Back to Hockey Betting Roundtable
Jake Tye
jaketye@RTBIO
4 followers · 0 followings
Jake Tye is a sports journalist with a passion for hockey that runs deep. After attending Humber college and writing about various sports, he turned his love for hockey into a career.
Now at The Hockey News for over a year, he specializes in betting analysis, along with covering the Stars and Jets
Joined at May 19, 2024Activity
Hockey Betting RoundtablePublished
Comments
Count On LA Kings Shutting Down Maple Leafs, Holding Game to Under
The LA Kings look to shut down the Toronto Maple Leafs with their second-best defence in the NHL.
Tuesday night is the ultimate opportunity for NHL fans, with a loaded slate of thrilling matchups that fans eagerly anticipate.The game that sticks out is one with the Toronto Maple Leafs, who are looking to bounce back after a tough shootout loss to the San Jose Sharks on Thursday. They will take on a solid defensive unit in the LA Kings that has a 2.54 goals against average, which is second-best in the league.
For bettors, this matchup provides a chance to capitalize on some of our recent strong trends, like our 8-2 record on our last ten picks and our 17-6 record on our last 23 underdog picks.
All betting lines are from FanDuel Sportsbook and are subject to change. Hockey is a difficult sport to predict so please gamble responsibly.
Toronto Maple Leafs vs LA Kings Best Bets:
- Kings ML (-145)
- Under 5.5 goals (-110)
More Hockey: March Madness on Ice: Predictions, Betting Strategies, Best Values on 2025 NCAA Frozen Four
The goal total for this one is a tight 5.5 with 95 per cent of the public riding with the over due to Toronto's recent hot stretch with 18 goals over their last four games. The Buds have won four of their last six games versus the Kings with two of the wins coming on the road in LA.Six goals can easily be scored in this game with both team's firepower but the under has hit in three of their last four matchups.
The Kings will be looking to make up for a 6-2 loss they took at the hands of Toronto last October and should play a much stronger defensive game at home. LA was roughed up for four goals in a loss to Colorado this past Thursday but in their prior 11 games, they allowed three or more goals just two times. I expect a response in a big way from the Kings as it's tough to beat a team twice for the Leafs plus LA has been red hot with a 9-2-1 record in their last 12 games.
More Betting: Simple Strategies to Score NHL Betting Slips with Huge, Favourable Odds
See moreLeafs +1.5 (-220)
50%1 User
Kings -1.5 (+176)
50%1 User
0
0
1
0
March Madness on Ice: Predictions, Betting Strategies, Best Values on 2025 NCAA Frozen Four
The 2025 NCAA Men’s Hockey Championship Starts Thursday as Ohio State Buckeyes take on Boston University Terriers
The Madness hits the ice as the college hockey scene skates to the centre of the sports world with the start of the 2025 NCAA Division I Men’s Hockey Championship on Thursday.
We will see a trio of games that will feature the best collegiate hockey teams in the United States, battling it out in a similar one-game elimination tournament to basketball's March Madness.
The field is smaller at 16 teams from around the country with the winners of the six Division I conference championships receiving automatic bids while a Championship Committee come together to select the remaining ten teams.
The tournament will feature some of the biggest universities in colligate sports like Ohio State, Penn State and Michigan State among others. Some players involved are must-see NHL prospects like Washington's Riley Leonard, New York's Gabe Perreault and Minnesota's Zeev Buium.
It's one of the most enjoyable tournament's in the sport and we are here to give some takes so that you can enjoy the high-flying action while hopefully adding to your bank at the same time.
More Betting: Simple Strategies to Score NHL Betting Slips with Huge, Favourable Odds
Future Bets To Consider: BC Eagles Dominate With NHL-Ready Talent
The most historic team among the bunch is the University of Denver, who is coming off a championship win last season and marked their second in the last three seasons. The Pioneers are the most prolific college hockey program in history with the most all-time championship wins at ten.
Despite their history, they aren't the favourites to take home the trophy as they finished with a 29-11-1 record, that pegged them as the ninth-best team in the country, according to the NCAA National rankings. The number one ranked team is also the betting favourite to win the tournament in the Boston College Eagles.
With a team full of notable NHL-ready talent like Leonard and Perreault, the Eagles finished the season with a dominant 26-7-2 record but were upset early in the Hockey East Championship by Northeastern University in the Quarterfinals.
This should give them a subtle advantage as they will be well-rested and prepared heading into the tournament with the expectation being a championship.
More NHL: Why the Blues Will Prevail in Tight Wild Card Race Over Flames, Canucks, Utah HC
This team has too much talent to bet against with most dangerous part of this BC team being their backend, as they've allowed the second-fewest goals in all of college hockey with 61 through 35 games due to stellar play from starting netminder Jacob Fowler.
The Montreal Canadiens prospect finished with a stellar 24-6-2 record with a 1.64 goals against average and was one of three NCAA goaltenders to have a save percentage above .940 on the season.
Boston College will be one of the many teams in this tournament that we can rely on for relatively sweat-free under bets on opposing offences. They will face-off against the Bentley Falcons in the first round, who have an over/under set at 1.5 team goals for the game.
More NHL: Can Islanders Clinch Unexpected Playoff Berth Over Habs, Rangers?
The Eagles have allowed two or more goals in just two of their last seven games entering the tournament. They are listed with +300 odds to win the Championship and -140 odds to make the Frozen Four (Semi-finals).
