Friday offers a more condensed four-game slate of NHL action but provides plenty of chances to win big in some of the most exciting matchups of the week.
The Maple Leafs battle the Red Wings in an Original Six matchup for the ages while the Kraken and Golden Knights contend for the title of the better expansion team and two hockey legends in Pittsburgh’s Sidney Crosby and Washington’s Alex Ovechkin face off as they reignite their storied rivalry.
We look to build off our shocking win last night on the Jets and Avalanche Under in goals where we went against 94 per cent of the public bets. We look to keep things rolling into the weekend with more wins.
All betting lines are from Bet365 and are subject to change. Hockey is a difficult sport to predict so please gamble responsibly.
Bet: Red Wings Leafs Under 6.0 goals (-110), Cam Talbot Over saves (Odds not yet available)
The Buds will be missing star forward Auston Matthews Friday but it shouldn’t hurt them as much as people expect. Toronto is 14-5-0 over their last 19 games without the near-70 goal scorer in the lineup. They will need to overcome a bit of a losing skid versus the Red Wings after losing four of their last five matchups against them.
The sportsbooks are begging people to take the over here with both teams having lethal offences filled with superstars like Patrick Kane, William Nylander and Dylan Larkin. These two have also combined for six or more goals in three of their last four matchups. However, this again feels like a public fade here as 74 per cent of the public bets on the total being for the over.
Both teams have elite netminders in Anthony Stolarz for the Leafs and 37-year-old Cam Talbot for the Red Wings. Stolarz has a 2.12 goals against average this season and his only career game against Detroit was a 28-save shutout. Talbot has been effective in his old age with a 2.45 goals against average and a 2.49 average over 12 career games versus Toronto.
The Maple Leafs have also produced low-scoring games regularly under new bench boss Craig Berube with the total going under seven goals in nine of their 14 games this season. If there’s an early goal, under 6.5 goals would be a solid bet to attack at the right time.
Toronto also averages the eighth-most shots on net per game which means Cam Talbot will have a busy night and should be a solid bet for his over in saves. We don’t have the line posted for this yet but we will update it when it becomes live.
Bet: Alex Ovechkin anytime goal (+115), Capitals Over 3.5 goals (-120), Penguins Capitals Over 6.5 goals (-105)
The showdowns between Crosby and Ovechkin used to be legendary but with the hockey legends getting older we look to remember and cherish their matchups while we still can. Ovechkin has been arguably the most prolific goal scorer in league history and despite being almost 40 years old, he can still find the back of the net.
The longtime Washington captain has eight goals through their first 12 games this season and is currently riding a five-game goal streak. His history versus the Penguins is lethal as he’s scored six goals over his last eight games in the matchup, including another goal streak at three games.
The Capitals have been rolling this season with the fourth-highest goals per game average at just over four. Pittsburgh will look to do the best they can to repel the Washington attack but it may not be enough as they’ve allowed 36 goals over their last ten games.
Both Penguins goaltenders have goals against averages over three, which should culminate in a large showing from the Capitals. I expect the Penguins to try and battle back, making the over another solid play in this one.
Bet: Kraken ML (+115), Golden Knights Under 2.5 goals (+165)
The recent expansion team rivalry between the Golden Knights and Kraken has been very one-sided with Vegas holding a 10-2-0 record in the matchup. The Golden Knights have won in all but one of their six career trips to Seattle and will look to hand the Kraken their fifth loss in a row.
It’s been tough sledding for Seattle as of late as they’ve struggled to find the back of the net with just 13 goals over their last six games. Everything points to the Golden Knights in this one as they dominate the matchup and catch the Kraken at possibly their weakest point yet the betting line is so close?
This line is asking for people to ride with the Golden Knights as they are the more dominant team in the past. I expect the Kraken to come out with more flair than people may expect and will see them get key stops from expected starter Joey Daccord.
Since becoming the lead netminder for Seattle this season, the former Arizona Sun Devil has a 2.76 goals against average despite his team severely struggling. He should have a big performance and shut down the Golden Knights, snapping the Kraken’s losing streak.
