Top 3 NHL Odds, Picks & Predictions: Thursday (10/20)
We have a loaded 12-game slate of hockey on Thursday with some great matchups as the season continues to get underway. Below, I give out my three best bets for Thursday’s NHL slate.
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Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook
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Top 3 NHL Odds, Picks & Predictions: Thursday (10/20)
Nashville Predators (-135) @ Columbus Blue Jackets (+110) | O/U 6.5 (-120/+100)
In one of the first games on Thursday’s slate, the Metropolitan Division’s Columbus Blue Jackets host the Central Division’s Nashville Predators. Nashville enters this game in poor form after dropping three straight games since returning to the United States.
They played two games in Prague against the San Jose Sharks to open the season and went 2-0. However, San Jose has looked like the worst team in hockey, and the Predators got humbled immediately upon returning stateside.
In the three games since, they have been outscored 13-5 and badly choked away Tuesday’s game against the scrappy Los Angeles Kings as the defense fell apart. While I think the Preds will figure it out and have a strong season, they look completely lost as a group right now and need to be faded until that comes to fruition.
On the other hand, the Columbus Blue Jackets are coming off their first win of the season with a comeback 4-3 overtime victory over the Vancouver Canucks. Getting the monkey off the back should be the confidence boost this talented group of players needed. With both of these teams entering this matchup in completely different mindsets, I like the home underdog to take care of business.
Best Bet: Columbus Blue Jackets ML (+110)
Arizona Coyotes (+135) @ Montreal Canadiens (-155) | O/U 6.5 (-120/+100)
The Atlantic Division’s Montreal Canadiens host the Central Division’s Arizona Coyotes in a battle with two teams that most people predicted to struggle with this year. These offenses have lived up to these poor expectations through the first week of the season as they each rank in the bottom four of the league in 5v5 expected goals for per 60 minutes (xGF/60).
At 5v5, Arizona ranked 22nd in the league in GF and 32nd in xGF last season, while the Habs ranked 19th in GF and 20th in xGF. To start this season, both teams have gotten off to slow starts as the first period under has cashed in five of their eight combined games.
A mixture of poor defense and solid goaltending have led to these slow starts. Projected to take the net for Montreal upon his return from parental leave is Jake Allen.
He boasts a .943 SV% and 2.03 GAA through two starts this season. Among starting goaltenders, Allen ranks fourth in the league in 5v5 goals saved above expected per 60 minutes (GSAx/60).
Best Bet: 1P Under 1.5 (+120)
Dallas Stars (+140) @ Toronto Maple Leafs (-170) | O/U 6.5 (-120/+100)
Another great matchup in the early window occurs as the Atlantic Division’s Toronto Maple Leafs host the Central Division’s Dallas Stars. Dallas has jumped out to a terrific 3-0 start this season, largely due to its terrific defense and goaltending.
At 5v5, the Stars rank seventh in the league in expected goals against per 60 minutes (xGA/60). Backing up this strong defense is a likely Vezina candidate this season, goaltender Jake Oettinger.
Allowing just one goal across each of his first three starts, Oettinger is 3-0 with a .966 SV%. Among starting goaltenders, Oettinger ranks sixth in 5v5 GSAx/60.
Across the ice, we should expect to see Ilya Samsonov take the crease for Toronto, who has also been strong this season. Through two starts, Samsonov is 2-0 with a .926 SV% and 2.00 GAA.
Among starting goaltenders, Samsonov ranks 11th in 5v5 GSAx/60. We are getting a generous total because of two strong offenses, but the under should be the right play with these two guys in net.
Best Bet: Under 6.5 (+100)
Best of luck!
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Tony Sartori is a featured writer at BettingPros. For more from Tony, check out his archive and follow him @tony_sartori.