Thursday's Best NHL Bets
Montreal Canadiens at Carolina Hurricanes
The Montreal Canadiens had the opportunity to clinch a playoff spot against the Islanders Tuesday night, but they let a 3-2 third-period lead disappear in the final minutes of the game to suffer a 4-3 shootout loss.
Montreal needs to earn just one more point in the next two games in order to make it to the postseason. But it won’t come easy against the Hurricanes, who stunned the Habs a week ago, winning a 2-1 decision at the Bell Centre.
“Most people look at the standings and figure it’s going to be a cakewalk but these teams have pride and they’re not going to roll over and die,” defenseman Josh Gorges told the Montreal Gazette following Tuesday’s loss to the Islanders. “They have no pressure. They can go out there and make plays. When you play teams like that, you have to be disciplined and keep it simple. We didn’t have that good second effort.”
Whatever the outcome, expect this one to be a low-scoring affair. Jaroslav Halak has posted two shutouts in his last three games and the under has cashed in six of the last seven meetings between these two teams.
Pick: Under
Buffalo Sabres at Boston Bruins
Most of the Boston Bruins players got the day off Tuesday following a 3-2 overtime loss to the Capitals Monday night. Head coach Claude Julien hopes this will help rejuvenate his troops before Thursday’s crucial contest against the Buffalo Sabres.
“We’ve got some guys who have logged a lot of ice time, so we’re giving them the opportunity to get some rest”, Julien told the Boston Herald. “We’ve got three games in four days coming up, so we’ll try to get ourselves ready for that.”
Boston will play two of these last three games at the Garden, Thursday night against the Sabres and Saturday afternoon against the Hurricanes, before facing the Capitals in Washington Sunday. This schedule doesn’t benefit the B’s who are 20-13-7 on the road and a meager 16-17-6 at home this season.
The Sabres, on the other hand, have already clinched the Northeast Division title and don’t have much on the line in this game. They are still without top-line forwards Thomas Vanek and Tim Connolly, who should be back in time for the playoffs.
Expect the desperate Bruins to find a way to edge out the Sabres.
Pick: Bruins
BUFFALO (44-26-0-9, 97 pts.) at BOSTON (36-30-0-13, 85 pts.)
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.
Head-to-Head Series History
BUFFALO is 10-9-0 straight up against BOSTON over the last 3 seasons
12 of 18 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Under=+5.3 Units)
MONTREAL (39-32-0-9, 87 pts.) at CAROLINA (34-36-0-10, 78 pts.)
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.
Head-to-Head Series History
CAROLINA is 6-5 (+0.5 Units) against the spread versus MONTREAL over the last 3 seasons
CAROLINA is 6-5-0 straight up against MONTREAL over the last 3 seasons
8 of 11 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Under=+4.4 Units)
OTTAWA (44-31-0-5, 93 pts.) at TAMPA BAY (31-36-0-12, 74 pts.)
Top Trends for this game.
OTTAWA is 60-63 ATS (-34.2 Units) when playing against a team with a losing record over the last 3 seasons.
OTTAWA is 44-36 ATS (+4.1 Units) in all games this season.
OTTAWA is 23-16 ATS (+5.9 Units) second half of the season this season.
OTTAWA is 19-10 ATS (+29.4 Units) in road games after a win by 2 goals or more over the last 3 seasons.
TAMPA BAY is 55-104 ATS (-92.4 Units) in all games over the last 2 seasons.
TAMPA BAY is 20-39 ATS (+74.2 Units) after scoring 4 goals or more in their previous game over the last 3 seasons.
Head-to-Head Series History
OTTAWA is 7-4 (+1.6 Units) against the spread versus TAMPA BAY over the last 3 seasons
OTTAWA is 7-4-0 straight up against TAMPA BAY over the last 3 seasons
6 of 11 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Under=+0.9 Units)
NY ISLANDERS (34-36-0-9, 77 pts.) at PITTSBURGH (45-27-0-7, 97 pts.)
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.
Head-to-Head Series History
PITTSBURGH is 13-5 (+5.0 Units) against the spread versus NY ISLANDERS over the last 3 seasons
PITTSBURGH is 13-5-0 straight up against NY ISLANDERS over the last 3 seasons
9 of 18 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Over=-0.6 Units, Under=-0.8 Units)
NEW JERSEY (46-26-0-7, 99 pts.) at FLORIDA (31-36-0-12, 74 pts.)
Top Trends for this game.
NEW JERSEY is 18-22 ATS (-14.2 Units) second half of the season this season.
NEW JERSEY is 11-14 ATS (-10.8 Units) when playing against a team with a losing record in the second half of the season this season.
FLORIDA is 43-40 ATS (+84.7 Units) revenging a loss versus opponent over the last 2 seasons.
