Thursday features a loaded NHL slate with 12 games that should excite all hockey fans. It presents a great opportunity to hit it big, with plenty of options to choose from for our best bets. We saw a huge win last night, correctly predicting the Ducks would upset the Detroit Red Wings. We look to build on the win and our 8-6 record over our last 14 picks.
All betting lines are from Bet365 and are subject to change. Hockey is a difficult sport to predict, so gamble responsibly.
Bet: Leafs ML (+120), Oilers Leafs Under 6.0 Goals (-105)
The Leafs have found ways to win without captain Auston Matthews with a 4-1-0 record since he has been sidelined with an upper-body injury. Strikers Mitch Marner, William Nylander and John Tavares have made a huge step forward in his absence, with the trio combining for ten goals in five games.
Despite their rough stretch of late, the Leafs’ offensive numbers have taken a step back this season with an average of three goals per game. Toronto has instead become more of a defensive-minded team thanks to new bench manager Craig Berube, with the Leafs securing the sixth-best goals against average in the league at 2.61 thanks to some great play from the duo of Anthony Stolarz and Joseph Woll.
Stolarz will likely get the crease, which could spell trouble for the Oilers, as the 30-year-old New Jersey native has a 2.11 goals average this season through 11 starts. Edmonton has won three straight games heading into Saturday, but their offense hasn’t been as productive as last season, averaging 2.76 goals per game this season.
They also have Stuart Skinner in net, who has taken a step back this season with a 3.22 goals against average this season. The Leafs need to slow down and beat the Oilers with their defense.
Bet: Red Wings ML (+165), Patrick Kane more than 0.5 points (-130), Red Wings Kings more than 5.5 goals (-120)
The Kings picked up where they left off last season with an 8-3-3 record to start the season, but have since been throttled with losses in three of their next four games. The Red Wings have managed to carry over almost all of their winning ways from last season, as they have lost nine of their first sixteen games, including tough losses to the Ducks, Sabers and Penguins, among others.
The crowd loves the Kings in this spot because they are at home and are on a two-game losing streak, meaning they may be looking for a win. This seems like a faded opportunity as most teams tend not to lose both games of a back-to-back and the Wings are coming off a 6-4 loss to the Ducks on Friday.
Detroit has also won two straight games against LA and should win the third thanks to an impressive performance from veteran Patrick Kane, who has struggled to find the scoresheet of late with points in just two of his last seven games. He has four goals and six assists for 10 points in his last 11 games against the Kings.
Bet: Stars Wild Under 5.5 Goals (+115), Wild ML (+130)
The disrespect for the Wild is telling, as they have the Dallas Stars as the road favorite against a Minnesota team that has a home record of 4-1-1. The Stars have struggled this season with a 3-4-0 record, but have won four straight games in Minnesota.
It’s been a very different start to the season for the Wild, as they have amassed an 11-2-3 record thanks to their productive defense, which allows the third-fewest goals per game with an average of 2.38. This will compete with the Stars and their superstar netminder Jake Oettinger.
The 25-year-old is returning home because he is a native of Lakeville and Minnesota. He will look to continue his solid start to the season, with a 2.39 goals average.
This betting line is begging for people to take over as they have reduced the total to 5.5 goals, but we’re not going to agree with this and instead trust that both teams’ stellar defense will continue for an elite defensive match . The odds aren’t great, but if you want to pick a side, ride the hot hand and take the Wild and experience a history of losing to the Stars.
