Saturday's Best NHL Bets
By Covers.com
Anaheim Ducks at Philadelphia Flyers (-151, 5.5)
Early in the season, the Flyers are baring their teeth - literally.
Philadelphia won its first three games before dropping a 5-4 home decision to rival Pittsburgh on Thursday that was marred - or perhaps highlighted - by a scuffle between Scott Hartnell and Pittsburgh's Kris Letang, who came out of the scrum holding his hand.
According to several news outlets, the Penguins accused Hartnell of biting Letang. Hartnell was expected to speak with NHL VP Colin Campbell on Friday, ESPN.com reported.
"Ask him. He knows what he did," Letang told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
The Flyers will be looking to regain their figurative bite vs. the Ducks, whom they have beaten in five of the last six meetings.
Pick: Philadelphia
Montreal Canadiens at Edmonton Oilers (-130, 5.5)
There might be some tired legs on the Canadiens, who haven't slept in their own beds since the season began. They are wrapping up a five-game trip.
Meanwhile, the Oilers should be well-rested as they haven't had to leave town. They are closing out a four-game homestand to open the season.
Both teams have issues in net. The Canadiens are rotating Jaroslav Halak and Carey Price without much success and the Oilers continue to go with Nikolai Khabibulin. All three have GAAs of 3.50 or greater.
The Canadiens are 3-1 against the over; the Oilers are 3-0. And in the last nine meetings, the over is 7-1-1.
Pick: Over
ATLANTA (2-0-0-0, 4 pts.) at OTTAWA (2-1-0-0, 4 pts.)
Top Trends for this game.
ATLANTA is 107-119 ATS (+267.0 Units) in a road game where where the total is 6 or more since 1996.
OTTAWA is 81-90 ATS (+217.5 Units) in all games over the last 3 seasons.
OTTAWA is 92-69 ATS (-15.7 Units) in a home game where where the total is 6 or more since 1996.
Head-to-Head Series History
OTTAWA is 5-3 (+0.3 Units) against the spread versus ATLANTA over the last 3 seasons
OTTAWA is 5-3-0 straight up against ATLANTA over the last 3 seasons
4 of 8 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Over=-1.0 Units, Under=-0.2 Units)
NY ISLANDERS (0-1-0-1, 1 pts.) at BOSTON (1-2-0-0, 2 pts.)
Top Trends for this game.
BOSTON is 29-11 ATS (+10.8 Units) first half of the season over the last 2 seasons.
BOSTON is 30-12 ATS (+11.6 Units) when playing against a team with a losing record in the first half of the season over the last 3 seasons.
BOSTON is 119-110 ATS (-35.6 Units) in home games when playing against a team with a losing record since 1996.
Head-to-Head Series History
BOSTON is 7-1 (+5.3 Units) against the spread versus NY ISLANDERS over the last 3 seasons
BOSTON is 7-1-0 straight up against NY ISLANDERS over the last 3 seasons
5 of 7 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Under=+2.8 Units)
PITTSBURGH (3-1-0-0, 6 pts.) at TORONTO (0-3-0-0, 0 pts.)
Top Trends for this game.
TORONTO is 31-31 ATS (+68.1 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 3 seasons.
TORONTO is 14-24 ATS (-12.3 Units) in home games first half of the season over the last 3 seasons.
TORONTO is 22-33 ATS (-25.8 Units) in home games when playing with 3 or more days rest since 1996.
Head-to-Head Series History
TORONTO is 5-3 (+3.7 Units) against the spread versus PITTSBURGH over the last 3 seasons
TORONTO is 5-3-0 straight up against PITTSBURGH over the last 3 seasons
6 of 8 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Over=+3.8 Units)
NEW JERSEY (1-2-0-0, 2 pts.) at FLORIDA (1-2-0-0, 2 pts.)
Top Trends for this game.
FLORIDA is 16-10 ATS (+4.9 Units) after allowing 4 goals or more over the last 2 seasons.
FLORIDA is 18-9 ATS (+27.5 Units) after a loss by 2 goals or more in their previous game over the last 2 seasons.
NEW JERSEY is 27-12 ATS (+12.3 Units) in road games when playing against a team with a losing record over the last 3 seasons.
FLORIDA is 99-113 ATS (+225.1 Units) in a home game where where the total is 5.5 since 1996.
FLORIDA is 214-240 ATS (+478.2 Units) when playing against a team with a losing record since 1996.
Head-to-Head Series History
NEW JERSEY is 5-3 (+1.1 Units) against the spread versus FLORIDA over the last 3 seasons
NEW JERSEY is 5-3-0 straight up against FLORIDA over the last 3 seasons
5 of 6 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Under=+3.7 Units)
ANAHEIM (1-2-0-0, 2 pts.) at PHILADELPHIA (3-1-0-0, 6 pts.)
Top Trends for this game.
