Top NHL Betting Picks for Monday, April 18 (2022)
We start the week off with a good six-game slate of hockey which features some great matchups. Below, I give out my two best bets for Monday night.
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Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook.
New Jersey Devils (+250) @ Vegas Golden Knights (-320), o/u 6 (-125/+105)
The Pacific Division’s fourth-place Vegas Golden Knights host the Metropolitan Division’s seventh-place New Jersey Devils in a must-win game for Vegas, which is part of the reason they are such long favorites in this game. This is the second meeting between these two teams this season, as the Golden Knights won the first matchup 5-3 back in December.
I expect a similarly strong performance from Vegas as they need two points while they sit just three points back from the Los Angeles Kings for the Pacific Division’s third seed in the playoffs. Logan Thompson is the projected starting goaltender for the Golden Knights and has been terrific in net this season as he boasts a 0.922 save percentage over 14 appearances between the pipes.
Across the ice, the projected starting goaltender for the Devils is Nico Daws, who has had a challenging year as he possesses a mere 0.893 save percentage. New Jersey’s defense in front of Daws is of no help as the Devils currently rank 21st in the league in five-on-five expected goals against per 60 minutes (xGA).
Vegas ranks higher in that metric, but they also rank higher than New Jersey in five-on-five expected goals for per 60 minutes (xGF) this season. Vegas has dominated this matchup over the past few seasons as they have won four straight matchups against the Devils.
Best Bet: Vegas Golden Knights -1.5 (-125)
Carolina Hurricanes (-390) @ Arizona Coyotes (+295), o/u 6 (-115/-105)
The Metropolitan Division’s first-place Carolina Hurricanes travel to Arizona to take on the Central Division’s eighth-place Coyotes. This is a great bounceback spot for the Hurricanes following Saturday’s 7-4 loss to the Colorado Avalanche. The Arizona Coyotes have played some of the worst hockey I have ever seen recently.
Arizona enters this contest following Saturday’s 9-1 loss to the Calgary Flames, their seventh loss over their last eight games. All seven of those losses have been by at least a four-goal margin.
Yes, you read that correctly. Over their last eight games, Arizona is averaging just 1.25 goals scored while they are allowing 5.63 goals scored per game over that same stretch.
Arizona now ranks dead-last in the league for the season in five-on-five expected goals for per 60 minutes (xGF) and 30th in five-on-five expected goals against per 60 minutes (xGA). Carolina’s offense should have a field day with Arizona as the Hurricanes currently rank second in the league in five-on-five expected goals for per 60 minutes (xGF).
There is no need to overthink this one. Arizona is just awful.
Best Bet: Carolina Hurricanes -1.5 (-130)
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.