Category: NHL

Two West Coast NHL games have my attention tonight.

The pregame narrative: The Vancouver Canucks wrap up their homestand with the New Jersey Devils in town and I expect them to win. Elsewhere, back the Vegas Golden Knights to beat the Los Angeles Kings.

Find my NHL best bets for Oct. 30 below.

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Best Bet: Canucks moneyline (-124)

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Vancouver has impressed to start the season with a 4-1-3 record.

Rick Tocchet’s team has won four of its last five games with an overtime loss to the Carolina Hurricanes mixed in. During that stretch, the Canucks have scored three-plus goals in every contest while averaging 3.8 goals per game.

The Devils are still trying to find their way under new head coach Sheldon Keefe and have been a mess defensively so far.

New Jersey’s 6-4-2 record isn’t terrible but it has dropped four of the last five games while allowing an average of 5.0 goals per game.

Jacob Markstrom hasn’t been anything special in goal, either, with a 3.01 GAA (26th in NHL) and .895 SV% (27th).

He ranks 66th out of 70 goaltenders in Money Puck’s goals saved above expected.

Kevin Lankinen seems the likely candidate to start for Vancouver tonight and he’s been great, posting a 2.29 GAA and .920 SV%. The Finn is 20th in goals saved above expected.

Both teams can score, with the Hughes brothers leading the charge for each side. But Vancouver has been much better defensively and that should be the difference.

Key stat: Vancouver has at least gone to overtime in all four of its home games this season (2-0-2).

Quick pick

Golden Knights moneyline (-127): Yesterday, I backed the Kings to cover a -1.5 puck line against the lowly San Jose Sharks and they lost 4-2.

It was an ugly performance but just know this fade on L.A. isn’t purely out of spite.

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Vegas hammered Los Angeles, 6-1, a week ago and has now won four of its last five against its Pacific Division rivals.

The Golden Knights are 7-2-1 through 10 contests and averaging the most goals per game (4.70).

Even on the road, taking Vegas against a Los Angeles team on a back-to-back seems like a no-brainer.

NHL picks made at 1:27 p.m. ET 10/30/2024.

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I’m fading the NHL’s worst team on a back-to-back tonight.

The pregame narrative: The San Jose Sharks won their first game of the season yesterday but I think the good times will be short-lived. Back the Los Angeles Kings on the puck line and also bet on the Montreal Canadiens to win.

Find my NHL best bets for Oct. 29 below.

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Best Bet: Kings -1.5 (-108)

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The Sharks were staring down another multi-goal defeat with just over 4:30 remaining in the game last night before rallying from 4-1 to force overtime and beat the Utah Hockey Club.

It was a nice moment for a team that started its year off 0-7-2 but don’t expect another win so soon.

San Jose went 19-54-9 last season, putting up the lowest points percentage (.287) since the 1998-99 Tampa Bay Lightning. Its reward was the right to draft No. 1 overall pick Macklin Celebrini but he’s injured and won’t return to the lineup for at least a few more weeks.

Offence is difficult to come by and defence is non-existent. San Jose is allowing the second-most goals (4.20) and sixth-most shots (32.8) per game while scoring the third-fewest goals per game (2.30).

Vitek Vanecek will be in goal for the Sharks tonight, and he owns a 4.00 GAA and .869 SV% through five starts. Those numbers rank 50th and 49th, respectively, among all NHL goalies … in a 32-team league.

The Kings are far from a juggernaut but they own a tidy 5-2-2 record through nine games with three multi-goal victories. They played San Jose last week and won 3-2 but I think a blowout is well within the cards tonight.

Key stat: San Jose’s opponents are 6-4 against this line this season.

Quick pick

Canadiens to win (+145): The Canadiens are 4-4-1 through nine games which is much better than expected, especially after Patrick Laine went down with an injury before the season began.

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Back at home, against an underwhelming Seattle Kraken team, I like Montreal to pick up a third straight win.

