Monday’s Best NHL Bets
By Covers.com
Los Angeles Kings at Dallas Stars (-145, 5.5)
The NHL schedule makers didn’t do the Kings any favors when they put together the October calendar. Los Angeles plays its six straight road game on Monday and the club won’t see a home stand longer than two games until the beginning of December.
The Kings started the road trip out well with wins over the Blues and Islanders, but the success stopped immediately against the NHL’s superior teams. The West Coast club is now 0-3 straight up and on the puckline in its last three games following Saturday’s 4-1 loss to the Blue Jackets.
For the Kings to get back on track they’ll have to improve their special teams play. The squad has just one goal with the man advantage in their last three games and also owes the second worst penalty kill in the NHL.
Pick: Stars
San Jose Sharks at New York Rangers (-120, 5.5)
Something’s gotta give when these two sides meet.
The Rangers are a sparkling 7-1-0 to start the season but after Saturday’s win over the Leafs, all New York coach John Tortorella could talk about was the frequency his starting goaltending is getting run over by opposing forwards.
“You know, I asked the referees between periods what they want us to do if it’s not going to be called or enforced,” Tortorella told the New York Post. “As usual, they didn’t have much to say.”
“But either something has to be done [by the league] or we’ll have to take care of it our way… or a different way, because the way guys are coming in on Hank now is ridiculous.”
The Blue Shirts don’t have a reliable option behind starting netminder Henrik Lundqvist, so it’s understandable why Tortorella is so protective of his All-Star.
On the flip side, San Jose shuffled its lines Saturday against the Isle with rookie Ryan Versce landing a spot on the top line with Joe Thornton and Dany Heatley. The 27-year-old winger won the spot because of his relentless energy.
Expect some fireworks if he comes into Lundqvist’s crease one too many times.
Pick: Over
San Jose Sharks vs. New York Rangers
The San Jose Sharks and the New York Rangers will both be gunning for a victory on Monday when they meet at Madison Square Garden.
Joe Thornton had a goal and two assists on Saturday night to lead the Sharks to a 4-1 win over the Islanders.
The Sharks were winners as -210 road favorites in that contest, while the combined score fell UNDER the night's posted total (5.5).
Brandon Dubinsky potted his third goal of the season on Saturday night as the Rangers got past the Maple Leafs by a final score of 4-1.
The Rangers had no trouble winning as -145 road favorites in that contest, while the combined score fell UNDER the night's posted total (6).
Current streak:
New York has won 7 straight games.
Team records:
San Jose: 4-3-1
New York: 7-1-0
San Jose most recently:
When playing on Monday are 5-5
Before playing Toronto are 3-3-2
After playing NY Islanders are 6-6-1
After a win are 4-6
New York most recently:
When playing on Monday are 5-5
Before playing Florida are 6-4
After playing Toronto are 4-6
After a win are 8-2
A few trends to consider:
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of San Jose's last 5 games when playing NY Rangers
The total has gone OVER in 6 of San Jose's last 9 games when playing on the road against NY Rangers
The total has gone UNDER in 15 of San Jose's last 23 games on the road
San Jose is 2-5 SU in its last 7 games on the road
NY Rangers are 5-0 SU in their last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of the NY Rangers last 5 games when playing San Jose
NY Rangers are 5-1 SU in their last 6 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 4 of the NY Rangers last 5 games at home
Next up:
San Jose at Tampa Bay, Thursday, October 22
NY Rangers home to New Jersey, Thursday, October 22
Los Angeles Kings vs. Dallas Stars
Divisional bragging rights will be on the line on Monday when the Los Angeles Kings and the Dallas Stars meet at American Airlines Center.
The Kings were dropped 4-1 by the Blue Jackets last time out, as +120 underdogs. The five goals went UNDER the posted over/under (5.5).
Dustin Brown scored the lone marker in the loss.
The Stars scored three times in the second period and managed to sneak out a 4-3 win over the Blackhawks on Saturday, as +170 underdogs. The seven goals made it OVER the posted over/under (5.5).
Brenden Morrow, Mike Ribeiro, Toby Peterson, and Stephane Robidas scored for the Stars.
Current streak:
Los Angeles has lost 3 straight games.
Team records:
Los Angeles: 4-4-0
Dallas: 3-1-3
Los Angeles most recently:
When playing on Monday are 5-5
Before playing Dallas are 5-5
After playing Columbus are 4-6
After a loss are 5-5
Dallas most recently:
When playing on Monday are 5-5
Before playing Los Angeles are 2-8
After playing Chicago are 3-7
After a win are 1-9
A few trends to consider:
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Los Angeles's last 6 games when playing Dallas
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Los Angeles's last 6 games when playing on the road against Dallas
The total has gone UNDER in 13 of Los Angeles's last 16 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Los Angeles's last 9 games
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Dallas's last 6 games
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Dallas's last 6 games when playing Los Angeles
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Dallas's last 6 games when playing at home against Los Angeles
Dallas is 8-3 SU in its last 11 games when playing at home against Los Angeles
Next up:
Dallas at Anaheim, Wednesday, October 21
Vancouver Canucks vs. Edmonton Oilers
The fans at Rexall Place will be treated to a game between the Vancouver Canucks and the Edmonton Oilers when they take their seats on Monday.
