NHL best bets and expert picks
Become a VSiN Pro Subscriber to get the 2023-24 NHL Betting Guide.
NHL Odds | NHL Betting Splits | NHL Matchups | More NHL Picks
It was a great 2-0 day yesterday, but with a light Friday in the NHL, I don’t like many plays. There are only three NHL games tonight, but just like yesterday, the first game will be at 2 p.m. EST today because of the Global Series in Sweden.
The Global Series game is the only one I’ll be looking at today.
Toronto Maple Leafs at Detroit Red Wings (+142, 6.5)
The Detroit Red Wings played in a wild game in Sweden yesterday. They erased a 4-0 deficit against the Ottawa Senators, but they couldn’t find a way to win the game in overtime.
Detroit has no issue scoring goals, but like we saw yesterday, they have a hard time keeping pucks out of their own net. The team they’re playing today, the Toronto Maple Leafs, are a team that is very scary offensively, especially in their last four games. The Leafs have won three of their last four contests, and they have been filling the net in doing so. Toronto has scored a combined 19 goals in their last four games, and their forwards have been buzzing.
Two guys that have stood out for the Leafs lately are Auston Matthews and William Nylander. This is a homecoming game for Nylander since he is a Swedish NHL’er, so look for him to have an extra jump in his step. In their last five games, Matthews has five goals and two assists, while Nylander has four goals and four assists.
These two teams are both in the top 10 as far as offense goes. The Red Wings enter this game ranked fifth, scoring 3.69 goals per game, as the Leafs are 9th, averaging 3.53 goals each night.
That said, both of them are in the bottom half of the league defensively. Detroit is allowing 3.38 goals against, and Toronto is giving up 3.53 goals.
Offense took over in yesterday’s Global Series game, and I’m expecting the same thing today. Let’s see some goals!
Bet: *2 units Over 6.5 -125 (play to -140)
2023-24 record: 36-41-0 (-7.83 units)