NHL Best Bets
Hockey is such a weird sport, man. The Edmonton Oilers were by far the much better team last night, but the Minnesota Wild were able to come away with the win. There is a lot of NHL to watch today, and it starts relatively early. Let’s get into my NHL best bets.
Montreal at New Jersey (-230, 6.5)
The New Jersey Devils might be playing inconsistently, but one thing that remains constant about their team is the play of Jack Hughes. Hughes is coming off of a game where the Devils lost, but he was able to generate 10 shots on goal. He has 17 shots on goal combined in his previous two games, and he has now had a minimum of five shots on goal in seven straight games.
The Montreal Canadiens allow the fifth-most high-danger chances against at 5-on-5 (12.37). They also happen to allow the third-most shots on goal against per game (33.4).
The Devils NEED points and have to play with a little more urgency as they look to end this little skid that they’re on. If they’re going to do so, Hughes is going to lead the charge.
NHL Best Bet: Jack Hughes over 4.5 shots on goal -135 (play to -145)
NY Rangers at Philadelphia (+114, 6)
The New York Rangers are looking to tie a franchise record for the first time since the 1972-73 and 1939-40 seasons when they won 10 straight games.
The Rangers are currently on a nine-game winning streak, and the Philadelphia Flyers have lost two of his last three games but did win their most recent contest. However, it was against the Chicago Blackhawks.
The Rangers won the first meeting between these two teams in Philadelphia 3-1. During this win streak, they have been getting excellent goaltending between Igor Shesterkin and Jonathan Quick. Shesterkin has started the last three straight games, and because this is the first night of a back-to-back, it will be interesting to see who Peter Laviolette decides to start. At the time of writing this, there hasn’t been a starting goalie announced, but I have a feeling it will be Shesterkin today and Quick tomorrow. In his last five starts, Shesterkin is 5-0-0 and has only allowed 10 goals against in that span while skating to a .945 save percentage. He’s also had one shutout. Quick is 4-0-0 in his last four starts as he’s boasting a 1.98 goals against average and a .932 save percentage.
Not only are the Rangers getting incredible goaltending, but their offense has also come through in big ways. They’re scoring 4.33 goals per game, while the Flyers are allowing 3.00 goals against per game.
The Rangers are getting scoring throughout the entire lineup. That’s what is making them a bit scarier during this streak.
I think they will get to 10 straight.
NHL Best Bet: New York Rangers ML -135 (play to -145)
Toronto at Colorado (-120, 6.5)
The Toronto Maple Leafs and Colorado Avalanche are set for their second meeting of the season. The Maple Leafs are currently riding a six-game winning streak, and they have been able to fill the net during it.
Since their streak started, the Leafs have been scoring 4.80 goals per game. Their power play has been firing on all cylinders, clicking at a 51.9% rate.
Auston Matthews has scored 10 goals in the team’s last six games, while Bobby McMann has added seven of his own. William Nylander has notched six as well. That said, it will be a tough challenge for the Leafs as the Avalanche are 22-5-0 on home ice. The Avs have been struggling to win games because they’re allowing 3.44 goals against per game through their last nine games. Welcoming in a team as offensively hot as Toronto could cause them more trouble.
Nathan MacKinnon has eight points in his last five games, but the Avalanche need some of their other guys to get going here.
Toronto has been getting good goaltending from Ilya Samsonov, who is today’s expected starter, but there’s never an easy night against the high-flying Avalanche offense.
This game should be very back-and-forth, with a ton of offensive talent on both sides. I expect to see a lot of scoring.
NHL Best Bet: Over 6.5 -142 (play to -155)
February Record: 13-16 (-4.78 units)
2023-24 record: 93–109 (-39.56 units)
