It’s a 9-game slate in the National Hockey League tonight as several trade deadline acquisitions are set to make their first appearances with their new teams.
With so many ups and downs over a long season, maintaining your confidence as a handicapper is one of the most difficult things about hockey betting. After going 1-3 Saturday and splitting a pair of Sunday bets, we second-guessed ourselves a bit too much yesterday and passed up what would have been a nice winner on the Maple Leafs First Period Moneyline +132.
It was a good reminder to just trust your numbers and instincts and let the chips fall where they may, win or lose. We’re doing exactly that with our 3 bets for tonight, and hopefully we can close out a strong February in style.
A few other games nearly made the cut as well. We initially were going to bet Hurricanes/Bruins Under 5.5, but quickly changed our minds once Scott Darling was announced as the Carolina starter. You never know what you’re going to get with him, and the Bruins lit him up the last time he played in Boston.
The Devils Team Total Under and the Golden Knights -0.5 first period puck line are the other leans we feel strongest about today. New Jersey’s been struggling a bit offensively and the Pens might focus a bit more on protecting young netminder Jake DeSmith (especially after Pittsburgh allowed 6 goals Saturday in Florida), while the Knights have been tremendous in first periods at home all year and the Kings are known for getting off to slow starts.
Good luck on whatever you decide to play 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.
Reasons to bet Toronto: The Leafs are 13-2-1 in their last 16 games. Florida has allowed 3+ goals in 6 of its last 8 games.
Reasons to bet Florida: The Panthers have won 5 of their last 7 games and 9 of 12. Toronto is playing for the second straight night and 3rd in 4, while the Panthers have been off since Saturday.
Other things to know:
- Toronto beat Florida 1-0 last Tuesday in Toronto
- Toronto is 17-12-4 on the road
- Florida is 15-9-3 at home
- The home team is 6-0-1 in the last 7 meetings
- Toronto has scored 3+ goals in 9 of its last 10 games (8 times in regulation)
- Florida has scored 3+ goals in 5 of its last 7 games
- Toronto has lost 11 of its last 16 visits to Florida
Probable goalies: McElhinney, Luongo (confirmed)
Reasons to bet St. Louis: The Blues have outshot the Wild 119-70 in 3 meetings this season. Minnesota is playing its 4th game in 6 days.
Reasons to bet Minnesota: The Wild is 21-5-6 at home this season and is 7-1-2 in its last 10 overall. St. Louis has lost 6 straight, scoring just 7 goals during that span.
Other things to know:
- Minnesota beat St. Louis 6-2 Feb. 6 in St. Louis and 2-1 in OT Dec. 2 in Minnesota
- St. Louis beat Minnesota 6-3 Nov. 25 in St. Louis
- St. Louis is 15-11-4 on the road
- St. Louis has allowed 3+ goals in 5 of its last 6 games
- Minnesota has scored 3+ goals in 8 of its last 10 games (7 times in regulation)
- Minnesota has allowed 2 regulation time goals or less in 6 of its last 8 games
- The Under is 23-9-1 in St. Louis’ last 33 games
Probable goalies: Allen (confirmed), Dubnyk (confirmed)
Reasons to bet Calgary: The Flames are 18-8-5 on the road and have scored 3+ goals in 8 of their last 10 games overall. Dallas has lost 4 of 6, allowing 5+ goals 3 times during that skid.
Reasons to bet Dallas: The Stars are 21-10-1 at home and have beaten Calgary twice already this season, winning 6-4 Nov. 24 in Dallas and 2-1 Oct. 27 in Calgary.
Other things to know:
- Both teams are playing on 2 days rest
- Calgary has won 16 of its last 21 games when playing on 2 days rest
- The road team has won 9 of the last 13 meetings
- The Over is 7-3-2 in the last 12 meetings in Dallas and 15-6-3 in the last 24 meetings overall
Probable goalies: Gillies (confirmed), Bishop (confirmed)
Reasons to bet Carolina: The Hurricanes look to avenge the 7-1 loss they suffered in their last visit to Boston on Jan. 6. Boston is playing its first home game following a 5-game road trip and is without Bergeron.
Reasons to bet Boston: The Bruins should be motivated to get back on track after falling 4-1 Sunday in Buffalo, Boston’s third loss in 5 games. Carolina has lost 5 straight, scoring just 6 goals during that span.
Other things to know:
- Carolina is 12-14-4 on the road
- Boston is 19-7-4 at home
- 7 of the last 9 meetings went to OT
- Boston has allowed 4+ goals in 3 of its last 5 games
- The Under is 6-2-2 in the last 10 meetings
- The Under is 10-2 in Boston’s last 12 games when playing for the third time in 4 days
Probable goalies: Darling (confirmed), Rask
Reasons to bet Ottawa: The Senators have scored 3+ goals in 9 of their last 10 games. Washington lost 5-1 last night in Columbus, its 4th defeat in its last 6 games and 6th in 9.
