Thursday's Best NHL Bets
St. Louis Blues at New York Islanders (+110, 5.5)
The St. Louis Blues will not go quietly into the night. They sit 11th in the Western Conference, just six points back of the eighth spot after winning five of their last six games including two of the first three games on their current six-game road trip.
St. Louis stumbled a bit in its most recent outing, falling 7-3 to the Colorado Avalanche this weekend. However, the Blues managed to keep their scoring pace, averaging more than four goals per game – almost two goals over their season scoring average.
"You can't go on one loss," left winger Andy McDonald told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. "There's going to be stretches where you're just not sharp mentally and physically ... you're not going to be where you are normally. But that's part of it. The key is to not have back-to-back (losses)."
The team had an energetic practice following Saturday’s loss and addressed their defensive issues heading into this week’s schedule. St. Louis is allowing 2.7 goals against per game and has limited opponents to just nine total goals in those five wins.
The Islanders have trouble finding the net, scoring just seven goals in their past three games, all losses, and averaging 2.5 goals a night – 28th in the NHL. The Blues already own a win over New York, taking a 4-1 victory at home back in late November.
Pick: St. Louis
Edmonton Oilers at Montreal Canadiens (-240, 5.5)
The Edmonton Oilers may have got ahead of themselves after winning back-to-back games for the first time in more than a month last week. Edmonton followed those wins with a 4-1 defeat to the Ottawa Senators at home Tuesday.
Budding goaltender Jeff Deslauriers, who led the Oilers to those two victories, allowed four goals on 39 shots including three goals on 14 third-period shots. Two of the Senators’ four goals came with the man advantage, leaving a frustrated Deslauriers to vent to the media following Tuesday game.
"When you play five-on-four you're going to score once in a while," he told reporters, "but if the game is 1-1 and you're playing more on the [penalty kill] then you slash your chance of winning obviously."
That frustration comes at a tough time. Edmonton won’t get much of a chance to lick its wounds before hitting the road for four games in five nights, starting in Montreal. The Bell Centre is the most hostile arena in the NHL and will jump all over the Oilers and their young goalkeeper.
Pick: Montreal
EDMONTON (21-39-0-6, 48 pts.) at MONTREAL (33-29-0-6, 72 pts.)
Top Trends for this game.
EDMONTON is 20-44 ATS (+80.5 Units) in all games this season.
EDMONTON is 17-39 ATS (+67.2 Units) after allowing 4 goals or more over the last 2 seasons.
EDMONTON is 7-21 ATS (+35.4 Units) after a loss by 2 goals or more in their previous game this season.
EDMONTON is 3-14 ATS (+23.3 Units) after scoring 1 goal or less in their previous game this season.
MONTREAL is 19-15 ATS (+36.3 Units) revenging a loss versus opponent this season.
MONTREAL is 34-38 ATS (-11.3 Units) in a home game where where the total is 5.5 over the last 3 seasons.
Head-to-Head Series History
EDMONTON is 2-1 (+1.0 Units) against the spread versus MONTREAL over the last 3 seasons
EDMONTON is 2-1-0 straight up against MONTREAL over the last 3 seasons
2 of 3 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Over=+0.7 Units)
ST LOUIS (30-26-0-9, 69 pts.) at NY ISLANDERS (26-33-0-7, 59 pts.)
Top Trends for this game.
ST LOUIS is 8-30 ATS (+50.4 Units) after 3 or more consecutive overs over the last 3 seasons.
NY ISLANDERS are 11-5 ATS (+17.2 Units) in home games in non-conference games over the last 2 seasons.
ST LOUIS is 28-26 ATS (+65.1 Units) in a road game where where the total is 5.5 over the last 2 seasons.
ST LOUIS is 40-34 ATS (+80.7 Units) second half of the season over the last 2 seasons.
ST LOUIS is 8-2 ATS (+10.9 Units) in road games after allowing 4 goals or more this season.
ST LOUIS is 7-1 ATS (+8.5 Units) in road games after a loss by 2 goals or more in their previous game this season.