Mikael Samuelsson scored the game-winning goal to give the Canucks a 2-1 victory over the Wild on Saturday, as -180 favorites. The three goals went UNDER the posted over/under (5.5).
Ryan Kesler tallied the other marker for the Canucks, who were out shot 39-18.
Dustin Penner and Gilbert Brule scored a pair of goals in helping the Oilers skate away with a 5-2 victory over the Wild on Friday. The Oilers won the game as -140 favorites, while the seven goals made it OVER the posted over/under (5.5).
Mike Comrie added the other marker for the Oilers, and Nikolai Khabibulin stopped 29 shots for the win.
Team records:
Vancouver: 3-4-0
Edmonton: 4-2-1
Vancouver most recently:
When playing on Monday are 6-4
Before playing San Jose are 6-4
After playing Minnesota are 6-4
After a win are 7-3
Edmonton most recently:
When playing on Monday are 4-6
Before playing Detroit are 8-2
After playing Minnesota are 3-7
After a win are 3-7
A few trends to consider:
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Vancouver's last 5 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Vancouver's last 6 games when playing Edmonton
Vancouver is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games when playing on the road against Edmonton
Vancouver is 3-7 SU in its last 10 games
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Edmonton's last 7 games
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Edmonton's last 6 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Edmonton's last 6 games when playing Vancouver
Edmonton is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games at home
Next up:
Vancouver at Chicago, Wednesday, October 21
Edmonton home to Columbus, Thursday, October 22
SAN JOSE (4-3-0-1, 9 pts.) at NY RANGERS (7-1-0-0, 14 pts.)
Top Trends for this game.
SAN JOSE is 5-8 ATS (-10.1 Units) after 3 or more consecutive unders over the last 2 seasons.
NY RANGERS are 7-1 ATS (+5.2 Units) in all games this season.
NY RANGERS are 7-1 ATS (+5.5 Units) first half of the season this season.
SAN JOSE is 112-85 ATS (+27.0 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record in the first half of the season since 1996.
NY RANGERS are 61-68 ATS (-38.1 Units) in home games after a win by 2 goals or more since 1996.
NY RANGERS are 67-84 ATS (-71.9 Units) in home games after scoring 4 goals or more in their previous game since 1996.
NY RANGERS are 22-33 ATS (-33.0 Units) in home games after a 3 game unbeaten streak since 1996.
Head-to-Head Series History
NY RANGERS is 1-1 (+0.0 Units) against the spread versus SAN JOSE over the last 3 seasons
NY RANGERS is 1-1-0 straight up against SAN JOSE over the last 3 seasons
2 of 2 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Under=+2.1 Units)
LOS ANGELES (4-4-0-0, 8 pts.) at DALLAS (3-1-0-3, 9 pts.)
Top Trends for this game.
LOS ANGELES is 16-32 ATS (+49.3 Units) when playing against a team with a losing record in the first half of the season over the last 3 seasons.
DALLAS is 3-9 ATS (-10.0 Units) in home games vs. division opponents over the last 2 seasons.
Head-to-Head Series History
LOS ANGELES is 8-6 (+4.1 Units) against the spread versus DALLAS over the last 3 seasons
LOS ANGELES is 8-6-0 straight up against DALLAS over the last 3 seasons
8 of 14 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Under=+1.5 Units)
VANCOUVER (3-4-0-0, 6 pts.) at EDMONTON (4-2-0-1, 9 pts.)
Top Trends for this game.
EDMONTON is 5-0 ATS (+5.0 Units) after 3 or more consecutive overs over the last 2 seasons.
VANCOUVER is 117-126 ATS (+281.3 Units) in road games when playing against a team with a winning record since 1996.
EDMONTON is 2-7 ATS (-5.2 Units) in home games after a win by 2 goals or more over the last 2 seasons.
Head-to-Head Series History
EDMONTON is 7-7 (+2.5 Units) against the spread versus VANCOUVER over the last 3 seasons
EDMONTON is 7-7-0 straight up against VANCOUVER over the last 3 seasons
7 of 12 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Over=+1.6 Units)
SAN JOSE vs. NY RANGERS
San Jose is 2-6-1 SU in their last 9 games when playing on the road against NY Rangers
The total has gone OVER in 6 of San Jose's last 9 games when playing on the road against NY Rangers
NY Rangers are 5-0 SU in their last 5 games
NY Rangers are 5-1 SU in their last 6 games at home
LOS ANGELES vs. DALLAS
Los Angeles is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games when playing Dallas
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Los Angeles's last 6 games when playing Dallas
Dallas is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games when playing Los Angeles
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Dallas's last 6 games when playing Los Angeles
VANCOUVER vs. EDMONTON
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Vancouver's last 6 games when playing Edmonton
Vancouver is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games when playing on the road against Edmonton
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Edmonton's last 6 games when playing Vancouver
Edmonton is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games at home
SAN JOSE at NY RANGERS
SAN JOSE: 4-10 SU Away off road win
NY RANGERS: 6-0 SU off SU win
LOS ANGELES at DALLAS
LOS ANGELES: 4-21 SU when playing 6+ games in 10 days
DALLAS: 15-6 SU after allowing 3+ goals BB Games
VANCOUVER at EDMONTON
VANCOUVER: 17-23 SU off one-goal win
EDMONTON: 5-0 SU off 3 or more Overs