It’s shaping up to be a great evening of NHL hockey tonight, with practically every game on the 12-game slate holding playoff implications.
Buffalo/Ottawa is the only matchup of the night in which neither team is battling for postseason positioning, and it also happens to be the game in which we’ve seen the biggest line movement. The Senators opened yesterday afternoon as home favourites in the -140 range, but steamed up to -180 this morning after the Sabres were routed 5-1 last night at home by Calgary.
We’re personally finding it more difficult these days to find value in the NHL betting lines, which is why we sat out yesterday’s 3-game card following a 1-2 Tuesday. That’s also why we’re a bit later than usual in posting to the site today, having spent much of the day going back and forth on a few matchups.
Ultimately we’ve narrowed things down to just 3 bets for tonight. Good luck on whatever you decide to 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 Colorado: The Avalanche has earned points in 7 of its last 8 games (4-1-3). Columbus was outshot 38-21 in Tuesday’s 4-1 win over Vegas, the 6th time in 8 games the Blue Jackets did not outshoot their opponent.
Reasons to bet Columbus: The Blue Jackets are 20-11-2 at home, where they’ve scored 12 goals in their last 3 games. Colorado has lost 4 of its last 5 on the road, scoring 1 goal in 3 of those outings.
Other things to know:
- Colorado beat Columbus 2-0 Jan. 4 in Colorado
- Colorado is 12-16-5 on the road
- Columbus has allowed 2 goals or less in 6 of its last 8 games
- The Under is 13-3 in the last 16 meetings in Columbus
- The road team has won 6 of the last 8 meetings
Probable goalies: Varlamov (confirmed), Korpisalo (confirmed)
Reasons to bet Montreal: The Canadiens have earned points in 7 of their last 8 games (3-1-4) and have scored 3+ goals in 6 of their last 9.
Reasons to bet Florida: The Panthers are on a 13-3-1 run in their last 17 overall and have also won 13 of 16 at home. Montreal has lost 23 of its last 31 road games.
Other things to know:
- Florida beat Montreal 2-0 Dec. 30 in Florida
- Montreal beat Florida 5-1 Oct. 24 in Montreal
- Florida has scored 3+ goals in 7 straight games (6 times in regulation)
- Montreal has allowed 3 regulation time goals or less in 7 of its last 8 games
- The Under is 5-1-4 in the last 10 meetings in Florida
- The Under is 12-5 in Florida’s last 17 home games
Probable goalies: Lindgren, Luongo (confirmed)
Reasons to bet Anaheim: The Ducks have won 3 straight games and are 7-1-1 in their last 9.
Reasons to bet Nashville: The Predators have won 9 straight and are 23-7-3 at home. Anaheim has scored 2 regulation time goals or less in 4 of its last 5 road games.
Other things to know:
- Nashville beat Anaheim 3-2 in a shootout Dec. 2 in Nashville and 5-3 Nov. 3 in Anaheim
- Anaheim has scored 19 goals in its last 4 games
- Anaheim has allowed 2 goals or less in 8 of its last 10 games
- Nashville has scored 4+ goals in 6 of its last 7 games and 7 of 9
- The Under is 9-3 in Anaheim’s last 12 games
Probable goalies: Gibson (confirmed), Rinne
Reasons to bet Winnipeg: The Jets have won 4 straight road games and 8 of 10 overall. New Jersey has lost 7 of the last 9 meetings.
Reasons to bet New Jersey: The Devils are coming off a 6-goal effort in a win over Montreal on Tuesday. Winnipeg is still below .500 on the road (16-10-7).
Other things to know:
- Winnipeg beat New Jersey 5-2 Nov. 18 in Winnipeg
- New Jersey is 18-13-3 at home
- Winnipeg has scored 3+ goals in 10 straight games (9 excluding empty netters)
- New Jersey has allowed 3+ goals in 5 of its last 7 games
- New Jersey scored 6 goals Tuesday after scoring just 15 regulation time goals in its previous 8 games
- New Jersey’s power play is 7 for 14 in its last 5 games
- Winnipeg’s penalty kill has allowed 2 goals in 15 chances over its last 6 games
- The Under is 7-1-1 in New Jersey’s last 9 games
- The Under is 8-2-1 in the last 11 meetings
Probable goalies: Hellebuyck (confirmed), Schneider (confirmed)
Reasons to bet Philadelphia: The Flyers have won 7 of their last 9 road games. Boston has allowed 3+ goals in 5 of its last 6 games.
Reasons to bet Boston: The Bruins are 23-7-4 at home this year and have won 6 of 8 overall. Philadelphia has lost 4 straight games, allowing 20 goals during that stretch (18 excluding empty netters and overtime).
Other things to know:
- Boston beat Philadelphia 3-2 Dec. 2 in Philadelphia
- Boston has won 7 of its last 8 home games versus Philadelphia and 20 of the 26 meetings overall
- Philadelphia has scored 2 regulation time goals or less in 8 of its last 10 games
- Boston has scored 4+ goals in 3 of its last 4 games
- Philadelphia is playing its second set of back-to-backs in the last 6 days
Probable goalies: Lyon, Rask (confirmed)
Reasons to bet Buffalo: The Sabres have won 4 of the last 5 meetings and 6 of 8. Ottawa is playing its first home game following a 4-game western road trip.