Seattle has lost three in a row after starting the season off 4-2-0 and ranks a pedestrian 19th in even-strength chances per 60, according to Natural Stat Trick.

Sam Montembeault has been hot and cold for the Canadiens but owns a respectable 2.94 GAA and .914 SV%. He’s held three of six opponents to two or fewer goals and the Kraken’s offence doesn’t scare me one bit.

NHL picks made at 3:26 p.m. ET 10/29/2024.

Today’s top NHL prop pick is a parlay featuring Connor Bedard and Cale Makar.

The pregame narrative: The Colorado Avalanche have won five straight and welcome the struggling Chicago Blackhawks into town. I don’t trust either team’s goaltending situation, which makes Bedard and Makar prime targets. Elsewhere, I’ll take a plus-money swing at Clayton Keller having a night.

Find my NHL prop picks for Oct. 28 below.

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Best Bet: Bedard and Makar 1+ points each (-120)

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Colorado started the season off 0-4-0 before rattling off five straight wins.

One big reason for the team’s recent success is Justus Annunen. The 24-year-old netminder started the season behind Alexander Georgiev on the depth chart but has taken the starting role after the latter imploded to begin the year.

Annunen entered in relief of Georgiev twice before making his first start against the San Jose Sharks, where he turned away 25 shots in a 4-1 win.

But he played yesterday, and that means Georgiev is likely back in the net. He owns a 4.99 GAA to pair with an unsightly .811 SV% and is allowing -2.47 goals below expected per 60, according to Money Puck.

Bedard is following up his Calder Trophy-winning rookie season in style, with three goals and nine points in nine games. He’s already the best player on the Blackhawks and I expect him to produce tonight.

Not much has to be said about Makar, who is -455 to find the stat sheet tonight.

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The 25-year-old is the best defenceman on the planet and has 16 points, cashing this bet in every single game. Last year he led all rearguards with 1.17 points per game.

Chicago is starting Petr Mrazek and he’s been poor, posting a 3.20 GAA and .893 SV% in seven starts.

Key stat: Colorado (4.00) and Chicago (3.44) are allowing the fourth and 11th-most goals per game, respectively.

Quick picks

Keller to score 2+ points (+200): It’s difficult to contextualize how bad the Sharks are, but let me try.

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They went 19-54-9 last season, putting up the lowest points percentage this millennium (.287). Things are even worse for San Jose now as it is 0-7-2 through nine games while allowing the second-most goals per game (4.22).

It’s a feeding frenzy for every team that plays the Sharks and I expect Keller to be the latest beneficiary.

The Utah Hockey Club forward has nine points in as many games, cashing this bet twice. Those aren’t eye-popping numbers but he still leads the team in shots (28) and is second in chances (50), per Natural Stat Trick.

NHL picks made at 3:15 p.m. ET 10/28/2024.

The undefeated Winnipeg Jets welcome the Toronto Maple Leafs into town on Monday night.

The pregame narrative: Winnipeg is 8-0-0 largely thanks to the stellar play of Connor Hellebuyck. Toronto, meanwhile, has lost three straight with three different goalies. I’m taking the under on an alternate game total but do expect Mitch Marner and Kyle Connor to contribute.

Check out my Maple Leafs vs. Jets same-game parlay predictions for Oct. 28.

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Parlay: Under 7.5 goals + Marner over 0.5 points + Scheifele over 0.5 points (+225)

Over 7.5 goals (-345): Hellebuyck won the Vezina Trophy last year and would be right in the mix if the season ended today.

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Sure, we’re only a few weeks in, but the American is sporting a 1.66 GAA and .940 SV% through six starts (both second among NHL goalies). Hellebuyck also ranks eighth in Money Puck’s goals saved above expected (4.5).

Two spots above him on that list is Anthony Stolarz (5.0 goals saved above expected), who has made a strong first impression with the Maple Leafs’ faithful.

The 30-year-old netminder owns a 2.19 GAA and .927 SV%, and five of his seven starts have fallen under this total.

