Goaltending changes, key injuries create intriguing betting opportunities across Tuesday's seven-game NHL schedule
It’s a busy night on the National Hockey League schedule, with seven games on the docket, three of which have particular interest from a sports-betting perspective.
I’m looking at the Colorado Avalanche in Toronto to play the Maple Leafs: a high-powered Colorado offence against an inconsistent Leafs team so far, mired in a slump, but it might offer underdog value.
Then there are two of the NHL’s hottest teams, with the Minnesota Wild pulling into the Bell Centre in Montreal to play the Canadiens, with injuries creating opportunities to take a closer look at the moneyline and totals markets.
Then there’s the New Jersey Devils in Winnipeg to play the Jets, which should have been Connor Hellebuyck’s return in goal for the Devils after his trade there a few weeks back, an opportunity for Jets fans to vent their vitriol at him. As it turns out, Devils’ management released a statement late Sunday saying Hellebuyck won’t be starting tonight – bad news for Jets fans who were looking to dump on him, but maybe good news for Jets moneyline and spread.
In NHL betting at Betway, the Avalanche are -165 moneyline favourites, while the Leafs are +135 underdogs. Colorado is favoured by 1.5 goals on the puck line (+135), with Toronto at +1.5 (-175). The total is set at 6.5 goals, with the Over priced at -120, and the Under at +100.
The Avalanche are averaging 4.00 goals per game and rank third in the NHL, led by Nathan MacKinnon, who has 30 points in 18 games. The Leafs are in the middle of a homestand and have lost three straight, with an 8-9-2 record. The anvil of playing in one of hockey’s most intense markets is around the necks of the players there; you can see it on their faces.
However, there’s a wrinkle here – the Leafs beat Colorado 6-3 in Denver on Oct. 10, one of the high-water marks of their season so far. That +135 underdog price is worth considering.
Best Bet: Over 6.5 goals (-120)
The Wild are -125 moneyline favourites, while the Canadiens are +105. Minnesota is favoured by 1.5 goals on the puck line (+175), with Montreal at +1.5 (-225). The total is also set at 6.5 goals, with the Over priced at +105, and the Under at -125.
A great tilt – Minnesota enters the game 12-3-4, while Montreal is 11-3-3. Both teams are tough to beat, and the narrow spread reflects how closely matched they are.
Injuries are a big storyline. The Wild are without goaltender Filip Gustavsson and defencemen Brock Faber and Jared Spurgeon. Montreal is without goalie Sam Montembeault, defenceman Mike Matheson and forward Ivan Demidov.
Jacob Fowler is confirmed to start in goal for the Canadiens while Jesper Wallstedt is listed as probable for Minnesota.
Both goalies have been outstanding – Fowler is 8-1-1 with a 2.15 goals-against average and .925 save percentage, while Wallstedt is 11-2-3 with a 199 GAA and a .922 save percentage. The Wild are particularly stingy on defence, allowing 2.2 goals per game, among the best in the NHL.
Best Bet: Under 6.5 goals (-125)
And the Devils are -140 moneyline favourites, while the Jets are +120. New Jersey is favoured by 1.5 goals on the puckline, at +155, with Winnipeg at +1.5 (-200). The total is set at 6.5 goals, with the Over priced at -105, and the Under at -115.
Nico Daws, who went the other way in the Hellebuyck trade, starts for the Jets in goal, another interesting storyline, with Jake Allen starting for New Jersey.
The Devils enter tonight with a 13-5-0 record, five straight wins, and have been one of the NHL’s most dangerous offensive teams, averaging 3.61 goals per game. The Jets, 7-8-3, have struggled defensively, allowing 3.50 goals per game.
New Jersey is the logical favourite, but the Over 6.5 is worth examining, as both goalies have struggled with consistency, and the Devils have scored at least four goals in eight of their past ten games.
Best Bet: Over 6.5 goals (-105)
Also tonight: Washington Capitals vs Ottawa Senators (take the Over 6.5 goals, -105); Florida Panthers vs Columbus Blue Jackets (take Florida Moneyline, -120); Nashville Predators vs Los Angeles Kings (take Nashville Moneyline, +110).