Head-to-Head Series History
NY ISLANDERS is 1-1 (+0.0 Units) against the spread versus ST LOUIS over the last 3 seasons
NY ISLANDERS is 1-1-0 straight up against ST LOUIS 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)
BOSTON (29-24-0-12, 70 pts.) at PHILADELPHIA (35-26-0-4, 74 pts.)
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.
Head-to-Head Series History
BOSTON is 6-5-0 straight up against PHILADELPHIA over the last 3 seasons
6 of 11 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Over=+0.8 Units)
PITTSBURGH (40-22-0-4, 84 pts.) at CAROLINA (27-31-0-7, 61 pts.)
Top Trends for this game.
CAROLINA is 17-8 ATS (+8.3 Units) second half of the season this season.
CAROLINA is 13-4 ATS (+8.8 Units) in March games over the last 2 seasons.
CAROLINA is 6-2 ATS (+9.1 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record in the second half of the season this season.
PITTSBURGH is 97-61 ATS (+14.6 Units) second half of the season over the last 3 seasons.
PITTSBURGH is 24-8 ATS (+11.8 Units) in March games over the last 3 seasons.
Head-to-Head Series History
PITTSBURGH is 9-5 (+1.4 Units) against the spread versus CAROLINA over the last 3 seasons
PITTSBURGH is 9-5-0 straight up against CAROLINA over the last 3 seasons
9 of 13 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Under=+4.7 Units)
ATLANTA (28-27-0-10, 66 pts.) at COLUMBUS (26-30-0-11, 63 pts.)
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.
Head-to-Head Series History
COLUMBUS is 3-0 (+3.2 Units) against the spread versus ATLANTA over the last 3 seasons
COLUMBUS is 3-0-0 straight up against ATLANTA over the last 3 seasons
2 of 3 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Under=+1.1 Units)
TAMPA BAY (27-27-0-11, 65 pts.) at TORONTO (21-34-0-11, 53 pts.)
Top Trends for this game.
TAMPA BAY is 51-94 ATS (+167.2 Units) in all games over the last 2 seasons.
TAMPA BAY is 16-46 ATS (+86.4 Units) in a road game where where the total is 5.5 over the last 3 seasons.
TAMPA BAY is 11-35 ATS (+64.3 Units) in road games after allowing 4 goals or more over the last 3 seasons.
TAMPA BAY is 25-43 ATS (+69.2 Units) when playing against a team with a losing record over the last 2 seasons.
TAMPA BAY is 18-37 ATS (+59.1 Units) when playing against a team with a losing record in the second half of the season over the last 3 seasons.
TORONTO is 21-45 ATS (+66.3 Units) in all games this season.
TORONTO is 81-99 ATS (-32.8 Units) in home games after scoring 4 goals or more in their previous game since 1996.
TORONTO is 10-20 ATS (+31.0 Units) when playing against a team with a losing record this season.
TORONTO is 56-60 ATS (-58.9 Units) in home games when playing against a team with a losing record in the second half of the season since 1996.
Head-to-Head Series History
TAMPA BAY is 7-4 (+3.3 Units) against the spread versus TORONTO over the last 3 seasons
TAMPA BAY is 7-4-0 straight up against TORONTO over the last 3 seasons
6 of 11 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Under=+0.7 Units)
MINNESOTA (31-28-0-6, 68 pts.) at DETROIT (31-23-0-12, 74 pts.)
Top Trends for this game.
MINNESOTA is 6-19 ATS (+30.9 Units) in a road game where where the total is 5.5 this season.
DETROIT is 31-35 ATS (-15.8 Units) in all games this season.
DETROIT is 3-6 ATS (-11.1 Units) in home games in March games over the last 2 seasons.
DETROIT is 10-16 ATS (-10.5 Units) revenging a loss versus opponent this season.
DETROIT is 9-14 ATS (-12.0 Units) when playing against a team with a losing record this season.
DETROIT is 33-28 ATS (-25.3 Units) when playing against a team with a losing record in the second half of the season over the last 3 seasons.
Head-to-Head Series History
DETROIT is 7-3 (+1.9 Units) against the spread versus MINNESOTA over the last 3 seasons
DETROIT is 7-3-0 straight up against MINNESOTA over the last 3 seasons
5 of 7 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Over=+2.9 Units)
FLORIDA (27-28-0-10, 64 pts.) at COLORADO (37-23-0-6, 80 pts.)
