushed to the limit Tuesday in Winnipeg in a 5-4 victory. The Panthers are the more desperate team at the moment, they’re rested, they’re coming off back-to-back six-goal outings, and they’ve enjoyed success in this building recently against some very good Sharks teams (6-1 last 7 in San Jose). This underdog looks live, and at plus money, we’ll ask them to earn at least a point tonight.
One other bet, plus some thoughts and opinions:
- Bruins at Jets: After that 19-game point streak, Boston’s now lost two straight. It’s not uncommon to see a team slip a little bit after a lengthy run of success, but we expect the Bruins to bring full focus here tonight in a step-up spot on the road against a tough opponent. Winnipeg hasn’t been as tough a place to win lately for road teams as usual, claiming just two victories in its last seven on home ice. Goals against has been the Jets’ biggest issue there, with Winnipeg giving up 3+ in 9 of its last 11 overall and in 9 straight at home (8 times in regulation). The Bruins moneyline and the Over 6 are angles we also considering here, but we’re playing the Bruins Team Total Over 2.5 -139 instead.
- Lightning at Red Wings: Wow, what a mismatch. It’s not often you see a home team catching +300 on the moneyline, but that’s the case tonight as the Red Wings — losers of 11 of their last 12 — host a Tampa team that has beat them in 14 straight. It’s Tampa Bay or nothing here in our opinion, but a cheap way to back the Bolts could be taking the Red Wings Team Total Under 2.5 +101. Tampa’s held five straight opponents to two goals or less (excluding empty netters), while Detroit’s scored two or less in five of its last seven. The Wings have also scored two or less in eight of the last 10 meetings.
- Penguins at Sabres: The 6.5 total seems a bit high here, given the Penguins’ recent play as well as how impotent the Buffalo attack is without Jack Eichel. Pittsburgh’s winning with defense these days, not offense, allowing 3 or less in 9 straight (excluding empty netters) to key a 6-1-2 surge. Buffalo was blanked 2-0 Tuesday despite outshooting the Stars 35-27 on the night, and it’s hard to imagine confidence being high in the Sabres’ room right now. If we had to play this one, Under 6.5 -110 is the way we’d look.
Good luck!
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