With two hot goalies playing I can’t see this turning into a track meet.

SGP legs

Marner over 0.5 points (-265): A seven-goal cushion gives us enough leeway to back two players finding the stat sheet, and Marner is an obvious choice for the Leafs.

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He was involved in each of Toronto’s three goals on Saturday and is up to 10 points on the season while playing north of 20 minutes a night.

Marner hasn’t quite caught fire yet, but he’s riding shotgun with Auston Matthews and is on the team’s top power play unit. That means he should have plenty of opportunities to produce.

Connor over 0.5 points (-225): Connor also sits at 10 points and has found the stat sheet in every game so far.

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The sharpshooter skates on Line 1 alongside an elite playmaker (Mark Scheifele) and is Winnipeg’s top power play option.

Connor leads all Jets in shots (29) and chances (55), according to Natural Stat Trick.

NHL picks made at 9:40 a.m. ET on 10/28/24.

A trio of under-the-radar players headline my best NHL prop picks for today’s action.

The pregame narrative: The Ottawa Senators are humming on the power play. I’m looking for a pair Sens, Josh Norris and Jake Sanderson, to deliver. Elsewhere, Jeff Skinner has a solid chance to notch a point considering his deployment in the Edmonton Oilers’ lineup.

Find my NHL prop picks for Oct. 27 below.

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Best Bet: Norris to score 1+ points (-117)

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Today’s meeting between the Senators and the Colorado Avalanche is shaping up to be a shootout.

Both teams have offences capable of lighting up the board. Ottawa is sixth in goals per game (3.71) while Colorado is eighth (3.63).

Neither squad can keep the puck out of its net, either. The Avalanche are ceding the fourth-most goals per game (4.00) while the Senators are surrendering the sixth-most (3.57).

Both squads are doing most of their damage on the power play. The Avs rank third on the man advantage (39.3%), while the Sens are second (41.7%).

That’s where picking Norris to notch a point catches my attention. The Senators forward skates on the team’s first power play unit. Three of his six points this season have come on the power play.

Ottawa’s man advantage should have plenty of success against a Colorado special teams unit that struggles mightily. The Avalanche rank 29th on the penalty kill this campaign (69.6%).

Expect Norris to deliver in a game that should feature plenty of goals.

Key stat: Norris has a point in four of six games this season.

Quick picks

Sanderson to score 1+ points (-121): A lot of the logic that goes into the Norris pick applies here.

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Sanderson, like his teammate, plays on Ottawa’s top power play unit. The Sens should have plenty of success in this matchup on the man advantage.

All seven of Sanderson’s points this season have come on the power play.

Skating alongside talented players like Norris, Brady Tkachuk and Tim Stutzle in offensively-friendly situations makes Ottawa’s young defenceman a strong target for today.

Skinner to score 1+ points (+100): Skinner has had mixed results so far in his Oilers tenure.

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The winger has four points in eight games but is pointless in his last three. I like his chances of breaking that streak on Sunday.

Skinner plays on Edmonton’s first power play unit. There isn’t a better spot for offensive production in the NHL than playing alongside Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl while up a man.

That power play should feast against the Detroit Red Wings. Detroit is playing its second game in as many days and owns the second-worst penalty kill in the league (64.3%).

NHL picks made at 11:04 a.m. ET 10/27/2024.

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The two greatest Canadian players of this millennium meet when the Edmonton Oilers host the Pittsburgh Penguins on Friday.

The pregame narrative: Connor McDavid and Sidney Crosby have the same goal: A Stanley Cup. But neither the Oilers nor Penguins are off to great starts thanks to suspect goaltending. Take the over and back Crosby to notch a point with Zach Hyman in a plus-money parlay.

Check out my Penguins vs. Oilers picks for Oct. 25.

Penguins vs. Oilers picks

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Best Bet: Over 6.5 goals (-132)

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The Penguins (3-4-1) and Oilers (2-4-1) have just five wins between them while ranking 31st and 27th in goals allowed per game.

