We took yesterday off after splitting our two Best Bets on Saturday night, winning with the Hurricanes Team Total Over 2.5 but dropping the Rangers/Kings Over 5 as LA was blanked 3-0.
Saturday was a tough day for our leans on the rest of the games, however, as our overall opinions went 4-8.
Posting and tracking leans on every game was an experiment we started in early November, not really sure how things would work out considering it’s virtually impossible to find an edge in every game. It worked very well for the first 3 months but it’s become clear (this month especially) that we’re not finding edges in every game anymore.
So starting today, we’re going to switch gears a bit. We’ll still post the usual stats and trends for every game, but we’re only going to post leans for games we have fairly strong opinions on. If we don’t have a strong opinion, we’ll say “pass” and list the betting angle we considered the most.
It doesn’t really do anyone any good if we’re forcing leans on games simply to have one for every game on the board.
Alright, onto tonight’s schedule where there are 6 games on the schedule. We’ve got a Best Bet and a lean for tonight, and passing on the 4 other games (including a pair of big mismatches on paper where we think it’s difficult to find any decent value.)
Good luck tonight!
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.
Florida has been an excellent first period team on the road this year, despite the fact they’ve won just 15 of 36 games away from home (15-13-8). The Panthers have outscored their hosts 33-25 in first periods. In contrast, the Sabres have been slow starters at home, getting outscored 30-25 in first periods despite being a respectable 18-13-6 on home ice.
The Panthers should also come into tonight’s game with plenty of confidence after blowing out the Blackhawks 7-0 Saturday at home. Florida has now allowed 1 goal in its last 2 games and 2 or less in 4 of 7, while scoring 17 goals in their last 5 outings.
Buffalo is coming off a nice 5-2 win Saturday over Toronto, but the Sabres always seem to elevate their game when they host the Leafs. Prior to that, Buffalo had scored just 5 regulation time goals in its previous 5 games, and they’d lost 11 of 15.
The Panthers have won 11 of the last 14 meetings between these teams, and 7 of their last 9 visits to Buffalo. We expect them to have the early edge tonight.
Bet this game at Pinnacle – The best NHL odds online!
Reasons to bet Nashville: The Predators have won 3 straight games and 6 of 7, and have points in 8 of their last 9 games (6-1-2). New York has been limited to 2 regulation time goals or less in 4 of its last 6 games and is playing its 4th game in 6 days.
Reasons to bet New York: The Islanders are 20-11-7 at home while the Predators are 15-17-4 on the road. New York should be the more desperate team, currently on the outside of the playoffs while the Preds have all but clinched a post-season spot.
Other things to know:
- The Over is 20-7-1 in Nashville’s last 28 games
- The Over is 38-31 in New York’s games this year
- Nashville has scored 3+ goals in 5 of its last 7 games and 7 of 10
- Nashville has allowed 2 regulation time goals or less in 6 of its last 8 games
- New York has allowed 2 regulation time goals or less in 4 straight games and 5 of 6
- The home team has won 5 of the last 6 meetings
- New York has lost 4 straight games at home
Probable goalies: Rinne, Greiss (confirmed)
Reasons to bet Detroit: The Red Wings have allowed just 7 goals in their last 5 games and are 4-1-1 in their last 6. Carolina is playing its first home game in 10 days and has lost 6 of its last 8 home games following a road trip of a week or more.
Reasons to bet Carolina: The Hurricanes are on a 7-0-3 surge and still have hope of making the playoffs, while Detroit is out of playoff contention. The Red Wings have scored just 5 regulation time goals in their last 4 games.
Other things to know:
- Detroit beat Carolina 4-2 Oct. 25 in Carolina
- Detroit is 15-16-6 on the road
- Carolina is 21-10-4 at home
- 4 of Detroit’s last 6 games went to OT
- Detroit is playing its 2nd of 3 games in 3 days
- The teams will play again tomorrow night, again in Carolina
- Carolina has scored 3+ goals in 6 straight games and 8 of 10
- Carolina has allowed 2 regulation time goals or less in 5 of its last 7
- Detroit has lost 13 of its last 18 road games
- The Under is 6-1-1 in the last 8 meetings in Carolina
- Detroit is 22-7-1 in the last 30 meetings
Probable goalies: Mrazek (confirmed), Lack
Reasons to bet Chicago: The Blackhawks look to bounce back after getting whipped 7-0 Saturday in Florida. Chicago has won 13 of its last 16 road games while Tampa’s allowed 5 goals in each of its last 3 home games, all losses.
Reasons to bet Tampa: The Lightning has won 6 of 9 overall, and 6 of its last 8 versus the Hawks. Chicago has allowed 17 goals in its last 4 games.
Other things to know:
- Tampa beat Chicago 5-2 Jan. 24 in Chicago
- Chicago is 23-12-1 on the road
- Tampa is 19-14-3 at home
- The Under is 6-1 in the last 7 meetings
- The Under is 8-3 in Tampa’s last 11 games
- The Over is 23-9-1 in Chicago’s last 33 games
- The Over is 15-4-3 in Chicago’s last 22 road games
- Chicago is 6-1-1 in its last 8 games
Probable goalies: Darling (confirmed), Vasilevskiy
Reasons to bet Arizona: Potential letdown spot for the Blues after Saturday’s 3-2 OT loss at home to Calgary. Other than that and the +250 moneyline, it’s hard to make a case to back the Coyotes.
Reasons to bet St. Louis: The Blues are 9-1-1 in their last 11 games and have won 22 of their last 29 meetings with Arizona. The Coyotes have lost 5 of 6 and are playing their final game of a 5-game road trip.
Other things to know:
- St. Louis beat Arizona 3-0 March 18 in Arizona
- Arizona is 11-23-4 on the road
- St. Louis is 21-11-5 at home
- Arizona has allowed 3+ goals in 6 straight games
- Arizona has scored 1 goal or less in 4 of its last 5 games
- St. Louis has allowed 2 regulation time goals or less in 7 straight games
- St. Louis has scored 3+ goals in 7 of its last 9 games (2+ goals in 9 of 10)
- The Over is 15-6-5 in St. Louis’ last 26 home games
- The Under is 6-1-2 in the last 9 meetings in St. Louis
Probable goalies: Smith, Allen (confirmed)
Reasons to bet Colorado: Sandwich spot for the Flames, who won in OT Saturday in St. Louis and have home games with the Kings, Sharks and Ducks later this week.
Reasons to bet Calgary: The Flames have won 8 of their last 9 home games and 18 of their last 24 overall. Colorado is 1-17-1 in its last 19 road games.
Other things to know:
- Calgary beat Colorado 4-1 Jan. 4 in Calgary and 6-3 Dec. 27 in Colorado
- Calgary has scored 3+ goals in 8 of its last 9 meetings with Colorado
- Colorado has allowed 26 goals in its last 5 games
- Colorado has scored 3+ goals in 5 of its last 10 games
- Calgary has scored 2 regulation time goals or less in 4 of its last 6 games
- Calgary has allowed 2+ goals in 6 of its last 7 games (3+ goals against in 4 of 7)
- Colorado is averaging 1.65 goals per game on the road this season
Probable goalies: Pickard, Elliott (confirmed)
Good luck!
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