We end the work week with an exciting seven-game slate of hockey tonight featuring some good matchups. There are some great betting angles to attack tonight as I give out my best bets below.
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Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook.
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New Jersey Devils (+145) vs. New York Rangers (-165), o/u 6
We have a Metropolitan Division tilt as the seventh-place New Jersey Devils travel to New York to take on the third-place Rangers. This matchup is the second meeting between these two teams this season as the Rangers won 4-3 back in November.
I am riding with the Rangers tonight due to five simple words: Igor Shesterkin on home ice. Shesterkin would personally be my vote for the Hart Trophy this season and is a lock for the Vezina at this point.
Shesterkin is 15-2-2 with a ridiculous 0.942 save percentage playing at Madison Square Garden this season. Shesterkin ranks first amongst starting goaltenders in five-on-five goals saved above expected per 60 minutes (GSAx).
To sum It up quickly, Shesterkin is simply having the best season I have personally ever seen a goaltender produce. The Rangers have won four of their last six home games in regulation when Igor is between the pipes, and for right now, they should be an automatic bet at home with Shesterkin starting until he proves bettors wrong.
Best Bet: New York Rangers 3-Way ML (-105)
Los Angeles Kings (-140) vs. Columbus Blue Jackets (+120), o/u 6
The Pacific Division’s second-place Los Angeles Kings travel to Columbus to take on the Metropolitan Division’s fifth-place Columbus Blue Jackets. This is the first meeting between these two teams this season.
Los Angeles enters this contest following Wednesday’s 4-3 loss to the Dallas Stars. Wednesday’s contest was yet another high-scoring affair for the King,s who have seen six or more total goals scored in nine of their last 11 games.
Jonathan Quick is expected to get the start for the Los Angeles Kings, and he has had a tough go since the all-star break. In his three starts, Quick has produced a lowly 0.868 save percentage.
Columbus enters this contest following Tuesday’s 4-3 win over the New Jersey Devils. Much like the Kings, the Blue Jackets have seen many high-scoring games lately as there have been six or more total goals scored in 12 of their last 15 games.
I like this trend to continue tonight between two deep lineups who love to play at a fast pace.
Best Bet: Kings/Blue Jackets o6 (-115)
All betting information was gathered from puckline.org and TopDownHockey.
Best of luck tonight!
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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.