Edmonton has actually played great defensively, allowing the second-fewest 5v5 chances per 60 (51.63), according to Natural Stat Trick, but Stuart Skinner is in gas-can mode.

The fifth-year netminder has a 3.74 GAA and .866 SV% through five starts, allowing at least three goals in every game.

McDavid and Co. can typically outscore that type of goaltending, but it hasn’t been the case so far. Tonight, though, the Oilers should light up the scoreboard.

Pittsburgh has turned away from Tristan Jarry after a horrible start to the year. Alex Nedeljkovic is expected to start tonight and he hasn’t been great either, posting a 3.86 GAA and .869 SV% across two starts.

The 28-year-old has had his fair share of NHL action, but going up against a desperate Oilers team in Edmonton seems like a recipe for disaster.

Key stat: Edmonton scored the second-most goals per game at home (4.12) last season.

Quick pick

Parlay: Crosby, Hyman 1+ points each (+135): Some folks on the internet have been calling Hyman “Agent 007” referencing his zero goals and zero assists in seven games … but how long can that really last?

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Hyman scored a career-high 54 goals last year to pair with 23 points in 80 games (0.96 points/game). He’s riding shotgun with McDavid and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins while playing on Edmonton’s first power play.

With how poor Pittsburgh’s defence has been, this seems like an opportune spot to get off the schneid.

As for Crosby, the future Hall of Famer hasn’t missed a beat in his 20th season.

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He’s only found the net once but has seven points in eight games and is leading all Pittsburgh skaters with 42 scoring chances.

Crosby played at a 1.16 PPG pace over the last three seasons and shouldn’t have trouble against Skinner.

Picks made at 10:45 a.m. on 10/25/2024.

The Toronto Maple Leafs host Craig Berube’s old team, the St. Louis Blues, on Thursday night.

The pregame narrative: Toronto is coming off its worst game of the season, a 6-2 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets, but I expect the team to rebound at home. Bet on the Maple Leafs to win in regulation and Matthew Knies to notch a point.

Check out our Maple Leafs picks vs. Blues for the game on Oct. 24.

Maple Leafs picks vs. Blues

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Best bet: Maple Leafs to win in regulation (-129)

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The more things change, the more they stay the same.

Toronto thrashed the Tampa Bay Lightning on Monday and followed that up by laying an egg against a much worse Columbus team. We’ve seen that story before regardless of who is behind the bench.

But I’ll cut the Leafs some slack. We’re seven games into the season and they’ve mostly played well, allowing two or fewer goals in five games. One of the outliers was on Tuesday and one was against the New York Rangers, when the Blue Shirts scored two empty-netters in a 4-1 win.

No one showed up against Columbus including Dennis Hildeby, who gave up six goals on 38 shots in his second NHL start.

I expect Toronto’s skaters to shake off that performance and am also more optimistic about the team’s situation in the net. It’s unclear whether Anthony Stolarz gets the call or Joseph Woll makes his season debut, but either way, that’s good news.

Stolarz has been fantastic this season, and Woll has been promising (when healthy).

St. Louis is 4-3-0 but is struggling to score right now, averaging just 2.2 goals across its last five games. Jordan Binnington’s 3.04 GAA and .891 SV% don’t inspire much confidence, either.

Key stat: Toronto averages the sixth-most 5v5 goals per 60 (3.43), while St. Louis sits 18th (2.39), per Natural Stat Trick.

Quick pick

Knies to record a point (+115): Knies doesn’t play on Toronto’s top power play, but he is riding shotgun with the team’s best offensive talents, Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner. That’s good enough for me.

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The 22-year-old power forward has a point in three straight games with goals in each of the last two. He’s found the stat sheet in four of his last five and is averaging a healthy 17:09 of ice time per night.

Binnington has been shaky and the Blues are allowing the seventh-most shots against per game (30.6).

I think Toronto rolls to a victory behind a strong performance from its top line.

NHL picks made at 9:36 a.m. ET on 10/24/24.