As we begin the second half of the NHL season, there are a lot of teams in contention for the playoffs. We’ve seen that all some teams need to do is get in and make a huge run. Let’s break down a couple of games and give you the best bets.
Sunday’s NHL Best Bets
(Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook)
St. Louis Blues (+190) at Dallas Stars (-230) | O/U 5.5 (-130/+110)
The Blues came out of the break red hot winning three straight. The last win was an eye-opener because it was against the Capitals, who have the most points in the Eastern Conference. They dominated a team that scored eight goals on them in the previous game, thanks to a 66% faceoff win percentage and a 56.26% expected goal rate.
Jordan Binnington was the hero of the Four Nations Face-Off, helping Canada win the tournament in overtime. He's taken that momentum and is riding it into the regular season. In his last two appearances, he's allowed just three goals and has a .946 save percentage.
This will be another test for the Blues as they face the Stars, who are always a title contender. The Stars have the second-most points in the Western Conference and are a tough team because they're great on both sides of the ice. Their offense is fourth in goals per game (3.36), and eight players have at least ten goals.
The defense is even better, ranking ninth in shots allowed per game. Jake Oettinger leads the goaltending, and the team is fourth in goals allowed.
Both matchups this year have easily cleared the Under. With the Blues’ improved defense and the Stars’ consistency, this could be a low-scoring game.
Pick: Under 5.5 Goals (+100)
Toronto Maple Leafs (-192) at Pittsburgh Penguin (+160) | O/U 5.5 (-130/+110)
Since returning from the break, the Maple Leafs have won three straight games. Their offense has been great, averaging 4.75 goals per game. This is without Auston Matthews, who hasn’t played a big part. In fact, he has just one goal in his last 13 games, including the Four Nations Face-Off.
His luck might change against the Penguins, who have been a terrible defense this season. They've been at the bottom in goals allowed all season and are currently 31st (3.59). They've had trouble with stability at the goaltending position and with Alex Nedeljkovic and Joel Blomqvist trading starts, but both are averaging over three goals allowed per game.
The Leafs should be able to hold down the Pens for the win.
Pick: Maple Leafs 60-Minute Moneyline (-120)
