We have a great seven-game slate of hockey Friday with some good matchups. There are plenty of betting angles to attack as I give out my two best bets below.
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Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook.
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New York Islanders (+145) @ New York Rangers (-175), o/u 5.5 (-110/-110)
We have a New York battle as the Islanders travel to Madison Square Garden to take on the Rangers. This is the third meeting between these two teams this season as both of the last two matchups went under 5.5 total goals.
With two elite goaltenders projected to start in this game, I like the under to hit once again. Ilya Sorokin is the projected starting goaltender for the Islanders and has been sharp all season as he boasts a 0.927 save percentage and ranks fourth amongst starting goaltenders in five-on-five goals saved above expected per 60 minutes (GSAx).
Sorokin has allowed two or fewer goals in six of his last seven starts and has an impeccable 0.950 save percentage over that stretch. Across the ice, Igor Shesterkin is the projected starting goaltender for the Rangers.
Shesterkin already has the Vezina locked up this season and still continues to make his case for the Hart Trophy as well. This year, Shesterkin ranks first amongst starting goaltenders in five-on-five goals saved above expected per 60 minutes (GSAx) and boasts a league-leading 0.936 save percentage.
Somehow, that number goes up even higher when playing at home as his save percentage jumps to 0.943 this season at Madison Square Garden. The under is always a fair play when Shesterkin starts on home ice, and is an even better one when facing Ilya Sorokin and the Islanders.
Best Bet: Islanders/Rangers u5.5 (-110)
Nashville Predators (-185) @ Buffalo Sabres (+155), o/u 5.5 (-120/+100)
The Atlantic Division’s sixth-place Buffalo Sabres host the Central Division’s fourth-place Nashville Predators. For two red-hot offenses, this total is set too low.
Nashville has seen six or more total goals scored in eight of their last 10 games while Buffalo has seen six or more total goals scored in six of their last nine games. Both offenses continue to play their best hockey all season, and I see no reason why that would stop in this matchup.
Over their last 10 games, the Predators are averaging 4.1 goals scored. Meanwhile, the Sabres are averaging 3.8 goals scored per game over their last five contests.
This game also features two goaltenders who have had some up-and-down performances recently. Juuse Saros is the projected starting goaltender for Nashville and has allowed three or more goals in six of his last eight starts.
Craig Anderson is the projected starting goaltender for Buffalo and possesses a mere 0.882 save percentage over his last five starts. Buffalo’s defense in front of Anderson has struggled all season as they rank just 19th in the league in five-on-five expected goals against per 60 minutes (xGA).
Nashville may also struggle on defense in this matchup as they hit the road without defensemen Mark Borowiecki and Dante Fabbro, who are both out with injuries.
Best Bet: Predators/Sabres o5.5 (-120)
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.