Top Trends for this game.
FLORIDA is 0-9 ATS (-10.2 Units) after a 3 game unbeaten streak over the last 2 seasons.
COLORADO is 37-29 ATS (+80.2 Units) in all games this season.
COLORADO is 76-76 ATS (-23.0 Units) in home games after allowing 4 goals or more since 1996.
COLORADO is 13-25 ATS (-16.8 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
FLORIDA is 2-1 (+0.6 Units) against the spread versus COLORADO over the last 3 seasons
FLORIDA is 2-1-0 straight up against COLORADO over the last 3 seasons
2 of 3 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Over=+0.9 Units)
OTTAWA (37-25-0-5, 79 pts.) at CALGARY (33-24-0-9, 75 pts.)
Top Trends for this game.
OTTAWA is 39-34 ATS (+0.5 Units) second half of the season over the last 2 seasons.
OTTAWA is 18-9 ATS (+27.2 Units) in road games after a win by 2 goals or more over the last 3 seasons.
CALGARY is 36-41 ATS (-30.8 Units) second half of the season over the last 2 seasons.
CALGARY is 7-11 ATS (-12.5 Units) in home games revenging a loss versus opponent this season.
Head-to-Head Series History
CALGARY is 2-1 (+1.0 Units) against the spread versus OTTAWA over the last 3 seasons
CALGARY is 2-1-0 straight up against OTTAWA 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)
NASHVILLE (36-25-0-5, 77 pts.) at SAN JOSE (42-14-0-9, 93 pts.)
Top Trends for this game.
NASHVILLE is 35-30 ATS (+66.0 Units) in all games this season.
NASHVILLE is 13-10 ATS (+26.2 Units) in a road game where where the total is 5.5 this season.
NASHVILLE is 19-10 ATS (+29.8 Units) revenging a loss versus opponent this season.
SAN JOSE is 11-14 ATS (-14.1 Units) when playing with 3 or more days rest over the last 3 seasons.
SAN JOSE is 13-18 ATS (-13.3 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record in the second half of the season over the last 2 seasons.
Head-to-Head Series History
SAN JOSE is 8-3 (+3.1 Units) against the spread versus NASHVILLE over the last 3 seasons
SAN JOSE is 8-3-0 straight up against NASHVILLE over the last 3 seasons
6 of 11 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Over=+1.2 Units)
ATLANTA vs. COLUMBUS
The total has gone OVER in 7 of Atlanta's last 10 games
Atlanta is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games on the road
Columbus is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing Atlanta
Columbus is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games
BOSTON vs. PHILADELPHIA
Boston is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Boston's last 6 games when playing Philadelphia
Philadelphia is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games when playing Boston
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Philadelphia's last 5 games at home
PITTSBURGH vs. CAROLINA
Pittsburgh is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Carolina
Pittsburgh is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
Carolina is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Pittsburgh
Carolina is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games when playing Pittsburgh
ST. LOUIS vs. NY ISLANDERS
St. Louis is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games
The total has gone OVER in 8 of St. Louis's last 9 games when playing on the road against NY Islanders
NY Islanders are 1-4 SU in their last 5 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of the NY Islanders last 6 games
TAMPA BAY vs. TORONTO
Tampa Bay is 1-6 SU in its last 7 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Tampa Bay's last 5 games on the road
Toronto is 2-6 SU in its last 8 games when playing Tampa Bay
Toronto is 4-12 SU in its last 16 games
EDMONTON vs. MONTREAL
Edmonton is 5-20 SU in its last 25 games
Edmonton is 8-4 SU in its last 12 games when playing Montreal
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Montreal's last 6 games
Montreal is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Edmonton
MINNESOTA vs. DETROIT
Minnesota is 2-8 SU in its last 10 games on the road
Minnesota is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games when playing on the road against Detroit
Detroit is 12-4 SU in its last 16 games when playing Minnesota
