NHL Best Bets, Odds, & Picks: Friday (11/28)
Black Friday is a loaded sports calendar, which includes a 15-game NHL slate for us to enjoy. Marquee matchups include the New York Rangers vs. Boston Bruins, Colorado Avalanche vs. Minnesota Wild, Los Angeles Kings vs. Anaheim Ducks, and Utah Mammoth vs. Dallas Stars.
My NHL Best Bets, Odds, & Picks: Friday (11/21) edition went 1-2 last week. The lone winner was sweat-free, as the Minnesota Wild upset the Pittsburgh Penguins via a 5-0 shutout win on the road. Losses came on the Blackhawks +1.5 during a 9-3 loss to Buffalo, while the Kings and Bruins finished 2-1 in overtime, failing to go over 5.5 total goals.
I’ve got three more one-unit plays to tail on today’s jam-packed NHL slate. Follow me on X @Matt_MacKay_ for more NHL analysis and free picks.
NHL Best Bets
(Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook)
Colorado Avalanche vs. Minnesota Wild
The Avalanche are the hottest team in the NHL right now. Colorado will hit the road to take on the Minnesota Wild, who are also trending up, going 8-1-1 in their last 10 games played. Both teams have combined to win 16 consecutive games, making this an exciting matchup between Central Division opponents.
We’re going to invest in the goaltenders in this matchup, Jesper Wallstedt and Scott Wedgewood. Both netminders have a 2.09 GAA or lower with stout .918 and .935 save percentages.
The goal total is currently set to 6.5 due to the talent rostered on each offense. However, both teams are profitable on the goal total under this season, especially Colorado, who are 14-9 on goal total unders.
Let’s lay the juice and bet under 6.5 total goals between Colorado and Minnesota this afternoon.
Pick: Under 6.5 Total Goals (-135)
Ottawa Senators vs. St. Louis Blues
Oddsmakers have Ottawa and St. Louis valued as a moneyline pick’em ahead of today’s matchup fro Enterprise Center in St. Louis. The Blues have dropped two straight games and are only 3-2-5 across their last 10 matchups played.
The Senators have more momentum on their side. Ottawa has gone 6-2-2 across their previous 10 games, including a 4-3 shootout win on the road against Vegas on Wednesday.
The Blues are expected to start goaltender Joel Hofer. He has a 3.82 GAA, allowing three-plus goals in four straight starts. Linus Ullmark is probable to start for the Senators, holding three of his previous four opponents to two or fewer goals scored.
St. Louis has allowed nearly 100 more shots on goal compared to Ottawa through the first quarter of the season. Let’s take advantage of the Senators being priced at -110 odds in the moneyline betting market and bet Ottawa to record a second straight win on the road.
Pick: Ottawa Senators Moneyline (-110)
New York Rangers vs. Boston Bruins
A classic Eastern Conference tilt between the Rangers and Bruins will be played at TD Garden during the early afternoon Black Friday slate. New York is still trying to dig itself out of the hole they dug themselves earlier in the season, winning back-to-back games against the Blues and Hurricanes.
The Bruins are 2-3 SU in their last five games played. Boston just wrapped up a four-game road trip and returns home to TD Garden, where they last logged a 3-1 loss to the Hurricanes.
The edge in this matchup goes to the Rangers due to goaltending. Igor Shesterkin is expected to start for New York, boasting a 2.47 GAA and a .911 save percentage. Joonas Korpisalo is expected in the net for the Bruins. He enters this matchup with a 3.43 GAA and an .878 save percentage.
Shesterkin has held two straight opponents to two goals each. Korpisalo has allowed four goals in consecutive starts against the Senators and Ducks, leading to losses in regulation for the Bruins.
New York’s offense is still trying to find its stride. However, their defense is a top-five unit, especially with Shesterkin in the crease. Boston ranks 20th in goals allowed and 18th in goals scored, so let’s bet on the Rangers as a moderate road favorite against the Bruins today.
Pick: New York Rangers Moneyline (-142)
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