Thursday's Best NHL Bets
Montreal Canadiens at Boston Bruins (-150, 5.5)
The Montreal Canadiens may have some wrinkles to iron out yet, but goaltender Carey Price is making up for a lot of the mistakes in front of him.
Price improved to 8-5-1 on the year with his second shutout of the season, an impressive 2-0 win over the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday night. Price made 34 saves and was at his best when the Canucks made a push in the third period, firing 19 shots his way in the final frame. Price now owns a 2.28 goals-against average and a .918 save percentage.
“Carey made huge saves the whole game and he deserves the most credit, but everyone battled and that’s the way we have to play,” Roman Hamrlik told reporters. “Lately, we haven’t played our best, but tonight everyone brought their ‘A’ game.”
They’ll need a similar effort against a Bruins team that will be playing the second half of a back-to-back. Boston ranks eighth in the league averaging three goals a game and has enjoyed a spectacular start from veteran goalie Tim Thomas.
Look for this one to be a tight-checking affair.
Pick: Under
Tampa Bay Lightning at Washington Capitals (-205, 6)
The NHL’s top two scorers face off Thursday night as Steven Stamkos’ Tampa Bay Lightning visits Alexander Ovechkin’s Washington Capitals.
Stamkos sniped two more goals in Tuesday’s 4-0 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs and now tops the league with 13 goals and 24 points.
“It’s pretty surreal,” Stamkos told reporters of his hot start. “It’s my third year already and it just seems that time flies. When you look up and see the likes of Ovechkin and Crosby and then yourself, it’s pretty cool. At the same time, I’m doing everything I can to help this team win.”
Not to be outdone, Alexander Ovechkin chipped in a pair of assists to help the Capitals to a 5-3 win over the Rangers on Tuesday to extend his points streak to seven games. Ovie has four goals and 12 points over that span to sit just behind Stamkos with 20 points heading into Wednesday’s action.
At this price you either have to take a shot with the underdog Lightning or play over the 6-goal total. We’ll roll the dice with Tampa Bay to end Washington’s five-game winning streak.
Pick: Lightning
Kings host Stars in Thursday NHL odds battle
By: Joe Freda
The Los Angeles Kings are 6-0 in their first six home dates, with the ‘under’ cashing at 5-1. Terry Murray’s squad puts its streak on the line at Staples Center in Thursday’s matchup against the Dallas Stars, who are 3-1 in their last four games.
Los Angeles’ latest triumph came in Saturday’s 4-1 win as a 154 home favorite against the Nashville Predators. The Kings outshot Nashville, 31-26, en route to each squad winning 30 faceoffs.
Kings right winger Ryan Smyth scored a goal for the first time in eight games, connecting on a 10-foot backhander. The 17-year veteran co-led his squad in shots on goal with six, equaling mate Anze Kopitar, who finished with one goal and one assist.
Los Angeles’ Jarret Stoll gave his team a 4-0 lead with a goal at 10:47 of the second stanza. The 28-year-old’s strike led to an early exit for Nashville’s Pekka Rinne, who stopped 18-of-22 shots.
Kings netminder Jonathon Bernier logged 25 saves, improving to a 2-2 record in his four starts. Bernier played in place of regular goaltender Jonathan Quick, who is 8-1 in his nine outings with a 1.64 GAA.
The one-sided battle’s combined five goals dipped ‘under’ the NHL odds. Neither squad allowed a power play goal, with each killing three shorthanded stints.
The Kings are 5-1 in their last six games after allowing two goals or less in their previous contest. The ‘under’ is also 5-1.
Dallas suffered its second shutout loss of the season in Saturday’s 5-0 setback as a 126 road dog against the Colorado Avalanche. The Stars were outshot, 45-31, with 20 of Colorado’s blasts coming in the third period.
Stars goalie Andrew Raycroft dropped to 1-1 in his two starts, logging 40 saves. The 30-year-old backup took the place of regular netminder Kari Lehtonen, who is 7-4 in 11 outings with a 2.86 GAA.
Dallas’ Loui Eriksson launched a team-high four shots on goal, while Stars center Brad Richards won 8-of-12 faceoffs. Both mates ended five-game streaks with at least one point in each contest.
The duel’s five goals ducked below the ‘total’ of 5 ½, ending a 2-0 run for the ‘over’ in Dallas’ prior two games. Both squads combined for 15 penalties, including coincidental fighting majors at the game’s conclusion for Dallas’ Brian Sutherby and Colorado’s Brandon Yip.
Dallas’ loss brought Marc Crawford’s crew to 3-2 in its five road games, with the ‘over’ also dropping to 3-2.
Los Angeles is 6-1 in its last seven meetings against Dallas, with the ‘under’ collecting at 4-3.
The Kings won, 5-2, as 103 road dogs in an Oct. 28 visit to Dallas. Lehtonen left the game for the Stars after stopping 11-of-15 shots in 44 minutes of ice time, while Kings defenseman Jack Johnson logged a season-high three assists.
Thursday’s rematch is scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m. (PT). NHL Network (Canada), Fox Sports Southwest and Fox Sports West are slated to provide television coverage.
Dallas is playing the front end of a back-to-back spot, with Friday’s meeting against the Anaheim Ducks completing its three-game road trip. Los Angeles will have one day off, remaining home for Saturday’s contest against the New York Islanders.