ANAHEIM is 22-17 ATS (+42.1 Units) in a road game where where the total is 5.5 over the last 2 seasons.
ANAHEIM is 8-3 ATS (+11.6 Units) in road games on Saturday games over the last 2 seasons.
ANAHEIM is 123-106 ATS (+231.3 Units) after a non-conference game since 1996.
Head-to-Head Series History
PHILADELPHIA is 2-0 (+2.1 Units) against the spread versus ANAHEIM over the last 3 seasons
PHILADELPHIA is 2-0-0 straight up against ANAHEIM over the last 3 seasons
1 of 2 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Over=+0.0 Units)
WASHINGTON (2-2-0-0, 4 pts.) at DETROIT (1-2-0-0, 2 pts.)
Top Trends for this game.
WASHINGTON is 90-134 ATS (-51.2 Units) in non-conference games since 1996.
DETROIT is 91-37 ATS (+1.2 Units) in home games in non-conference games since 1996.
Head-to-Head Series History
WASHINGTON is 1-1 (+0.0 Units) against the spread versus DETROIT over the last 3 seasons
DETROIT is 1-1-0 straight up against WASHINGTON over the last 3 seasons
2 of 2 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Over=+2.0 Units)
CAROLINA (2-2-0-0, 4 pts.) at TAMPA BAY (0-1-0-2, 2 pts.)
Top Trends for this game.
CAROLINA is 11-4 ATS (+15.0 Units) when playing on back-to-back days over the last 2 seasons.
TAMPA BAY is 24-59 ATS (-53.5 Units) in all games over the last 2 seasons.
TAMPA BAY is 10-27 ATS (-18.4 Units) first half of the season over the last 2 seasons.
TAMPA BAY is 5-16 ATS (+21.6 Units) on Saturday games over the last 2 seasons.
TAMPA BAY is 5-20 ATS (+25.2 Units) vs. division opponents over the last 2 seasons.
TAMPA BAY is 9-28 ATS (+41.1 Units) after allowing 4 goals or more over the last 2 seasons.
Head-to-Head Series History
CAROLINA is 11-4 (+5.3 Units) against the spread versus TAMPA BAY over the last 3 seasons
CAROLINA is 11-4-0 straight up against TAMPA BAY over the last 3 seasons
9 of 14 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Under=+3.8 Units)
LOS ANGELES (2-1-0-0, 4 pts.) at ST LOUIS (2-1-0-0, 4 pts.)
Top Trends for this game.
LOS ANGELES is 39-34 ATS (+82.5 Units) in road games after playing 3 consecutive home games since 1996.
LOS ANGELES is 52-54 ATS (+128.2 Units) in road games when playing against a team with a winning record in the first half of the season since 1996.
Head-to-Head Series History
LOS ANGELES is 4-4 (+0.1 Units) against the spread versus ST LOUIS over the last 3 seasons
ST LOUIS is 4-4-0 straight up against LOS ANGELES over the last 3 seasons
4 of 7 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Over=+0.5 Units)
BUFFALO (1-1-0-0, 2 pts.) at NASHVILLE (2-0-0-0, 4 pts.)
Top Trends for this game.
BUFFALO is 5-13 ATS (-10.0 Units) after a non-conference game over the last 2 seasons.
NASHVILLE is 15-5 ATS (+9.9 Units) on Saturday games over the last 2 seasons.
Head-to-Head Series History
NASHVILLE is 1-1 (+0.3 Units) against the spread versus BUFFALO over the last 3 seasons
NASHVILLE is 1-1-0 straight up against BUFFALO over the last 3 seasons
1 of 2 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Under=+0.0 Units)
COLORADO (2-1-0-0, 4 pts.) at CHICAGO (1-1-0-1, 3 pts.)
Top Trends for this game.
COLORADO is 17-29 ATS (-17.6 Units) when playing against a team with a losing record over the last 2 seasons.
CHICAGO is 22-14 ATS (+7.1 Units) on Saturday games over the last 3 seasons.
COLORADO is 10-4 ATS (+5.3 Units) on Saturday games over the last 2 seasons.
Head-to-Head Series History
CHICAGO is 5-3 (+0.1 Units) against the spread versus COLORADO over the last 3 seasons
CHICAGO is 5-3-0 straight up against COLORADO over the last 3 seasons
5 of 8 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Over=+1.7 Units)
COLUMBUS (2-1-0-0, 4 pts.) at PHOENIX (2-1-0-0, 4 pts.)
Top Trends for this game.
PHOENIX is 102-97 ATS (+241.7 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record in the first half of the season since 1996.
COLUMBUS is 23-21 ATS (+52.2 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 2 seasons.
PHOENIX is 9-23 ATS (-15.1 Units) in home games on Saturday games over the last 3 seasons.
