Top NHL Betting Picks for Thursday, March 31 (2022)
We have a stacked nine-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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Winnipeg Jets (+175) @ Toronto Maple Leafs (-205), o/u 6 (-115/-105)
The Central Division’s sixth-place Winnipeg Jets travel to Toronto to take on the Atlantic Division’s third-place Maple Leafs. This is the second meeting between these two teams this season as the Jets won the first matchup 6-3 in Winnipeg.
Winnipeg quietly possesses one of the best offenses in the league this season as they currently rank 11th in five-on-five expected goals for per 60 minutes (xGF). Their offensive output has led to many high-scoring games as there have been six or more total goals scored in 12 of their last 16 games.
The over has been a good bet for Toronto recently as well as they have seen six or more total goals scored in 12 of their last 15 games. It is no secret that Toronto possesses one of the best forward groups in the league, spearheaded by the Bunting/Matthews/Marner line.
This season, Toronto ranks third in the league in five-on-five expected goals for per 60 minutes (xGF). Erik Kallgren is the projected starting goaltender for Toronto and has allowed three or more goals in three straight appearances.
These are two teams with explosive offenses that should be able to combine for at least six goals, especially considering they combined for nine in their last matchup.
Best Bet: Jets/Maple Leafs o6 (-115)
Los Angeles Kings (+225) @ Calgary Flames (-285), o/u 6 (-120/+100)
We have a Pacific Division tilt as the second-place Los Angeles Kings travel to Calgary to take on the first-place Flames. The over has been a hot trend for both teams recently, and I think that continues in this matchup.
There have been six or more total goals scored in each of the Kings’ last five games while there have been six or more total goals scored in four of Calgary’s last five games. Calgary should have no problem scoring the puck as they rank fourth in the league in five-on-five expected goals for per 60 minutes (xGF) and are averaging four goals scored per game over their last seven contests.
This is an especially bad matchup for Los Angeles as half of their defense is expected to miss this game as Drew Doughty, Matt Roy, and Mikey Anderson all remain out with injuries. These injuries have really crippled the Kings’ defense as they are giving up an average of 3.6 goals per game over their last five contests.
Meanwhile, the Kings’ offense continues to produce as they are averaging 3.5 goals scored over their last four games. This season, the Kings rank eighth in the league in five-on-five expected goals for per 60 minutes (xGF).
With both of these offenses playing at the level they are currently and a very banged-up Kings defense, I think this matchup gets to at least six total goals scored.
Best Bet: Kings/Flames o6 (-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.