We have a great 10-game slate of hockey Thursday with some great matchups. There are plenty of betting angles to attack as I give out my best bets below.
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Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook.
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Washington Capitals (-200) vs. Columbus Blue Jackets (+170), o/u 6
We have a Metropolitan Division tilt as the fourth-place Washington Capitals travel to Columbus to take on the fifth-place Blue Jackets. This is the fourth and final meeting between these two teams this season as the total has reached at least six goals in two of the first three matchups.
I like the total to go over six again in this matchup. Washington has gone over this total in six of their last seven games while Columbus has gone over this total in 17 of their last 22 games.
There are two fade-worthy goaltenders projected to start in this matchup that make the over a good play. Vitek Vanecek is projected to start in net for the Capitals and has seen the total reach at least six in six of his last nine road starts.
Columbus enters this contest on the second half of a back-to-back, and since Elivs Merzlikins started Wednesday we should expect to see Joonas Korpisalo between the pipes against Washington. There have been six or more total goals scored in all seven of Korpisalo’s home starts this season, and there is no reason to believe It will not happen again in this matchup.
Best Bet: Capitals/Blue Jackets o6 (-120)
New York Islanders (+120) vs. New York Rangers (-140), o/u 5.5
We have another Metropolitan Division tilt on Thursday as the sixth-place New York Islanders have an intrastate battle against the second-place New York Rangers. This is the second meeting between these two teams this season as the Rangers won the first matchup 4-1 in late November.
I expect to see a similar outcome in this matchup for one specific reason, Igor Shesterkin on home ice. Shesterkin should get the start in net for the Rangers as Alexandar Georgiev started the last game between the pipes.
Currently the Vezina Trophy favorite, Shesterkin has been the best goaltender in the league this season by far and his play elevates when 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) and boasts an impeccable 0.943 save percentage on home ice.
The Islanders will be in a tough spot priced as a road underdog as they are just 2-9 in such situations this season. On the flip side, the Rangers are an incredible 14-3 over their last 17 games when priced as a home favorite.
Best Bet: New York Rangers ML (-140)
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.