Utah's power play, Winnipeg's defensive struggles and Anaheim's scoring surge create intriguing betting opportunities across tonight's slate
The NHL schedule features 11 games tonight, including several with intriguing opportunities for sports bettors at Betway.
From superstar Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers hosting the Anaheim Ducks, led by red-hot goal scorer Cutter Gauthier, to the struggling Vancouver Canucks visiting Winnipeg to take on the Jets, to a competitive Utah Mammoth-Montreal Canadiens matchup, plenty of reasons exist to look beyond the moneyline when deciding where to bet.
Utah Mammoth at Montreal Canadiens
The Mammoth (10-6-0) are the real deal, as Toronto Maple Leafs fans learned again Tuesday night when Utah beat the Leafs 3-2 in Toronto.
Game time tonight at Bell Centre is 7 p.m. EST.
In NHL betting at Betway, the Mammoth are -120 moneyline favourites, with the Canadiens (9-3-3) at +100. Utah is -1.5 (+185) on the puck line, while Montreal is +1.5 at -236. The total is set at 6.5, with the Over at -115 and the Under at -105.
This game is also interesting because while the Canadiens have picked up points in eight consecutive games, Tuesday’s 5-4 loss to Winnipeg, where the Habs blew a four-goal lead, exposed some defensive concerns.
The big news impacting this game is injury-related: Reports today said Nick Suzuki returns from injury tonight.
Montreal is 4-2-1 in home games. Utah is 5-4-0 on the road.
The biggest mismatch is on special teams. Utah owns the NHL’s second-ranked power play at 36.4%, while Montreal is converting just 13%. And Montreal ranks third in the league in total penalties.
Jakub Dobes starts in net for Montreal. Dobes hasn’t been nearly as good as Jacob Fowler – a 4.05 goals-against average and an .853 save percentage, compared with Fowler’s 2.17 GAA and .925 save percentage.
My early betting lean: Utah moneyline at -120.
Vancouver Canucks at Winnipeg Jets
Two other Canadian teams meet at the Canada Life Centre in Winnipeg as the Canucks play the Jets.
Game time is 8 p.m. EST tonight.
In NHL betting at Betway, the Jets (5-8-3) are -200 moneyline favourites, with the Canucks (3-13-1) at +175. Winnipeg is -1.5 (+115) on the puck line, while Vancouver is +1.5 at -145. The total is set at 6.5, with the Over at +100 and the Under at -120.
Look at the moneyline – the Jets are substantial favourites despite having won just five of their 16 games. That’s how bad the Canucks are.
Both teams are struggling defensively – Vancouver ranks last in goals allowed, at 4.53, while Winnipeg is 29th, at 3.63.
Kyle Connor is the player to watch on the prop end. His 13 goals place him among the league leaders. Connor Over 0.5 goals is +105 at Betway.
The two teams combine to allow more than eight goals per game, so that’s why I am exploring the total. The vulnerability makes the even money there even more appealing.
My early betting lean: Over 6.5 goals at +100.
Anaheim Ducks at Edmonton Oilers
I look forward to this one as a hockey fan, almost as much as a sports bettor. The Oilers have been transformed under head coach Mike Babcock, with McGregor and defenceman Evan Bouchard favourites in several award categories.
Game time is 8 p.m. EST tonight.
In NHL betting at Betway, the Oilers (11-2-3) are -180 moneyline favourites, with the Ducks (7-7-1) at +150. Edmonton is -1.5 (+120) on the puck line, while Anaheim is +1.5 at -150. The total is set at 6.5, with the Over at -150 and the Under at +115.
So, the expectation is a high-scoring game, not a surprise, given both teams’ explosive power plays. Plus, two players, McDavid and Gauthier, are on explosive scoring runs. McDavid leads the NHL with 40 points, while Gauthier has eight goals in his last three games, including consecutive hat tricks.
I’m not going to go Over at that -150 price, though. I think the puckline looks good on the Anaheim side, factoring in their power-play form. The Ducks don’t have to win outright to cash the bet, providing some protection against an elite Oilers unit playing at home.
Gauthier Over 0.5 goals is +130 at Betway.
My early betting lean: Anaheim +1.5 (-150)
