The NHL season continues on Tuesday night, with the league rolling out a loaded 13-game slate. There's no shortage of betting options available, and I've got you covered if you're looking to get in on the action. Here are my top NHL picks & predictions for tonight.
Tuesday's NHL Best Bets
(Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook)
Detroit Red Wings (+108) vs. Florida Panthers (-130) | O/U 5.5 (-128/+104)
Let's pick it up in South Florida, where the back-to-back Stanley Cup champion Panthers (31-29-3) are gearing up to host the Red Wings (36-21-7). This Atlantic Division tilt gets underway at 7:00 p.m. ET from Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, FL.
Detroit has turned into an under machine as of late, going 7-2 to the under in their last nine games. Their offense has fallen off completely, but they continue to get solid goaltending on the opposite end. Over the last 10 games, the Red Wings rank 31st in goals per 60 minutes (2.07) and shooting rate (7.81%), while ranking 27th in high-danger shots on goal (27). When you put aside their power play, which is 12th in the NHL at 22.50%, this offense really isn't too potent.
On the other hand, the Panthers are 4-2 to the under in their last six games. These teams have also gone under in eight of their last nine meetings, including a 3-1 Detroit victory in Motown on March 6th. Like the Red Wings, the Panthers are also struggling offensively at the moment. They're 25th in goals per 60 minutes (2.58) over the last 10 games. Florida has still been sharp on the penalty kill (sixth, 82.03%), so if they can shut down Detroit's man-advantage unit, we're looking at another low-scoring affair. Give me the under.
Bet: Under 5.5 Goals (+104)
San Jose Sharks (+168) vs. Buffalo Sabres (-205) | O/U 6.5 (-122/+100)
The Sharks (30-25-6) open up a five-game road trip tonight, with the first stop in Buffalo to take on the red-hot Sabres (39-19-6). Buffalo (84 points) has overtaken Tampa Bay (82 points) for the Atlantic Division lead, albeit the Bolts have two games in hand to try and erase the deficit. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. ET from the KeyBank Center in Buffalo, NY.
The Sabres’ team total comes with some juice, but it's warranted. The Sabres have been a wagon offensively, ranking fourth in goals per 60 minutes (3.97) and fifth in shooting rate (13.47%) over the last 10 games. Throughout their current 13-2-1 run, Buffalo has scored four or more goals on nine occasions.
This will also be a great matchup for the Sabres, as they welcome in a Sharks side that is constantly on its heels. San Jose is 30th in Corsi percentage (46.32%), which essentially means they spend a lot of time in their own zone and are always getting outshot. The baseline metrics align with this wager as well, as the Sharks are 29th in GAA (3.41), 21st in team SV% (.886) and 19th in high-danger shots on goal allowed (220).
Buffalo should get plenty of quality looks in this game, and their high shooting rate says that they should convert a few of them.
Bet: Sabres Team Total Over 3.5 Goals (-152)
Edmonton Oilers (+150) vs. Colorado Avalanche (-182) | O/U 6.5 (-158/+128)
The marquee matchup tonight comes in the Mile High City, where the Oilers (31-25-8) are set to take on the league-leading Avalanche (43-10-9). This Western Conference clash is slated for 10:00 p.m. ET from Ball Arena in Denver, CO.
I've cooked up a two-leg same-game parlay (SGP) for this Oilers-Avalanche matchup, as we need to knock some juice off of the over to make this bet worthwhile. I'll pair the over 6.5 goals with Cale Makar to score a point. Starting with Makar, his 66 points rank 21st overall in the NHL, as well as second among defensemen behind Evan Bouchard’s 73 points. Makar has registered at least one point in four of his last five games.
As for the full-game total, the over is on a 6-1 run in Edmonton games. They continue to get poor netminding, while making up for it on the opposite end with their dynamic offense. The over has also cashed in four of the last six meetings between these teams.
Over the last 10 games, Edmonton ranks third in goals per 60 minutes (4.08), while Colorado is 13th (3.25). The Oilers' special teams are also opposites, as they lead the league on the power play (32.76%), while ranking 24th on the penalty kill (77.40%). With all of the superstar talent on the ice, I think we hit the seven-goal mark.
Bet: Over 6.5 Goals & Cale Makar 1+ Point Same-Game Parlay (-107)
