NHL best bets and expert picks
There are 11 different games across the board with a ton of exciting storylines.
I’m looking at three specific games because I have some questions about the teams that are involved.
Is this a must-win for the New Jersey Devils? If the Islanders beat the Oilers, will they finally start earning some respect around the league? Is it too late for the Senators to turn their season around with a coaching change?
Let’s get into the action.
NHL Odds | NHL Betting Splits | NHL Matchups | More NHL Picks
Philadelphia at New Jersey (166, 6.5)
Tonight might be the biggest game of the New Jersey Devils’ entire season. After a brutal 5-1 loss to the Anaheim Ducks on home ice on Sunday night, the Devils are in sixth place in the Metropolitan Division with 33 points on the season.
The Philadelphia Flyers are currently second in the division (37 points), so these points matter slightly more for the Devils than a typical game. The Flyers have been playing some really strong hockey lately, going 7-1-2 in their last 10 games.
Philadelphia has won six of their last seven games, but something about tonight’s feels different for New Jersey. The Devils haven’t been playing all that badly. Sure, their last game was a stinker, but before that loss against the Ducks, the Devils had won five of their last six games.
The Devils have been a much better offensive team than the Flyers as of late. Dating back to November 28th, the Devils are scoring the sixth-most goals per game (3.40), but their biggest issue has been keeping the puck out of their net. They’re also allowing 3.40 goals against per game, but with an opponent like the Flyers, whose offense isn’t all that scary, it’s not as big of a concern.
In the same span, the Flyers are averaging 2.67 goals per game and are only skating to 11.5% conversion on the power play.
In the Devils, last 10 games, Jack Hughes, Jesper Bratt and Nico Hischier have been buzzing, and this team will need those three to carry them tonight. In that span, Hughes has tallied 14 points (eight goals, six assists), Bratt has added 11 points (four goals, seven assists) and Hischier has put home 10 points (four goals, six assists).
The Devils haven’t confirmed their starting goaltender yet, but I’m putting my faith in Hughes, Bratt and Hischier to play as desperate as this team needs them to.
Bet: New Jersey Devils to win in regulation -125 (play to -140)
Edmonton at NY Islanders (+120, 6.5)
The Edmonton Oilers and New York Islanders come into tonight’s contest on two-game losing streaks, but before those two losses, they were playing phenomenal hockey.
The Oilers didn’t necessarily get what they deserved in their last couple of outings. They’ve played strong enough to win those games despite what the scoreboard might show.
If I were to ask the question, which team do you think has been performing better offensively and defensively as of late, I think most answers would be the opposite of the actual stats. Believe it or not, the Islanders have been better offensively than the Oilers, and the Oilers have been the stronger defensive team than the Islanders.
That said, Edmonton’s overall numbers on both sides of the puck have been better than New York’s. Sticking to the November 28th date, the Oilers have had a better power play and penalty kill and have done a much better job at keeping the puck out of their own net.
Connor McDavid and Stuart Skinner have been outstanding for Edmonton. McDavid has tallied 25 points in the team’s last 10 games, and Skinner has gone 7-1-0 with a 2.13 goals against average and a .917 save percentage.
Ilya Sorokin was in the starter’s net at the Islanders’ morning skate, and he has not been at his best as of late. Sorokin is 3-1-2 in his last six appearances with a 3.56 goals against average and a .902 save percentage.
I like what the Oilers are cooking right now, and I think this is a game for them to get back in the win column.
Bet: Edmonton Oilers ML -142 (play to -155)
Ottawa at Arizona (-105, 6.5)
The Ottawa Senators have made a ton of headlines this season, and that trend continued on Monday when they let go of their head coach, DJ Smith. Now, the Senators look to Jacques Martin to lead the way.
The Senators have lost four straight games, but as we’ve seen in the past, it can light a fire within the group when teams change coaches. This firing could be the exact kick in the butt that the Senators need to get going in the right direction.
The Arizona Coyotes weren’t playing such a good stretch of hockey, but they have actually shut out their opponents in back-to-back games. That said, even if their record isn’t strong, the Senators have a ton of offensive weapons like Brady Tkachuk, Tim Stutzle, Drake Batherson, Vladimir Tarasenko, Josh Norris and Claude Giroux. In my opinion, the Senators’ top six, at least on paper, is just as strong as any other team in the league.
The Coyotes have lost four of their last six games, and I think this is a good spot for the Senators to get things going.
Bet: Ottawa Senators ML -115 (play to -125)