The total has gone UNDER in 15 of Detroit's last 23 games at home
FLORIDA vs. COLORADO
Florida is 3-5-3 SU in its last 11 games ,when playing on the road against Colorado
Florida is 3-7 SU in its last 10 games
Colorado is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games
Colorado is 6-2 SU in its last 8 games at home
OTTAWA vs. CALGARY
Ottawa is 8-3 SU in its last 11 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 12 of Ottawa's last 17 games
The total has gone UNDER in 14 of Calgary's last 16 games at home
Calgary is 7-14 SU in its last 21 games
NASHVILLE vs. SAN JOSE
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Nashville's last 7 games on the road
Nashville is 3-7 SU in its last 10 games on the road
San Jose is 12-5 SU in its last 17 games
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of San Jose's last 7 games
EDMONTON at MONTREAL
EDMONTON: 17-39 SU after allowing 4+ goals
MONTREAL: 19-15 SU revenging a loss
ST LOUIS at NY ISLANDERS
ST LOUIS: 8-2 SU Away after allowing 4+ goals
NY ISLANDERS: 7-13 SU after 2+ consecutive losses
BOSTON at PHILADELPHIA
BOSTON: N/A
PHILADELPHIA: N/A
PITTSBURGH at CAROLINA
PITTSBURGH: 4-7 SU revenging a home loss
CAROLINA: 13-5 SU in March
ATLANTA at COLUMBUS
ATLANTA: N/A
COLUMBUS: N/A
TAMPA BAY at TORONTO
TAMPA BAY: 6-2 SU after 7+ consecutive overs
TORONTO: 6-20 SU off a home win
MINNESOTA at DETROIT
MINNESOTA: 2-13 SU Away after 2+ consecutive losses
DETROIT: 49-17 SU after 2+ consecutive overs
FLORIDA at COLORADO
FLORIDA: 0-9 SU after 3 straight wins
COLORADO: 14-7 SU after allowing 3+ in BB games
OTTAWA at CALGARY
OTTAWA: 16-8 SU when playing only their 2nd game in 5 days
CALGARY: 14-21 SU when playing their 4th game in 7 days
NASHVILLE at SAN JOSE
NASHVILLE: 19-9 SU when playing their 4th game in 7 days
SAN JOSE: 2-7 SU after BB wins by 1 goal
Hot Teams
-- Canadiens won four of their last five games.
-- Blues won five of last six games.
-- Flyers won seven of their last nine games.
-- Penguins won last four games, scoring 16 goals.
-- Carolina won eight of its last ten games.
-- Florida won its last three games, scoring fourteen goals.
-- Flames won last three games, scoring 14 goals.
-- Sharks won six of their last nine games.
Cold Teams
-- Oilers lost seven of their last ten games.
-- Islanders lost last three games: 6-3/3-2/3-2.
-- Bruins lost last two games, 2-1/4-3ot.
-- Thrashers lost last three games, outscored 12-3. Blue Jackets lost four of their last five games.
-- Lightning lost five of their last six games. Toronto lost five of seven.
-- Red Wings lost six of their last nine home games. Minnesota lost three in row and five of last six games.
-- Colorado lost four of its last six games.
-- Senators lost four of their last five games.
-- Nashville is 1-5 in game following its last six wins.
Totals
-- Last three Edmonton games stayed under the total. Montreal's last three games all went over
-- Six of last seven St Louis games went over the total.
-- Three of last four Boston games went stayed under the total.
-- Three of last four Carolina games stayed under the total.
-- Seven of last ten Atlanta games went over the total.
-- Last six Tampa Bay games went over the total. Six of Toronto's last eight games stayed under.
-- Last four Detroit games went over the total. Six of last seven Wild games stayed under the total.
-- Under is 13-3-1 in last seventeen Florida games.
-- Last three Calgary games went over the total. Under is 4-0-1 in last five Ottawa games.
-- Eight of last ten Nashville games went over the total. Six of last seven San Jose games stayed under.
Playing second of back-to-back nights
-- Carolina is 3-1 at home if it played the night before.
Series Records
-- Bruins won four of last five visits to Philadelphia.
-- Penguins won seven of last eight games against Carolina.
-- Blue Jackets won last three games against Atlanta.
-- Lightning won six of last eight games against Toronto.
-- Stars lost three of last four games against Minnesota.
-- Panthers won last two games vs Colorado, after losing previous two.
-- Predators lost six of last seven visits to San Jose.