NHL Best Bets
The matchups in the NHL tonight aren’t the greatest, but a couple of storylines are worth paying attention to. It might not seem like a must-watch game, but the Toronto Maple Leafs and Arizona Coyotes game will be fun for multiple reasons. That’s one of the games I am focused on for my NHL best bets, as well as the late-night TNT game between the Boston Bruins and the Edmonton Oilers.
Toronto at Arizona (+170, 6.5)
It’s always special when the Toronto Maple Leafs head into Arizona because it means a homecoming for one of the NHL’s brightest stars, Auston Matthews. However, this trip is even more significant because Matthews can score his 50th goal of the season in the place he grew up. Not only is this a return home for him, but rookie Matthew Knies will also be playing for the first time in Arizona, the place he grew up as well.
The Arizona Coyotes have been on an incredibly rough skid as of late, considering that they’re 0-9-1 in their last 10 games while allowing 4.60 goals against per game on 35.9 shots against.
Matthews has scored 12 goals in his last 10 games and has put up 41 shots on goal in that span, and he is feeling it right now. He has played in Arizona six times in his career and scored a goal in three of those games. He didn’t score on his last trip, so if percentages tell us anything, he is due for a goal tonight.
The Leafs have also won four straight games even though they’re playing without Morgan Rielly, their top defenseman, who is serving a five-game suspension.
Toronto has covered the puck line in three out of the four games of this winning streak, while the Coyotes have lost by more than one goal in seven out of their last 10 games. The Coyotes allow the 7th most high-danger chances against per game (12.63), and I think Matthews, Knies and the Leafs will dominate them tonight.
NHL Best Bet(s): Auston Matthews Anytime Goal Scorer -135 (play to -145) | Maple Leafs -1.5 +120 (play to +100)
Boston at Edmonton (-148, 6.5)
Despite dramatically winning their most recent game, the Boston Bruins have been playing inconsistently since returning from the All-Star break. The Bruins are 2-3-2 in their last seven games. The main cause for why they’re not playing well is their special teams. Their power play has only scored twice on their last 25 attempts, which has them at an 8% conversion rate—fourth-worst in the NHL since the break. Their penalty kill hasn’t been much better, as it is the sixth worst in the league in that span, clicking at a 68.4% rate.
The Edmonton Oilers have won three out of their last four games, and their offense has exploded. They have scored 21 goals in their last four games. They have also won their last eight home games in a row.
Boston’s inconsistency as of late is a bit concerning, while Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, who have combined for 42 points in the last 10 games, continue to find the back of the net.
I like Edmonton to take this one at home.
NHL Best Bet: Edmonton Oilers ML -130 (play to -140)
February Record: 9-12 (-4.27 units)
2023-24 record: 89–105 (-39.05 units)
