Winnipeg Jets Celebrate Bryan Little Ahead of Matchup Versus Pittsburgh Penguins Thursday has a loaded NHL slate with 12 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 Ducks would upset the Detroit Red Wings. We look to build off 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 please 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's been sidelined with an upper-body injury. Forwards Mitch Marner, William Nylander and John Tavares have stepped up massively in his absence with the trio combining for ten goals over five games. Despite their hot stretch recently, the Leafs offensive numbers have taken a step back this season with a goals per game average of three. Toronto has instead turned into more of a defensive minded team thanks to new bench biss Craig Berube with the Leafs securing the sixth-best goals against average in the league at 2.61 due to stellar play from the duo of Anthony Stolarz and Joseph Woll. Stolarz will likely get the crease which could mean trouble for the Oilers as the 30-year-old New Jersey native has a 2.11 goals against average this season through 11 starts. Edmonton has won three straight games heading into Saturday but their offence hasn't been as prolific as it was last season, averaging 2.76 goals per game this season. They will 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 should slow down the Oilers and beat them with their defence. Bet: Red Wings ML (+165), Patrick Kane Over 0.5 points (-130), Red Wings Kings Over 5.5 goals (-120) The Kings had picked up where they left off last season with a 8-3-3 record to start the season but have since stifled with losses in three of their next four games. The Red Wings have stumbled to carry over almost any of their winning ways from last season as they've lost nine of their first 16 games, including bad losses to the likes of the Ducks, Sabres and Penguins. The public is loving the Kings in this spot as they are home and on a two-game losing streak meaning they are potentially due for a win. This seems like a fade 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 Friday versus the Ducks. Detroit has also won two straight games versus LA and should win their third thanks to an impressive performance from veteran Patrick Kane, who has struggled to find the scoresheet as of late with points in just two of his last seven games. He has four goals and six assists for ten points over his last 11 games versus 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 a road favourite against a Minnesota team that has a 4-1-1 home record. The Stars have struggled on the road this season with a 3-4-0 record but have won four straight games in Minnesota. It has been a very different start to the season for the Wild as they've secured a 11-2-3 record due to their prolific defence that is allowing the third-fewest goals per game with a 2.38 average. This will combat the Stars and their superstar netminder Jake Oettinger. The 25-year-old will be returning home as he's a Minnesota native from Lakeville and will look to continue his solid start to the season as he's recorded a 2.39 goals against average. This betting line is begging people to take the over as they've brought it all the way down to 5.5 total goals but we won't buy into this and we will instead trust both teams stellar defences pulling through for an elite defensive matchup. The odds aren't great but if you want to take a side, ride with the hot hand and take the Wild snapping a history of losing versus the Stars.
