Connor Hellebuyck Gets Introduced During Player Introductions for Winnipeg Jets Home Opener Thursday has a loaded NHL slate with ten games that should excite all hockey fans. It gives a stellar chance to hit it big with many options to select from for our Best Bets. We saw a massive win last night, correctly predicting the red hot Hurricanes would be downed by the Utah Hockey Club and we look to build off the win. All betting lines are from Bet365 and are subject to change. Hockey is a difficult sport to predict so please gamble responsibly. Bet: Lightning ML (-135), Jets Lightning Over 6.5 goals (-105), Nino Niederreiter Over 0.5 points (+145) It's hard to go against the league's hottest team but they are certainly due for an off game and the Lightning are entering on a four game losing streak which means they are also due for a win. The Bolts already confirmed they are going to start legendary netminder Andrei Vasilevskiy in this one which may work against them as he's allowed three or more goals in nine of his 12 career starts against Winnipeg. There should be plenty of action in this one with a lot of goals due to both of these teams rolling out top eight offences with the Jets leading the NHL in goals per game with a 4.56 average. These two have combined for seven or more goals in 11 of their last 17 matchups. Winnipeg's criminally underrated third line of Nino Niederreiter, Mason Appleton and captain Adam Lowry have helped on the defensive end but haven't scored a goal as a line in three games. They should have an impact in this one and Niederreiter seems the most likely to find the scoresheet after recording seven goals and five assists for 12 points in 16 games this season. Bet: Sharks +2.5 (-150), Sharks Rangers Under 5.5 goals (+125) This is a slam dunk spot for the Sharks as they've covered the puck in seven of their last eight games. They have become an elite team to bet on as their youthful speed and quick style of play has kept them in many surprising games this season. We certainly don't think they will win as this is a rebound spot for the Rangers, who got cooked for six goals by the Winnipeg Jets Tuesday in a brutal 6-3 loss. They will come out aggressive and should do well on home ice but don't count out the Sharks as they've kept things within two goals versus the Rangers in 11 of their last 13 matchups. The odds are not the greatest but you can count on it as a solid parlay add. The public is aggressively taking the over in goals with 92 per cent betters believing in the Rangers offence but I believe Mackenzie Blackwood should stay hot and have another stellar game that keeps things close for San Jose. Bet: Canadiens +1.5 (-115) Starting the season, the Winnipeg Jets' historic run has massively overshadowed how good of a start the Minnesota Wild have had, boasting a 10-2-3 record. Clearly, this is far from what Montreal has done to start the season, as they've won just three of their last ten games, holding a 5-9-2 record so far. Overwhelmingly, everyone is loving the Wild in this spot, especially after their bad overtime loss to the Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday, looking to bounce back. Minnesota has also won 16 of their last 17 games against Montreal, with seven straight wins heading into Thursday. The public believes they will make it eight straight, with 72 percent of bettors taking the Wild on the puck line. This is one where almost every sign points to the favorite blowing out the underdog, and that’s exactly when you take the Habs as they are due for a resurgence and will look to get hot with a big win on Thursday.