Head-to-Head Series History
PHOENIX is 5-3 (+1.9 Units) against the spread versus COLUMBUS over the last 3 seasons
PHOENIX is 5-3-0 straight up against COLUMBUS over the last 3 seasons
5 of 8 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Under=+1.8 Units)
MONTREAL (2-2-0-0, 4 pts.) at EDMONTON (1-1-0-1, 3 pts.)
Top Trends for this game.
MONTREAL is 43-47 ATS (-18.4 Units) in all games over the last 2 seasons.
MONTREAL is 11-20 ATS (-13.3 Units) after allowing 4 goals or more over the last 2 seasons.
MONTREAL is 0-8 ATS (+9.0 Units) in road games after playing 3 consecutive road games over the last 2 seasons.
EDMONTON is 15-6 ATS (+8.8 Units) after 3 or more consecutive overs over the last 3 seasons.
Head-to-Head Series History
EDMONTON is 1-1 (+0.0 Units) against the spread versus MONTREAL over the last 3 seasons
EDMONTON is 1-1-0 straight up against MONTREAL over the last 3 seasons
2 of 2 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Over=+2.0 Units)
MINNESOTA (1-2-0-0, 2 pts.) at SAN JOSE (2-2-0-0, 4 pts.)
Top Trends for this game.
SAN JOSE is 19-2 ATS (+14.6 Units) in home games first half of the season over the last 2 seasons.
SAN JOSE is 55-52 ATS (-56.4 Units) in home games when playing against a team with a losing record in the first half of the season since 1996.
Head-to-Head Series History
SAN JOSE is 6-2 (+1.6 Units) against the spread versus MINNESOTA over the last 3 seasons
SAN JOSE is 6-2-0 straight up against MINNESOTA over the last 3 seasons
3 of 4 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Over=+2.0 Units)
ANAHEIM vs. PHILADELPHIA
Anaheim is 2-5 SU in its last 7 games
Anaheim is 2-5 SU in its last 7 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Philadelphia's last 9 games when playing at home against Anaheim
Philadelphia is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games when playing Anaheim
ATLANTA vs. OTTAWA
Atlanta is 6-3 SU in its last 9 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Atlanta's last 8 games on the road
Ottawa is 10-1 SU in its last 11 games at home
Ottawa is 15-8 SU in its last 23 games
NEW JERSEY vs. FLORIDA
New Jersey is 17-6 SU in its last 23 games when playing Florida
New Jersey is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Florida's last 9 games at home
Florida is 6-17 SU in its last 23 games when playing New Jersey
NY ISLANDERS vs. BOSTON
NY Islanders are 0-5 SU in their last 5 games when playing on the road against Boston
NY Islanders are 1-6 SU in their last 7 games on the road
Boston is 16-8 SU in its last 24 games
Boston is 3-6 SU in its last 9 games
PITTSBURGH vs. TORONTO
Pittsburgh is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Pittsburgh's last 7 games
Toronto is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Pittsburgh
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Toronto's last 7 games when playing at home against Pittsburgh
WASHINGTON vs. DETROIT
Washington is 2-8-1 SU in its last 11 games when playing on the road against Detroit
Washington is 4-17-2 SU in its last 23 games when playing Detroit
Detroit is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Detroit's last 6 games
CAROLINA vs. TAMPA BAY
Carolina is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games on the road
Carolina is 2-6 SU in its last 8 games
Tampa Bay is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Carolina
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Tampa Bay's last 6 games when playing at home against Carolina
BUFFALO vs. NASHVILLE
Buffalo is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games on the road
Buffalo is 4-8 SU in its last 12 games on the road
Nashville is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games when playing Buffalo
Nashville is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games when playing at home against Buffalo
LOS ANGELES vs. ST. LOUIS
Los Angeles is 3-13 SU in its last 16 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 10 of Los Angeles's last 11 games on the road
St. Louis is 6-3 SU in its last 9 games at home
St. Louis is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games when playing Los Angeles
COLORADO vs. CHICAGO
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Colorado's last 6 games when playing Chicago
Colorado is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games when playing on the road against Chicago
Chicago is 12-5 SU in its last 17 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Chicago's last 5 games at home
COLUMBUS vs. PHOENIX
Columbus is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games on the road
Columbus is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games when playing Phoenix
Phoenix is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Phoenix's last 6 games at home
MONTREAL vs. EDMONTON
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Montreal's last 6 games when playing Edmonton
Montreal is 1-6 SU in its last 7 games when playing on the road against Edmonton
Edmonton is 3-7 SU in its last 10 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Edmonton's last 6 games at home
MINNESOTA vs. SAN JOSE
Minnesota is 2-9 SU in its last 11 games when playing San Jose
Minnesota is 3-9 SU in its last 12 games on the road
San Jose is 8-4 SU in its last 12 games at home
San Jose is 4-8 SU in its last 12 games