Betting Strategies: Defence Wins Championships
The Four Nations Face-Off reminded hockey fans that defence can be the most important part of a winning team and several defensive units in this tournament will make things incredibly difficult for teams to generate offence. The only team to allow fewer goals than Boston College was Minnesota State, who dominated the Central Collegiate Hockey Association Conference (CCHA).
Their defence that only allowed 56 goals through 38 games, helped the Mavericks roll through the competition to a 27-8-3 record and won the program's ninth MacNaughton Cup as regular-season champions as well as their third Mason Cup for winning the CCHA Conference Championship.
They will face-off against Western Michigan in the first round, which will be an all-time matchup as the Broncos have the highest-scoring offence in the country with 154 goals through 38 games. They will have an over/under set at 3.5 team goals that will test a Mavericks team that has allowed four goals just once this season.
The Broncos have a found little success in the tournament as of late with just one win over their last three tournament appearances dating back to 2022. They've score four or more goals in one of their last four tournament games, which leads to suspect that the Mavericks will be able to shut things down enough to hold the Broncos under four goals.
See more0
0
2
0
Can New York Islanders Clinch Unexpected Playoff Berth Over Habs, Rangers?
The New York Islanders just one point back from Montreal Canadiens for second wild card spot in Eastern Conference
The Eastern Conference Playoff picture is pretty much locked up with only remaining spots being the two wild card spots.
The Ottawa Senators occupy the first wild card spot with a four-point lead over the next closest team in the Montreal Canadiens, who sit in the second wild card spot. The race behind them is very tight with the two New York teams in the Rangers and Islanders just one point behind them with 74 points a piece.
The Islanders, up until recently, looked dead in the water but thanks to a 7-3-3 record since late February, their hopes are alive once again.
More NHL: Maple Leafs Closing Gap on Panthers in Atlantic Division Title Race
However, with the third-hardest remaining strength of schedule, they may have a hard time reaching their goal as they are headed towards matchups against the Rangers, Hurricanes and Wild as well as a pair of matchups versus the Bolts and Capitals.
Things won't be easier for the Rangers as they also have tough matchups ahead with the same list of upcoming opponents with the Panthers instead of the Capitals. The Blueshirts will also have to overcome both the Habs and Islanders having two games in hand over them.
Fan favorite Matt Rempe may be in some part responsible for the Rangers recent losing skid with 15 penalty minutes over his last eight games in which New York has gone 3-5-0 with seven power play goals allowed. This comes as a surprise for a Rangers team that has the second-best net penalty kill in the NHL, operating at 88.4 per cent.
More NHL: Why the Blues Will Prevail in Tight Wild Card Race Over Flames, Canucks, Utah HC
It's believed by many that it's simply Rempe's reputation that is warranting the calls but the downward spiral of what was once a strong suit for the team makes me not as interested in an investment with the Rangers unless they find their game once again.
It appears the best case is being made for the Habs as they have the easiest remaining schedule of the three teams with several layup opportunities like matchups versus slumping teams like the Bruins and Blackhawks as well as two games versus the Flyers.
All but one of the games will be at home and should provide easy points for a Habs team that has to turn things on after losing their last three straight.
Luckily for us, Montreal is still listed at a great value with +180 odds to make the postseason. The time to take this is now as the Habs next matchup is against a Philadelphia team that has lost six straight games. A win would keep them ahead of the pack and certainly drag down the odds in the process.
More NHL: NHL Insider Hints to Stanley Cup Contender Getting Former All-Star Back From Injury
See moreIslanders Clinch Playoff Spot
0%Habs Clinch Playoff Spot
100%1 User
Rangers Clinch Playoff Spot
0%0
0
0
0
Count On Sean Couturier Lifting Flyers Over Maple Leafs in Shocking Result
Philadelphia Flyers captain Sean Couturier enters Tuesday with a three-game point streak versus the Toronto Maple Leafs
Tuesday night is the ultimate opportunity for NHL fans, with a loaded slate of thrilling matchups that fans eagerly anticipate.
The game that sticks out is one with the Toronto Maple Leafs, who are looking to bounce back after blowing a 2-0 lead in their loss on Saturday to the Nashville Predators. They match up against a slumping Philadelphia Flyers, that has a league-worst 2-9-2 record over their last 13 games.
For bettors, this matchup provides a chance to capitalize on some of our recent strong trends, like our 7-2 record on our last nine picks and our 17-6 record on our last 23 underdog picks.
All betting lines are from FanDuel Sportsbook and are subject to change. Hockey is a difficult sport to predict so please gamble responsibly.
Toronto Maple Leafs vs Philadelphia Flyers Best Bets:
- Sean Couturier Over 0.5 points (+118)
The Flyers have certainly been struggling lately with five straight losses and not giving their fans anything to be happy about. To make things even worse, they are getting listed at fairly decent odds to cover every night yet they've barely managed a 7-8 record against the spread in their last 15 games.
This appears to be another spot where people can count them out and bet against a slumping team while riding with a hot one in the Maple Leafs, who are coming off a bad loss that they would like to make up for.
More NHL: NHL Insider Hints to Stanley Cup Contender Getting Former All-Star Back From Injury
This is a classic Maple Leafs spot if you've ever seen one as they are expected to win a bounce back game against a seemingly weaker team but the NHL has parody and any team can win on any given night.