Reasons to bet Ottawa: The Senators have won 5 of 7 at home. Buffalo has been held to 1 regulation time goal in 4 of its last 6 games and 2 or less in 8 of 10.
Other things to know:
- Ottawa beat Buffalo 3-2 in OT Feb. 15 in Ottawa
- Buffalo beat Ottawa 3-2 Dec. 12 in Buffalo
- Buffalo is 11-16-7 on the road
- Buffalo has been outshot 82-50 in its last 2 games
- Ottawa has 1 regulation time win in its last 8 games
- The Under is 5-1-1 in the last 7 meetings in Ottawa and 19-7-1 in the last 27 overall
Probable goalies: Lehner, Anderson (confirmed)
Reasons to bet Vegas: The Golden Knights are 18-12-3 on the road. Detroit has lost 9 of its last 12 home games and 7 of its last 9 overall.
Reasons to bet Detroit: The Red Wings are one of the few teams to beat the Golden Knights in Vegas this season, winning 6-3 Oct. 13. Vegas has lost 4 of its last 5 games and is banged up with injuries.
Other things to know:
- Vegas has allowed 3+ goals in 7 of its last 9 games (6 times in regulation)
- Detroit has allowed 14 goals in its last 3 games
- Detroit is playing its first home game following a 5-game road trip
- The Under is 7-0 in Detroit’s last 7 home games and 24-8 in Detroit’s last 32 overall
Probable goalies: Fleury (confirmed), Howard (confirmed)
Reasons to bet New York: The Rangers have won 5 of their last 6 visits to Tampa, including a 2-1 OT win Nov. 2. The Lightning has allowed 3+ goals in 6 of its last 7 games and 8 of 10.
Reasons to bet Tampa: The Lightning is 7-0-1 in its last 8 games, scoring 4+ goals in 7 of those contests. New York has lost 8 of 11.
Other things to know:
- New York is 12-18-2 on the road
- Tampa is 23-6-2 at home
- The Over is 43-23 in Tampa’s games this year
- The Under is 6-1 in New York’s last 7 games
- Tampa has been outshot 161-115 in its last 4 games
- New York has won 5 of the last 6 meetings
Probable goalies: Lundqvist (confirmed), Vasilevskiy (confirmed)
Reasons to bet Carolina: The Hurricanes have been outshot in just 1 of their last 10 games. Chicago is playing its 4th game in 6 days and has lost 12 of its last 17.
Reasons to bet Chicago: The Blackhawks have won 4 of their last 5 at home. Carolina has lost 8 of 10, allowing 3+ goals in each of those losses.
Other things to know:
- Chicago beat Carolina 4-3 in OT Nov. 11 in Carolina
- Chicago has scored 2 regulation time goals or less in 7 of its last 10 games, excluding empty netters
- Carolina has lost 5 of its last 6 visits to Chicago
- The Under is 13-5 in Carolina’s last 18 games
- The Under is 22-7-1 in Chicago’s last 30 home games
Probable goalies: Darling (confirmed), Berube (confirmed)
Reasons to bet New York: The Islanders are playing better defensively of late, holding 3 of their last 4 opponents under 26 shots and allowing 3 regulation time goals or less in 7 of 9. Edmonton is just 14-17-2 at home.
Reasons to bet Edmonton: The Oilers have won 6 of the last 7 meetings in Edmonton. New York has lost 7 straight games, including 5 straight on the road.
Other things to know:
- Edmonton beat New York 2-1 in OT Nov. 7 in New York
- New York is 13-17-5 on the road
- The home team is 13-2-1 in the last 16 meetings
- Edmonton has allowed 3+ goals in 6 straight games and 7 of 8
- New York has scored 3+ goals in 6 of its last 9 games
- The Under is 6-1 in the last 7 meetings in Edmonton and 12-3-1 in the last 16 meetings overall
Probable goalies: Gibson (confirmed), Talbot
Reasons to bet Washington: The Capitals have won 24 of their last 32 games following a loss by 3+ goals such as Tuesday’s 4-0 loss in Anaheim. LA has not played since Saturday.
Reasons to bet Los Angeles: The Kings have won 7 straight home games versus Washington and 11 of the last 14 meetings overall. The Capitals have scored 6 goals in their last 5 road games, excluding empty netters, and are just 14-13-5 on the road this season.
Other things to know:
- LA beat Washington 5-2 Nov. 30 in Washington
- LA is 16-12-3 at home
- LA has scored 3+ goals in 8 of its last 9 games
- The Over is 12-5-1 in Washington’s last 18 games
- The Over is 6-2 in LA’s last 8 home games
Probable goalies: Grubauer (confirmed), Quick
Reasons to bet St. Louis: The Blues have won 10 of their last 14 games in San Jose. The Sharks have lost 4 of their last 6 games and not have scored a power play goal in 10 straight.
Reasons to bet San Jose: The Sharks are 19-10-3 at home. St. Louis has lost 8 of 9 games, scoring 2 goals or less in 7 of those contests.
Other things to know:
- San Jose beat St. Louis 3-2 Feb. 20 in St. Louis
- The Under is 40-25 in St. Louis’ games this year
- The Under is 38-26 in San Jose’s games this year
- San Jose has scored 4+ goals in 4 of its last 5 home games
- St. Louis has lost 5 straight road games
Probable goalies: Hutton (confirmed), Jones (confirmed)
Good luck!
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