Top 3 NHL Odds, Picks & Predictions: Tuesday (3/24)
We have another exciting night of NHL action ahead of us, as the playoff races in both conferences continue to heat up. There are several key matchups, including a monumental Atlantic Division showdown between the Senators and the Red Wings. Below, I'll dive into that game, as well as two others, from a sports betting perspective. Here are my top NHL picks & predictions for Tuesday, March 24th.
Tuesday's NHL Best Bets
(Odds courtesy of BetMGM)
Ottawa Senators (+105) vs. Detroit Red Wings (-125) | O/U 6.0 (-118/-102)
The Senators (37-24-9) are on the heels of a 2-1 road win over the Rangers last night, and they'll make the quick turnaround to take on the Red Wings (38-24-8) tonight. The teams have 83 and 84 points, respectively, and are chasing the Bruins (86 points) and the Islanders (85) in the Wild Card race. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. ET from Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, MI.
You can expect a playoff-style atmosphere in Motown tonight, and I ultimately think this will help yield a lower-scoring affair. For starters, six of the last nine meetings between these teams have stayed under the number. The under is also 6-2 in Ottawa's last eight games, while going 10-5 in Detroit's last 15 games.
The Senators continue to play elite defense in front of their questionable netminders. Last night, they limited the Rangers to only nine shots on goal in the 2-1 victory. They've now allowed the fewest high-danger shots on goal (189) this season, and are ranked first in expected goals per 60 minutes with a mark of 2.6. Detroit is fourth (204) and 10th (2.96) in those respective categories. Between the increased stakes, the recent trends and the solid underlying defensive numbers, you can start to see how the under appears to be the right bet in this game.
Bet: Under 6.0 Goals (-102)
San Jose Sharks (+120) vs. Nashville Predators (-145) | O/U 6.5 (-105/115)
Don't look now, but the Predators (33-28-9) have won four straight games and catapulted themselves into the final Western Conference playoff spot. They'll take on the slumping Sharks (32-30-6), who are in the midst of a four-game slide and seeing their postseason hopes evaporate. This conference showdown gets underway at 7:00 p.m. ET from Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, TN.
I'm jumping on the Predators Moneyline while it's still at a reasonable price. I won't be surprised to see this line close in the -160 range in favor of Nashville. These teams are trending in opposite directions, and when factoring in the home-ice edge for the Predators, it's a no-brainer to back Nashville.
The Sharks simply aren't controlling hockey games, which isn't shocking since they're still a young, up-and-coming squad. Over the last 10 games, San Jose is 25th in Corsi% (46.33%), 24th in high-danger shots on goal against (39) and 31st in goal differential per 60 minutes (-1.19). They're just 2-7 straight up (SU) in their last nine road games and 0-10 SU in their last 10 head-to-head meetings with Nashville. This is going to be a tough road spot for the Sharks to try to right the ship. Let's back the Predators.
Bet: Predators Moneyline (-145)
Washington Capitals (-118) vs. St. Louis Blues (-102) | O/U 6.0 (+100/-120)
Neither Washington (35-27-9) nor St. Louis (28-30-11) is on track to make the postseason, but I still like this game from a betting angle. Puck drop is slated for 8:00 p.m. ET from the Enterprise Center in St. Louis, MO.
I'm stunned to see that there are a total of six goals available in the market right now. These have been two of the best under teams in the league recently, with Washington going 6-0 to the under in its last six games and St. Louis sitting at 5-0 in its last five.
Over the last 10 games, the Blues rank first in team GAA (1.66) and save percentage (.941). The Capitals are 10th (2.67) and seventh (.904), respectively. On the offensive side, St. Louis is 20th in goals per 60 minutes (2.74) during the 10-game stretch, while Washington is 28th (2.47). Factor in that the Blues are 26th on the power play (16.85%) and the Capitals are 28th (16.59%), and I just cannot see this game reaching the six-goal threshold. Let's play the under.
Bet: Under 6.0 Goals (-120)