Philadelphia has a 5-2 record against the spread in their last seven games versus Toronto and this should happen once again with the help of captain Sean Couturier. The 32-year-old veteran centre has been decent during the team's rough stretch with seven points over his last 13 games.
Couturier has a habit of playing his best against the Maple Leafs with 11 points in their last 14 matchups, including a three-game point streak heading into Tuesday. He should help propel a Flyers team that has won outright or stayed within a goal in five of their last seven trips to Toronto.
More NHL: Maple Leafs Closing Gap on Panthers in Atlantic Division Title Race
See moreMaple Leafs -1.5 (+104)
50%1 User
Flyers +1.5 (-128)
50%1 User
0
0
1
0
NHL Insider Hints to Stanley Cup Contender Getting Former All-Star Back From Injury
Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reveals that a playoff contender may be getting back a two-time All-Star back from injury
The Stanley Cup Playoff picture is starting to take form with all teams on the outside looking in, trying to do whatever they can to win when it matters.
One team that may get a boost of confidence and momentum into the lineup is the Vancouver Canucks, who Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported is getting back goaltender Thatcher Demko ahead of their matchup Monday with the New Jersey Devils.
Friedman explained that Canucks starter Kevin Lankinen wasn't feeling well during their matchup versus the New York Rangers on Saturday and could present a great opportunity for Demko to make his return.
The two-time All-Star has been sidelined since early February and has seen multiple injury stints throughout recent years. This season, Demko has a decent 6-6-3 record with a 2.87 goals against average but may struggle coming back from injury especially in a matchup versus a hungry Devils team, that has dropped three of their last four games.
Over their last four matchups, New Jersey has pierced Demko for 17 goals and presents a solid case to take the over in this one. The American netminder will need to bring his best as the Canucks are in a razer-thin playoff race as they sit five points behind the St. Louis Blues, who occupy the second wild card spot in the West.
More NHL: Why Blues Will Prevail in Tight Wild Card Race Over Flames, Canucks, Utah HC
With in mind, we can expect a valiant performance from Vancouver in this one that may not be enough to earn the win but should help get this game to at least the over as the Devils have conceded 16 goals over their last four games.
See more0
0
1
0
Why the St. Louis Blues Will Prevail in Tight Wild Card Race Over Flames, Canucks, Utah HC
The St. Louis Blues are listed at value to make Playoffs despite four-point lead created by recent six-game winning streak
The St. Louis Blues are red hot right now with six straight wins that has lifted their record to an impressive 37-28-7 which gives them a four point lead over the next closest team in the Calgary Flames for the second wild card spot in the West. We took a look a couple weeks ago at the chances of Utah making a run at the final playoff spot as they had an easier schedule than most down this final stretch of the season.
However, it was the St. Louis Blues that cashed in on this narrative and has taken full advantage of an easier schedule to propel themselves firmly into the driver seat in a razor thin playoff race. Utah and the Canucks are just behind and the Flames and are still within reach of the Blues. The Minnesota Wild are four points ahead of the Blues with ten games left and we can look to pencil them in for a playoff berth.
More NHL: Last Call For Bets On GR8 Chase: Alex Ovechkin to Break Wayne Gretzky's NHL Goal Record
Four teams fighting for one spot should make for a thrilling couple of weeks to end off this season but if you'd like to profit from this race, we already know who will prevail. The Blues have ten games left in their season and their remaining schedule should give them enough of an edge to keep their lead over the other contending teams and secure a playoff berth.
Despite their lead, St. Louis is listed with +108 odds to make the playoffs and with their momentum continuing to grow they should be able to get things done. Their next five games are against the likes of the Habs, Predators, Red Wings and Penguins, which all present winnable opportunities with their only tough challenge being the Avalanche. If they can win at least three of these five games that should give them a great enough lead that even if you don't believe they will make it, you can put a subtle bet on them now and cash out following the five-game stretch.
Things get tougher from there as they will have to play the Avalanche once again followed by tilts with the first-place Jets and the defending Western Conference Champion Oilers. This would be the point where if the Blues haven't locked things down yet, things may get hairy but don't be discouraged as they play their final two games against the Kraken and Utah, which are both winnable games.
More NHL: Maple Leafs Closing Gap on Panthers in Atlantic Division Title Race
The Flames have 13 games left with opportunities to overtake the Blues but they still have many challenging matchups like Stars, Kings, Oilers, Avalanche and a pair of games versus the Golden Knights. Vancouver will have the same challenges except they will have to take on the Jets instead of the Oilers. Utah Hockey Club could make a miraculous run and make they playoffs but they would also need to knock off the Jets, Stars and Kings plus will see serious contenders from the East in the Panthers and Bolts.
If everything breaks our way, we can feel confident about a return on investment by next Friday in a solid cash out offer for the Blues but if things go wrong we still will have very solid chances to get it done in the final games and makes this bet an absolute must if you want an easy return.
See moreBlues Secure Wild Card Spot
100%1 User
Other Team Secures Wild Card Spot
0%0
0
2
0
Maple Leafs Closing Gap on Panthers in Atlantic Division Title Race
The Toronto Maple Leafs are tied with the Florida Panthers for the top seed in the Atlantic Division with a glaring value available for the taking
The Atlantic Division is turning out to be a dogfight with three serious contenders for the top seed. The defending Stanley Cup Champion Florida Panthers remain the leaders but the Toronto Maple Leafs and Tampa Bay Lightning aren't far behind. With 14 games remaining for each team, if moves are going to be made it's soon as the window is closing on some current values presented.
