Friday's Best NHL Bets
Minnesota Wild at Buffalo Sabres (-200, 5.5)
After returning from the Winter Olympics and leading the Sabres to three straight wins, goalie Ryan Miller will take a much-needed rest tonight against the Wild.
But don't write off the Sabres, who will counter with veteran Patrick Lalime in the net. He will be going for his 200th career victory against the Wild, losers of three straight.
The change in the net appears to designed to give Miller a night off before returning to his home state of Michigan in Saturday's contest against Detroit, but it also makes good strategic sense.
With the Sabres playing three games in four days, including some key matchups to their playoff hopes, Lalime is the right call against the Wild. He is just 1-10 lifetime with a 4.85 goial-against average vs. the Wings but is 2-3-1 with a 2.64 GAA vs. the Wild.
"I'm looking forward to it," Lalime told the Buffalo News of his chance to hit No. 200 and contribute to the team's playoff run. "It's down the stretch for us and a chance to go back in there will be nice."
Pick: Sabres
Los Angeles Kings at Dallas Stars (-110, 5.5)
Here's one stop Kings goaltender Jonthan Quick doesn't want to make - the birth of his first child.
Quick, who has more victories than any other NHL netminder this season and owns 37 of the Kings' 39 wins, will not play tonight because he and his wife are expecting the arrival of their first born at any time.
That leaves Erik Ersberg (2-3-0-1) and AHL callup Jonathan Bernier to man the pipes in his absence. Ersberg is allowing more than a half-goal per game than Quick.
The Kings have gone over the total in four of their last five and the Stars have done so in their last five in a row. Without Quick in goal, make it six.
Pick: Over
PITTSBURGH vs. NEW JERSEY
Pittsburgh is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games when playing New Jersey
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Pittsburgh's last 5 games when playing on the road against New Jersey
The total has gone OVER in 5 of New Jersey's last 6 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of New Jersey's last 5 games when playing at home against Pittsburgh
TAMPA BAY vs. WASHINGTON
Tampa Bay is 1-14 SU in its last 15 games when playing Washington
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Tampa Bay's last 5 games when playing on the road against Washington
The total has gone OVER in 9 of Washington's last 11 games
Washington is 14-1 SU in its last 15 games when playing Tampa Bay
MINNESOTA vs. BUFFALO
Minnesota is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games
Minnesota is 2-9 SU in its last 11 games on the road
Buffalo is 4-8 SU in its last 12 games
Buffalo is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games
NY RANGERS vs. ATLANTA
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of the NY Rangers last 6 games on the road
NY Rangers are 3-7 SU in their last 10 games on the road
Atlanta is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games
Atlanta is 4-1 SU in their last 5 games when playing at home against NY Rangers
LOS ANGELES vs. DALLAS
Los Angeles is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games when playing on the road against Dallas
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Los Angeles's last 10 games when playing Dallas
Dallas is 1-6 SU in its last 7 games when playing Los Angeles
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Dallas's last 10 games when playing Los Angeles
NASHVILLE vs. ANAHEIM
Nashville is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games when playing Anaheim
Nashville is 1-8 SU in its last 9 games when playing on the road against Anaheim
Anaheim is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing Nashville
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Anaheim's last 5 games when playing Nashville
PITTSBURGH (40-22-0-5, 85 pts.) at NEW JERSEY (39-23-0-3, 81 pts.)
Top Trends for this game.
NEW JERSEY is 92-61 ATS (+16.6 Units) in all games over the last 2 seasons.
PITTSBURGH is 40-17 ATS (+15.9 Units) after allowing 4 goals or more over the last 2 seasons.
PITTSBURGH is 35-21 ATS (+11.0 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record in the second half of the season over the last 2 seasons.
NEW JERSEY is 11-15 ATS (-13.9 Units) second half of the season this season.
Head-to-Head Series History
NEW JERSEY is 11-7 (+3.8 Units) against the spread versus PITTSBURGH over the last 3 seasons
NEW JERSEY is 11-7-0 straight up against PITTSBURGH over the last 3 seasons
11 of 17 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Under=+4.6 Units)
TAMPA BAY (27-27-0-12, 66 pts.) at WASHINGTON (45-14-0-8, 98 pts.)
Top Trends for this game.
TAMPA BAY is 51-95 ATS (+168.4 Units) in all games over the last 2 seasons.
TAMPA BAY is 11-36 ATS (+65.6 Units) in road games after allowing 4 goals or more over the last 3 seasons.
WASHINGTON is 14-1 ATS (+11.8 Units) in home games second half of the season this season.
WASHINGTON is 15-2 ATS (+10.6 Units) vs. division opponents this season.
WASHINGTON is 18-30 ATS (-25.2 Units) in home games after playing 3 consecutive home games since 1996.