Reasons to bet Washington: The Capitals have won 7 of the last 8 meetings, including a pair of wins earlier this season. Ottawa has allowed 19 regulation time goals in its last 4 road games.
Other things to know:
- Washington beat Ottawa 5-2 Nov. 22 in Washington and 5-4 in a shootout Oct. 5 in Ottawa
- Ottawa has allowed 4+ goals in 3 of its last 4 games and 5 of 8
- Washington has scored 2 goals or less in 5 of its last 6 games (excluding empty netters)
- Washington has allowed 3+ goals in 4 of its last 6 games and 6 of 9
- Ottawa has lost 16 of its last 21 visits to Washington
- The Under is 9-3 in the last 12 meetings in Washington and 17-8 in the last 25 meetings overall
Probable goalies: Condon (confirmed), Grubauer (confirmed)
Reasons to bet New Jersey: The Devils have won 5 of their last 7 games and are 15-10-5 on the road. New Jersey outshot the Penguins 38-16 in a 3-1 win over Pittsburgh Feb. 3 in New Jersey.
Reasons to bet Pittsburgh: The Penguins have won 10 straight at home, where they are 23-7-1 on the year. New Jersey has lost 14 of its last 17 visits to Pittsburgh.
Other things to know:
- New Jersey has scored 7 regulation time goals in its last 4 games
- New Jersey has allowed 2 goals or less in 3 of its last 4 games and 4 of 6
- Pittsburgh has scored 21 goals in its last 4 games and 4+ goals in 7 of its last 9
- Pittsburgh has won 16 of its last 21 games overall
- The Over is 6-1 in Pittsburgh’s last 7 home games
- The Under is 14-6-2 in the last 22 meetings
Probable goalies: Kinkaid (confirmed), DeSmith (confirmed)
Reasons to bet Nashville: The Predators have won 4 straight and are 6-2-2 in their last 10. Winnipeg has cooled off a bit at home, going 3-3 in its last 6 after going 20-4-1 in its first 25.
Reasons to bet Winnipeg: The Jets have won 5 of 6 overall, averaging nearly 5 goals per game during that stretch.
Other things to know:
- Winnipeg beat Nashville 6-4 Dec. 19 in Nashville
- Nashville beat Winnipeg 5-3 Nov. 20 in Nashville
- Nashville is 16-7-6 on the road
- Nashville has scored 3+ goals in 4 straight games and 8 of 9
- Nashville has allowed 5 goals in its last 4 games
- The Over is 6-2-1 in the last 9 meetings
- The Under is 8-3-1 in the last 12 meetings in Winnipeg
Probable goalies: Rinne, Hellebuyck (confirmed)
Reasons to bet Los Angeles: The Kings are 19-13-2 on the road and could have momentum from their comeback OT win over Vegas last night in LA. The Golden Knights have allowed 3+ goals in 4 of their last 5 games and 7 of 10.
Reasons to bet Vegas: The Golden Knights are 24-5-2 at home. Though both teams are playing for the second straight night, LA is also playing its 3rd in 4, 4th in 6 and 6th in 9.
Other things to know:
- LA has scored 3+ goals in 5 of its last 7 games and 8 of 10
- LA has allowed 2 goals or less in 4 of its last 6 games
- Vegas has scored 4+ goals in 5 of its last 7 games and 7 of 10
- The Under is 15-5-6 in LA’s last 26 games playing on 0 days rest
Probable goalies: Quick, Fleury
Reasons to bet Edmonton: The Oilers have won 4 of their last 5 games and recorded 40+ shots in 4 of 6. San Jose has scored just 7 goals in its last 4 games and is playing its first home game in 9 days.
Reasons to bet San Jose: The Sharks are 17-9-3 at home, where they’ve scored 19 goals in their last 4 games. Edmonton has allowed 3+ goals in 7 of its last 10.
Other things to know:
- San Jose beat Edmonton 6-4 Feb. 10 in San Jose
- Edmonton beat San Jose 5-3 Dec. 18 in Edmonton
- Edmonton has won 5 of the last 7 meetings and 8 of 11 (including playoffs)
- Edmonton has scored 14 goals in its last 3 road games
- San Jose has allowed 2 regulation time goals or less in 6 of its last 8 games
- Edmonton is playing its 7th game in 11 days
- The Over is 9-4-1 in the last 14 meetings in San Jose
Probable goalies: Talbot, Jones
Good luck!
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