A value that will quickly go away is the Leafs to win the Atlantic at +210 odds on FanDuel Sportsbook. These odds quickly fluctuate with them being as high as +400 within the last few days as the Leafs are starting to heat up once again. Florida and Toronto will face off two more times to end off the season with each game playing a critical role as the two teams are tied with identical 41-24-3 records.
More NHL: Maple Leafs Present Best Betting Value in Tight Divisional Race with Panthers, Bolts
As the Panthers have failed to solidify a solid lead over the Buds, the remaining schedules have started to form a larger gap in terms of the level of competition each team will face to close out the season. In our last post about the divisional race, Toronto and Florida were on opposite ends in terms of remaining strength of schedule and this has only improved for the Leafs as they now sit with the third-easiest remaining schedule while the Cats have the 19th-easiest or in other words, the 14th-hardest.
Another point that helps Toronto's case is their young goaltender is getting hot once again. Joseph Woll, a 26-year-old Missori native, has been electric over his last three starts with an undefeated record, a 1.95 goals against average and .939 save percentage.
It is a very small sample size but we have seen a similar hot streak to this before like when Woll ended last season with a 2-1 record and just a pair of goals allowed over three first round matchups versus the Boston Bruins. He's shown that he can be a gamer when the Buds need him to be and if they want to win the division title, he will need to play a factor which I believe he can be.
The odds and trends are all pointing towards Toronto and the tide is quickly turning so you don't want to miss out. If you even wait until after Thursday's matchup versus the New York Rangers, they may take the division lead and you may be too late.
More NHL: Last Call For Bets On GR8 Chase: Alex Ovechkin to Break Wayne Gretzky's NHL Goal Record
See moreMaple Leafs Win Atlantic
100%1 User
Panthers Win Atlantic
0%0
0
1
0
Last Call For Bets On GR8 Chase: Alex Ovechkin to Break Wayne Gretzky's NHL Goal Record
Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin is eight goals away from breaking Wayne Gretzky's NHL Goal record with odds increasing for it to happen this season
The biggest storyline of the NHL season has by far been the GR8 Chase with Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin on the precipice of passing hockey legend Wayne Gretzky for the all-time goals record. There is 14 games left in the Capitals season and Ovechkin is within eight goals from breaking the record after scoring versus the Sharks last Sunday.
The Russian winger has 34 goals on the season now, and betting odds for the record to be broken this season have dropped drastically to -136 and which means this may be our last opportunity to take the bet at a bargain.
More NHL: Maple Leafs Present Best Betting Value in Tight Divisional Race with Panthers, Bolts
All betting lines are from FanDuel Sportsbook and are subject to change. Hockey is a difficult sport to predict so please gamble responsibly.
In our last post about the GR8 Chase, we said to take the odds while you could at +150 and like we predicted the odds continued to drop due to Ovechkin continuing to score as the Capitals were heading into several favourable matchups. Washington is still dominating with the league's best offence and second-best defence plus they have the 11th-easiest remaining strength of schedule, according to Tankathon.
The case is starting to look more and more likely as they will play against bottom ten defences in the Blackhawks, Sabres, Flyers, Bruins and Penguins. Ovechkin will also play against teams that he has great career numbers against like the Jets and Hurricanes, who he has his first and second-most career goals against respectively.
It should come down to the wire with Ovechkin's 0.65 goals per game average this season should have him beating the record by a goal or two with a season-long projection of roughly 43 goals, which gives us not a lot of room for error but he has rarely missed time due to injury and the franchise seems focused on bringing home the record this season and will see it through to the end.
More NHL: Anaheim Ducks Continue to Hold Title as NHL's Best Betting Team
See moreOvechkin Breaks Goal Record
100%1 User
Ovechkin Falls Short of Goal Record
0%0
0
2
0
Count On Ducks Holding Title as NHL's Best Betting Team in Shocking Result Versus Stars Tuesday
The Anaheim Ducks hold a league-best 46-21 record against the spread this season with six more covers over the next closest team
Tuesday night is the ultimate opportunity for NHL fans, with a loaded slate of thrilling matchups that fans eagerly anticipate. The game that sticks out is the Dallas Stars looking to bounce back after two straight losses in a matchup versus the league's best betting team in the Anaheim Ducks.
For bettors, this matchup provides a chance to capitalize on some of our recent strong trends, like our 6-2 record on our last eight picks and our 16-6 record on our last 22 underdog picks.
All betting lines are from FanDuel Sportsbook and are subject to change. Hockey is a difficult sport to predict so please gamble responsibly.
Anaheim Ducks vs Dallas Stars Best Bets:
- Ducks +2.5 (-170)
This is an easy spot where we can fade the public and profit from it. The Ducks have quietly been the best betting team in the NHL this season with a resounding 46-21 record against the spread with six more covers over the next closest team.
They have been able to maintain this dominant status away from their home building as well with a 24-10 road record against the spread this season. Anaheim has lost five out of their last six road games but have won two straight matchups versus Dallas.
More NHL: MacKinnon or Draisaitl? Predicting Who Prevails in Tight Art Ross Trophy Race
Despite already beating the Stars not long ago in early February, no one believes the Ducks have a remote chance in this one with Dallas garnering just short of 80 per cent of the bets on the puck line and 96 per cent of the bets on the moneyline.
