NHL Best Bets
Last night may have been one of the worst nights in the NHL that I could remember. There were only two games, and both underdogs shutout the team that was favored. It was bonkers. Tonight, there are three games before the All-Star break, which to me seems wild since there are 26 other teams that are hanging out on a beach somewhere, but I digress. Let’s take a look at tonight’s NHL best bets.Â
Ottawa at Detroit (-125, 7)
The Detroit Red Wings are entering this game against Ottawa as winners in six of their last eight games. They have given themselves some room in the second wild card position. Tonight, they have a great opportunity to build on that lead. Detroit currently sits with 57 points, and a win tonight could help them jump the Maple Leafs in the standings.
The Ottawa Senators are coming off their biggest win of the season and perhaps a game that can turn their year around after erasing a 3-0 deficit against the Nashville Predators before winning in overtime.
Since January 11th, the Red Wings and Senators have been putting the puck in the net. In that span, Ottawa is scoring 3.60 goals per game and Detroit is scoring 3.33 goals per game.
Even though the Senators are scoring goals, they’re still struggling to keep pucks out of their own net. Joonas Korpisalo is expected to start tonight for Ottawa. In his last eight starts he is 3-3-2 with a 3.27 goals against average and a .876 save percentage.
The Red Wings have scored 12 goals in their last three games combined, and I believe that they’ll continue their production tonight. The total in the game is a little scary because Alex Lyon has been playing unreal in goal for the Red Wings, but I think Detroit will still find ways to fill the net.
NHL Best Bet: Detroit Red Wings Team Total Over 3.5 -130 (play to -140)
Los Angeles at Nashville (+102, 6)
The Nashville Predators are coming off their worst loss of the season as they choked in Ottawa by seeing their 3-0 lead disappear. They’re arguably the best bounce-back candidate tonight since they’re going up against one of the worst teams in the NHL in January.
Since the new year, the Kings are 2-7-5, giving them nine points in 14 games, the second least amount, only in front of the Chicago Blackhawks.
Los Angeles hasn’t announced who their starter is, but both goaltenders haven’t been playing their best, Cam Talbot especially. Talbot is 0-4-1 in his last five starts. In those games, he has a 5.19 goals against average with a .855 save percentage.
The Kings’ offense hasn’t helped much at all. This month, they’re scoring 2.29 goals per game.
I’m not saying the Predators have been playing all that much better, but they’re 6-6-1 in their last 13 games. But I like them as a home underdog against a struggling Kings team.
NHL Best Bet: Nashville Predators ML +102 (play to -110)
2023-24 record: 80–91 (-32.48 units)