Head-to-Head Series History
WASHINGTON is 15-3 (+11.8 Units) against the spread versus TAMPA BAY over the last 3 seasons
WASHINGTON is 15-3-0 straight up against TAMPA BAY over the last 3 seasons
10 of 16 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Over=+3.4 Units)
NY RANGERS (29-29-0-9, 67 pts.) at ATLANTA (28-28-0-10, 66 pts.)
Top Trends for this game.
NY RANGERS are 29-38 ATS (-12.9 Units) in all games this season.
NY RANGERS are 7-15 ATS (-11.3 Units) in road games when playing against a team with a losing record in the second half of the season over the last 3 seasons.
NY RANGERS are 25-39 ATS (-21.2 Units) after allowing 4 goals or more over the last 3 seasons.
NY RANGERS are 5-14 ATS (-10.4 Units) after a loss by 2 goals or more in their previous game this season.
ATLANTA is 22-12 ATS (+35.0 Units) when playing against a team with a losing record in the second half of the season over the last 2 seasons.
Head-to-Head Series History
ATLANTA is 7-4 (+4.6 Units) against the spread versus NY RANGERS over the last 3 seasons
ATLANTA is 7-4-0 straight up against NY RANGERS over the last 3 seasons
7 of 11 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Under=+2.5 Units)
MINNESOTA (31-29-0-6, 68 pts.) at BUFFALO (36-21-0-8, 80 pts.)
Top Trends for this game.
MINNESOTA is 6-20 ATS (+32.7 Units) in a road game where where the total is 5.5 this season.
MINNESOTA is 17-13 ATS (+32.3 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
MINNESOTA is 114-92 ATS (+207.3 Units) after scoring 1 goal or less in their previous game since 1996.
Head-to-Head Series History
BUFFALO is 1-0 (+1.2 Units) against the spread versus MINNESOTA over the last 3 seasons
BUFFALO is 1-0-0 straight up against MINNESOTA over the last 3 seasons
1 of 1 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Over=+1.0 Units)
LOS ANGELES (39-22-0-5, 83 pts.) at DALLAS (29-25-0-12, 70 pts.)
Top Trends for this game.
DALLAS is 19-8 ATS (+7.7 Units) after allowing 4 goals or more this season.
DALLAS is 145-86 ATS (+20.7 Units) after a loss by 2 goals or more in their previous game since 1996.
DALLAS is 60-56 ATS (-3.3 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 3 seasons.
DALLAS is 33-23 ATS (+56.7 Units) revenging a home loss versus opponent over the last 3 seasons.
LOS ANGELES is 39-27 ATS (+9.8 Units) in all games this season.
LOS ANGELES is 18-10 ATS (+30.3 Units) in a road game where where the total is 5.5 this season.
LOS ANGELES is 13-6 ATS (+19.1 Units) vs. division opponents this season.
LOS ANGELES is 19-7 ATS (+9.5 Units) when playing against a team with a losing record this season.
DALLAS is 8-24 ATS (-16.6 Units) in March games over the last 3 seasons.
DALLAS is 6-13 ATS (-13.6 Units) in home games vs. division opponents over the last 2 seasons.
Head-to-Head Series History
LOS ANGELES is 12-6 (+8.4 Units) against the spread versus DALLAS over the last 3 seasons
LOS ANGELES is 12-6-0 straight up against DALLAS over the last 3 seasons
10 of 18 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Under=+1.0 Units)
NASHVILLE (36-26-0-5, 77 pts.) at ANAHEIM (30-29-0-7, 67 pts.)
Top Trends for this game.
ANAHEIM is 163-155 ATS (+361.6 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record in the second half of the season since 1996.
NASHVILLE is 35-31 ATS (+67.5 Units) in all games this season.
NASHVILLE is 19-11 ATS (+31.2 Units) revenging a loss versus opponent this season.
Head-to-Head Series History
ANAHEIM is 7-4 (+2.4 Units) against the spread versus NASHVILLE over the last 3 seasons
ANAHEIM is 7-4-0 straight up against NASHVILLE over the last 3 seasons
6 of 11 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Under=+0.2 Units)
PITTSBURGH at NEW JERSEY
PITTSBURGH: 1-7 SU revenging a loss where team scored 1 or less goals
NEW JERSEY: 40-17 SU as a home favorite of -200 or less
TAMPA BAY at WASHINGTON
TAMPA BAY: 6-27 SU Away playing with double revenge
WASHINGTON: 13-1 SU at home off division win
NY RANGERS at ATLANTA
NY RANGERS: 17-24 SU as favorite
ATLANTA: 4-1 SU at home vs. Rangers
MINNESOTA at BUFFALO
MINNESOTA: 1-11 SU Away off SU loss
BUFFALO: 13-5 Over after a 2 game unbeaten streak
LOS ANGELES at DALLAS
LOS ANGELES: 13-6 SU vs. division
DALLAS: 0-4 SU revenging a loss where opponent scored 5+ goals
NASHVILLE at ANAHEIM
NASHVILLE: 3-19 SU Away after allowing 6+ goals
ANAHEIM: 17-4 SU at home vs. Nashville