This is a game that the sportsbooks will be really pulling for the Ducks as virtually everyone wins if the Stars do. They are coming off two straight losses to the Jets and Avalanche but return home for this seemingly softball matchup.
There is no doubt they will come out swinging as the Stars are just two points ahead of Colorado and would very much like to keep their standing to maintain home ice in a first round matchup. Every points to the Stars in this one and this is where we get sucked into the trap as we are getting a horrible value yet people still want to ride with Dallas.
More NHL: Maple Leafs Present Best Betting Value in Tight Divisional Race with Panthers, Bolts
The odds continue to climb for the Stars and continue to get a better for the Ducks, so much so that we can afford to take them at two goals to cover and still get a modest -170 odds that can give a decent return as they take on a Dallas team that is 31-35 against the spread this season.
See moreDucks +1.5 (+118)
100%2 users
Stars -1.5 (-144)
0%0
0
1
0
MacKinnon or Draisaitl? Predicting Who Prevails in Tight Art Ross Trophy Race
The NHL Awards have for the most part been handed out for sometime with odds heavily favouring someone for several months now. For example, there's not much debate around the Vezina trophy as Winnipeg's Connor Hellebuyck has been leaps and bounds above anyone else or around the Jack Adams award with Spencer Carbery leading the Capitals to one of their best season's in franchise history.
The tightest race left that has some remaining value in it is not surprisingly the Art Ross trophy for the league's top point producer. A trio of candidates has emerged with Colorado's Nathan MacKinnon, Edmonton's Leon Draisaitl and Tampa Bay's Nikita Kucherov.
More NHL: Maple Leafs Present Best Betting Value in Tight Divisional Race with Panthers, Bolts
The three are all averaging just over a point and a half per game on average with MacKinnon leading the pack with 102 points after playing one more game than Draisaitl with 67 on the season.
Kucherov has played six less games than MacKinnon and has resulted in him being ten points back in the race but a lot can change with 15 games left in the season knowing Kucherov's history of explosive hot streaks.
It's hard to say who will prevail as MacKinnon and Draisaitl have the same 1.52 point per game average. MacKinnon is listed at -145 as the current leader with Draisaitl close behind at +120 odds.
Both players will play hungry bubble teams contending for a playoff spot like the Blues and Utah Hockey Club but they will get their fair share of softball matchups against bottom ten defences like the Sharks, Blackhawks, Habs, Red Wings and Blue Jackets. Each team is also heading into a lengthy homestand before ending off the season with a series of road games.
More NHL: Utah Hockey Club Appears Likely Dark Horse to Make Stanley Cup PlayoffsFutures
The Oilers could be looked at as having the edge as they'll play the Jets twice, who Draisaitl has dominated in the past with 43 points in 34 matchups, as well as the Golden Knights once, who he has also taken advantage of for 30 points in 25 matchups.
Draisaitl will also get three games to put up as many points as he can against the league's worst defence in the Sharks plus two games against the Seattle Kraken, who are tied with the Sabres for the second-worst goals against average in the NHL over their last nine games.
The German winger looks like a great value as he's been gaining ground since the start of the new year with 43 points since January 4th compared to MacKinnon's 38 through 28 games each. We can look to capitalize before it's too late and get the value before Draisaitl has big night and takes the lead.
See moreNathan MacKinnon Wins Art Ross
100%2 users
Leon Draisaitl Wins Art Ross
0%0
0
1
0
McCann, Hayton Add to High-Scoring Kraken versus Utah Hockey Club Matchup
Friday caps off the week with potentially the biggest game in one franchise's history while their opponent gets a much needed bounce back spot.
The Utah Hockey Club could slide into the playoff picture for the first time in their franchise's history with a win on Friday, as they would be tied at 71 points with the Calgary Flames and Vancouver Canucks for the second wild card spot in the West. Their opponent Friday, the Seattle Kraken, look to snap a trepid losing skid by riding off a historic finish to their last game on Wednesday.
For bettors, this matchup provides a chance to capitalize on some of our recent strong trends, like our 6-1 record on our last seven picks and our 16-6 record on our last 22 underdog picks.
All betting lines are from Bet365 and are subject to change. Hockey is a difficult sport to predict so please gamble responsibly.
Utah Hockey Club vs Seattle Kraken Best Bets:
- Over 5.5 goals (-150)
- Utah ML (-150)
- Barrett Hayton Over 0.5 points (-120)
More NHL: Utah Hockey Club Appears Likely Dark Horse to Make Stanley Cup Playoffs
Over their last eight games, the Kraken have struggled on defence with a 4.00 goals against average that has resulted in a 3-5-0 record. They are coming off a thrilling 5-4 overtime win over the Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday that saw defenceman Brandon Montour score the fastest overtime goal in history at only four seconds into the period.
Seattle should be entering Friday's matchup with a little dose of mojo following the win and it should culminate in an instant classic when they take on a Utah team that is battling for every point in an extremely tight race for the playoffs.
Utah Hockey Club has a 29-25-11 record this season and are just outside of a playoff spot with a win on Friday firmly putting them in the picture. Calgary will be playing Colorado on the same night, which means walking away with points will be unlikely and will give Utah a chance to gain some ground.
It will be a crucial must-win spot for Utah and they enter the matchup with steam after going 11-6-4 over their last 21 games. They are recording points and gaining ground fast on the competition but they will need to make up for their 5-2 loss to the Kraken in late December.
Since then, Utah has a 5-5-2 record and a 3.50 goals against average in their last 12 road games and this should provide an opening for the Kraken.
I expect both teams to bring their all and this should result in a high-scoring affair with Utah HC finding a way to win as I predict Seattle having a hard time beating them two consecutive times.
More NHL: Maple Leafs Present Best Betting Value in Tight Divisional Race with Panthers, Bolts
Utah has also traded wins and losses in each of their last seven road games with the trend predicting a win on Friday.
A key player for Utah will be Barrett Hayton, who has been red hot with points in four straight and has five goals with four assists for nine points in his last nine games. The 24-year-old Peterborough native also has two goals in his last four games versus Seattle.
See moreUtah Hockey Club ML (-150)
100%1 User
Kraken ML (+125)
0%1
0
1
0
Maple Leafs Present Best Betting Value in Tight Divisional Race with Panthers, Bolts
The Atlantic Division is turning out to be a dogfight with three serious contenders for the top seed. The defending Stanley Cup Champion Florida Panthers remain the leaders but the Toronto Maple Leafs and Tampa Bay Lightning aren't far behind.
With less than 20 games remaining for each team, if moves are going to be made it's soon as the window is closing on some current values presented.
More NHL: Utah Hockey Club Appears Likely Dark Horse to Make Stanley Cup Playoffs
A value that will quickly go away is the Leafs to win the Atlantic at +170 odds on Bet365. These odds quickly fluctuate with them being as high as +260 within the last few days as the Leafs are starting to gain ground.
Florida and Toronto face off on Thursday night with the Leafs having a chance to surpass the Panthers with a win. Florida has 83 regular season points due to a 40-22-3 record while Toronto has a similar record with just one fewer win and 81 points.
They will face off two more times after Thursday, which will play a pivotal role in the race but besides that the Leafs have the 12th-easiest remaining strength of schedule while the Panthers have the 13th-hardest.
Both teams will have nine road games left with Toronto playing easier competition like San Jose, Anaheim and Buffalo while Florida will have to play much tougher teams like the Lightning, Capitals and Blue Jackets.
More NHL: Hurricanes' Mikko Rantanen Moving to Dallas Stars For Logan Stankoven, Two First-Round Picks
The odds and trends are all pointing towards Toronto and the tide is quickly turning so you don't want to miss out. If you even wait until after Thursday's highly-anticipated matchup, you may be too late.
See moreLeafs Win Atlantic Division
100%1 User
Panthers Win Atlantic Division
0%Lightning Win Atlantic Division
0%0
0
1
0
Count On Auston Matthews, Maple Leafs Prevailing in Low-Scoring Affair Versus Panthers Thursday
Thursday features a crucial matchup for playoff seeding when the visiting Florida Panthers travel to Toronto to take on the Maple Leafs with the Atlantic Division lead up for grabs.
For bettors, this matchup provides a chance to capitalize on some of our recent strong trends, like our 8-6 record on our last 14 picks and our 15-6 record on our last 21 underdog picks.
All betting lines are from Bet365 and are subject to change. Hockey is a difficult sport to predict so please gamble responsibly.
Florida Panthers vs Toronto Maple Leafs:
- Under 5.5 goals (+105)
- Maple Leafs +1.5 (-220)
Both teams are looking for a much-needed win as they gave up multi-goal leads in their last outings with the Panthers more recently blowing a 2-0 lead in the third period versus the Bruins on Tuesday. They now have to travel and play a Leafs team that could overthrow them as the top team in the Atlantic with a win at home.
More NHL: Panthers Add Bruins Legend at Trade Deadline
The Cats have allowed 16 goals over their last five road games and have dropped both of their previous two road games versus Toronto. The Maple Leafs have also struggled defensively with 28 goals allowed over their last seven games, which is fourth-most in the NHL during that span.
This game has an over written all over it yet the line is still down at 5.5 which means that something else is affecting the line and the sportsbooks know something. We should be seeing a line at 6.5 with each team's recent trends but it could result of their history against each other with fewer than six goals in eight of their last 12 matchups.
If we are continuing to go by history, the home team has won in this matchup five straight times and I would rather count on the Maple Leafs showing up rather than a Panthers team coming off a brutal loss like the one they took on Tuesday versus Boston.
More NHL: Leafs Present Best Betting Value in Tight Divisional Race with Panthers, Bolts
The Cats have been red hot and are long overdue for a few losses plus Tuesday's game will be stop two of a six-game road trip that should make the Cats look more human starting with a loss on Thursday.
See moreLeafs ML (-110)
100%1 User
Panthers ML (-110)
0%0
0
1
0
Count On Bruins Spoiling Marchand's Return With Upset Win Over Panthers
Tuesday features an all-time storyline as former Bruins captain Brad Marchand makes his return to Boston. He will play his first game on the Florida Panthers, where he was traded to last Friday during the trade deadline.
The game will be a memorable one and presents the ultimate opportunity for NHL fans to potentially cash in with one of our red hot picks.
For bettors, this matchup provides a chance to capitalize on some of our recent strong trends, like our 31-29 record on our last 60 picks and our 14-6 record on our last 20 underdog picks.
All betting lines are from Bet365 and are subject to change. Hockey is a difficult sport to predict so please gamble responsibly.
Florida Panthers vs Boston Bruins Best Bets:
- Bruins +1.5 (-150)
- Bruins Over 2.5 goals (+115)
- Pavel Zacha Over 0.5 points (-115)
The Bruins were deemed as dead following the trade deadline when they dealt their captain Marchand as well as notable players like forward Charlie Coyle and defenceman Brandon Carlo.
More NHL: Panthers Add Bruins Captain Brad Marchand For Second-Round Pick
People expected the Bruins to fade for the remainder of the season but they reminded the hockey world Saturday that they are still a threat after rolling through the Tampa Bay Lightning in a 4-0 rout.
The Bolts had just finished making significant adds to their forward group with Yanni Gourde and Oliver Bjorkstrand that lead many NHL insiders to proclaim them as the new Stanley Cup favourites. Boston quickly dismissed Tampa Bay and will look to keep the tide rolling against the new betting favourite to hoist lord Stanley in the Florida Panthers.
After the Cats added once-star defenceman Seth Jones at the trade deadline, they were subtracted a key blueliner when it was announced Monday that Aaron Ekblad will be suspended for 20 games after being found using performance-enhancing substances.
The feeling in the Panthers' room may present a feeling of uneasiness and I believe this is where we can capitalize.
There's no doubt the Bruins are hearing the media calling their team dead in the water and this will surely motivate them more than ever. While the Cats are looking to adjust without one of their key defencemen, the Bruins can continue to build off their Saturday win by knocking off another notable contender.
More NHL: Utah Hockey Club Appears Likely Dark Horse to Make Stanley Cup Playoffs
Florida has beat Boston in six of their last eight matchups and a 7-2-0 record in their last nine games at TD Garden. This will have the public all over the Panthers as they are garnering 88 per cent of the moneyline bets and will likely see the puck line bets follow suit. The Panthers have also allowed 13 goals over their last four road games and should give centre Pavel Zacha a great chance to get on the board.
We've used the Czech forward many times in the past as a way to tap into superstar David Pastrnak's production while not having to take a -330 odds on a bet. Zacha is third on the Bruins in points this season with 39 in 65 games and has six points over his last seven regular season matchups versus the Panthers.
See moreBruins +1.5 (-150)
100%1 User
Panthers -1.5 (+125)
0%0
0
1
0
Panthers Add Bruins Captain Brad Marchand For Second-Round Pick
The Florida Panthers add Boston Bruins captain Brad Marchand in exchange for a 2027 conditional second-round pick that can turn into a 2028 first-round pick, per Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.
Marchand, 36, is a legend of the game and has plethora of knowledge and experience that few other veterans in the NHL have. With a Stanley Cup and several international gold medals with Team Canada, the Panthers are getting a certified winner that will always find a way to help his team win.
More NHL: Hurricanes' Mikko Rantanen Moving to Dallas Stars For Logan Stankoven, Two First-Round Picks
The Halifax native has played 1090 NHL games over 16 seasons, all with the Boston Bruins, and in the process scored 422 goals and 554 assists for 976 points. Despite his age, Marchand has surpassed the 60-point mark in nine straight seasons and is projected to do so again this season. Marchand is set to become an unrestricted free agent this upcoming off-season and carries a $6.125 million cap hit.
The Panthers are tied for first-place in the Atlantic Division with a near-identical record to the Maple Leafs at 39-21-3 with an over/under set at 105.5 regular season points.
Boston sold at the deadline as they parted with Marchand as well as dealing defenceman Brandon Carlo to the Maple Leafs and forward Charlie Coyle to the Avalanche. The Bruins sit three points out of a playoff spot with a 28-28-8 record and have a over/under set at 82.5 regular season points, which looks like a solid bet for the over as they still have lots of talent with superstar David Pastrnak.
More NHL: Maple Leafs Bring In Flyers' Scott Laughton For First-Round Pick, Prospect
See more0
0
0
0
Toronto Maple Leafs Bring In Flyers' Scott Laughton For First-Round Pick, Prospect
The Maple Leafs add forward depth with Flyers forward Scott Laughton along with a fourth-round pick and sixth-round pick in exchange for a conditional first round pick in 2027 and prospect Nikita Grebenkin, per multiple reports.
The Flyers will be retaining 50 per cent of Laughton's contract as part of the deal.
Laughton, 30, is a top nine forward that can make an impact with his physicality, which should make him a perfect fit for the Leafs heading into the playoffs. Despite playing just 24 playoff games in his career, teams have been salivating at the opportunity to add Laughton to their top nine forward unit and deploy the Oakville native with force.
More NHL: Panthers Add Bruins Captain Brad Marchand
With 30-40 point production, as well as the ability to play a physical playoff style of game, Laughton could end up being a potential game-breaker for the Buds when it comes to the playoffs and could help lift Toronto to a Stanley Cup. Laughton also comes with a bit of term as he is signed on until the end of next season at a very favourable cap hit at $3 million.
Toronto sit second-place in the Atlantic Division, behind the Florida Panthers, with 38-21-3 record. The Maple Leafs are listed with +1800 odds to win the Stanley Cup and have a over/under set at 103.5 regular season points.
A bet to look at would be the Leafs to win the Division at +210 as they sit just two points behind the Panthers and could easily surpass them as they have a slightly easier schedule than Florida to end off the season.
More NHL: Hurricanes' Mikko Rantanen Moving to Dallas Stars For Logan Stankoven, Two First-Round Picks
See more0
0
1
0
Senators Swap Josh Norris, Jacob Benard-Docker for Sabres' Dylan Cozens
The Ottawa Senators are reportedly sending forwards Josh Norris and Jacob Benard-Docker to the Buffalo Sabres for forward Dylan Cozens, defenceman Dennis Gilbert and a 2026 second-round pick, per multiple reports.
The Senators sit in the second wild card spot, tied with the New York Rangers, with a 31-25-5 record. Ottawa is listed with -250 odds to make the playoffs with an over/under set at 91.5 regular season points.
0
0
0
0
New York Rangers Nearly Acquired Sabres' J.J. Peterka
The New York Rangers were believed to be interested in on a deal to add 23-year-old breakout J.J. Peterka from the Buffalo Sabres.
The German native has been one of the few bright spots for a lacking Sabres team as the youngster has recorded 51 points in 59 games played this season for nearly a point-per-game average. It marks his career-high in points after hitting 50 points in 82 games last season.
More NHL: Hurricanes' Mikko Rantanen Potentially Moving to Dallas Stars For Logan Stankoven
The Sabres are last-place in the East with a 24-31-6 record for 54 points. They present a decent value for us to profit as they have an over/under set at 74.5 for regular season points.
That would mean they couldn't earn ten to 11 more wins over their next 21 games and that shouldn't be too difficult considering they have the second-hardest remaining strength of schedule.
More NHL: Islanders' Brock Nelson Traded to Colorado Avalanche For First-Round Pick, Prospect
See more0
0
0
0
Hurricanes' Mikko Rantanen Moving to Dallas Stars For Logan Stankoven, Two First-Round Picks
The Carolina Hurricanes trade superstar winger Mikko Rantanen to the Dallas Stars in exchange for rookie forward Logan Stankoven along with 2026 and 2028 first-round picks and 2026 and 2027 third-round picks, per multiple reports.
Rantanen will also be signing an eight-year $96 million extension with the Stars that will carry a $12 million cap hit.
On FanDuel Sportsbook, Rantanen was listed with +230 odds to be traded and if you followed our earlier post, you hopefully cashed in as many teams were interested a deal was bound to get done.
More NHL: Islanders' Brock Nelson Traded to Colorado Avalanche For First-Round Pick, Prospect
The Dallas Stars have a 40-19-12 record and sit second in the Central division, behind the Winnipeg Jets. They are listed with +700 odds to win the Stanley Cup, which is tied with the Avalanche, who also saw their odds skyrocket after adding Islanders centre Brock Nelson.
This creates an interesting buy-in opportunity for an under-utilized future bet in a Central Division team to win the Stanley Cup. At +230 odds, you get a future ticket on three serious contenders in the Jets, Stars and Avalanche while also not losing a ton of value on each team.
Rantanen has recorded just six points in the 12 games since joining the Hurricanes in late January. The 28-year-old Finnish superstar has established himself as one of the best forwards in the game after surpassing the 100-point mark in each of the last two seasons. Since the start of the 2022-23 season, Rantanen has the sixth-most points in the NHL with 279 over 224 games played.
The Avalanche have seemingly enjoyed their return from the Rantanen deal with both recent acquisitions, Martin Necas and Jack Drury, fitting in well with their system while also giving them cap flexibility to go out and add a quality centre with a bigger cap hit like they did with Nelson without having to worry about paying Rantanen.
More NHL: Canucks' Carson Soucy Dealt to New York Rangers for Third-Round Pick
Stankoven, 22, was a top six winger for Dallas with high-end upside after developing in the Stars organization. For a large part of the early season, he was listed as the favorite to take home the Calder trophy as the NHL's best rookie but has since fallen out of the pack with 29 points in 58 games this season.
See more0
0
0
0
Islanders' Brock Nelson Traded to Colorado Avalanche For First-Round Pick, Prospect
The New York Islanders have traded Brock Nelson with depth forward William Dufour to the Colorado Avalanche for prospect Calum Ritchie, defenceman Oliver Kylington, a first-round pick in either 2026 or 2027, and a conditional 2028 third-round pick, per Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.
Nelson, 33, is been a very reliable two-way centre that has 60-70 point offensive upside while also acting as one of the league's best shutdown forwards on defence.
The Minnesota native has played 13 seasons in the NHL, in which he recorded 574 points in 901 games played. Nelson is a nine-time 20-goal scorer and has reached 59 or more points in each of the past three seasons and is on pace to do it again this season.
More NHL: Hurricanes' Mikko Rantanen Potentially Moving to Dallas Stars
He is more well-known for his world-class two-way play that has earned him a spot on Team USA on seven separate occasions, including the Four Nations Face-Off this past February. Nelson is set to become an unrestricted free agent this upcoming off-season and carries a $6 million cap hit.
The move firmly moves the Avalanche into the driver seat for a playoff spot in the West and should apply pressure to teams like the Flames, Canucks, Blues and Utah HC to push for the potential last playoff spot.
Colorado's price tag has risen as they are listed with +700 odds to win the Stanley Cup while the Islanders can be looked for an easy lock with the under for their regular season points at 86.5 as they look to pack it in and potentially deal more pieces besides Nelson.
More NHL: Hurricanes' Mikko Rantanen Dealt to Dallas Stars
See more0
0
1
0