NEW JERSEY is 12-2 ATS (+9.6 Units) after 3 or more consecutive unders this season.
FLORIDA is 2-10 ATS (+13.1 Units) in a home game where where the total is 5 or less over the last 2 seasons.
FLORIDA is 5-14 ATS (-9.2 Units) in home games when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
FLORIDA is 2-12 ATS (+19.4 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record in the second half of the season this season.
Head-to-Head Series History
NEW JERSEY is 7-4 (+0.7 Units) against the spread versus FLORIDA over the last 3 seasons
NEW JERSEY is 7-4-0 straight up against FLORIDA over the last 3 seasons
7 of 9 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Under=+4.7 Units)
ANAHEIM (38-32-0-9, 85 pts.) at DALLAS (35-31-0-14, 84 pts.)
Top Trends for this game.
ANAHEIM is 1-10 ATS (+16.1 Units) in road games vs. division opponents this season.
DALLAS is 20-10 ATS (+30.4 Units) after allowing 4 goals or more this season.
DALLAS is 15-9 ATS (+5.8 Units) after a loss by 2 goals or more in their previous game this season.
ANAHEIM is 52-44 ATS (+1.9 Units) second half of the season over the last 2 seasons.
DALLAS is 8-15 ATS (-12.5 Units) in home games vs. division opponents over the last 2 seasons.
DALLAS is 30-46 ATS (-16.7 Units) when playing against a team with a losing record over the last 2 seasons.
Head-to-Head Series History
DALLAS is 15-10 (+6.2 Units) against the spread versus ANAHEIM over the last 3 seasons
DALLAS is 15-10-0 straight up against ANAHEIM over the last 3 seasons
13 of 22 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Over=+3.4 Units)
MINNESOTA (37-36-0-7, 81 pts.) at CALGARY (40-31-0-9, 89 pts.)
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.
Head-to-Head Series History
CALGARY is 12-7 (+5.0 Units) against the spread versus MINNESOTA over the last 3 seasons
CALGARY is 12-7-0 straight up against MINNESOTA over the last 3 seasons
7 of 11 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Under=+3.3 Units)
PHOENIX (48-25-0-6, 102 pts.) at LOS ANGELES (45-27-0-7, 97 pts.)
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.
Head-to-Head Series History
PHOENIX is 12-7 (+4.6 Units) against the spread versus LOS ANGELES over the last 3 seasons
PHOENIX is 12-7-0 straight up against LOS ANGELES over the last 3 seasons
9 of 18 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Over=-1.0 Units, Under=-1.4 Units)
VANCOUVER (48-27-0-5, 101 pts.) at SAN JOSE (49-20-0-11, 109 pts.)
Top Trends for this game.
SAN JOSE is 25-12 ATS (+7.2 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
VANCOUVER is 25-11 ATS (+9.9 Units) revenging a loss versus opponent this season.
VANCOUVER is 125-134 ATS (+297.5 Units) in road games when playing against a team with a winning record since 1996.
SAN JOSE is 50-40 ATS (-16.6 Units) second half of the season over the last 2 seasons.
Head-to-Head Series History
SAN JOSE is 9-2 (+7.1 Units) against the spread versus VANCOUVER over the last 3 seasons
SAN JOSE is 9-2-0 straight up against VANCOUVER over the last 3 seasons
6 of 11 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Under=+0.4 Units)
BUFFALO vs. BOSTON
Buffalo is 5-12 SU in its last 17 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Buffalo's last 7 games
Boston is 3-14 SU in its last 17 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Boston's last 5 games
MONTREAL vs. CAROLINA
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Montreal's last 5 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Montreal's last 7 games when playing Carolina
Carolina is 13-6 SU in its last 19 games when playing Montreal
Carolina is 2-5 SU in its last 7 games at home
NEW JERSEY vs. FLORIDA
New Jersey is 16-6 SU in its last 22 games when playing Florida
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of New Jersey's last 5 games when playing on the road against Florida
Florida is 5-18-1 SU in its last 24 games ,when playing at home against New Jersey
Florida is 6-16 SU in its last 22 games when playing New Jersey
NY ISLANDERS vs. PITTSBURGH
The total has gone OVER in 4 of the NY Islanders last 5 games
NY Islanders are 5-1 SU in their last 6 games
Pittsburgh is 5-0 SU in their last 5 games when playing at home against NY Islanders
Pittsburgh is 5-1 SU in their last 6 games when playing NY Islanders
OTTAWA vs. TAMPA BAY
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Ottawa's last 8 games on the road
Ottawa is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Tampa Bay's last 7 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Tampa Bay's last 6 games when playing at home against Ottawa
ANAHEIM vs. DALLAS
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Anaheim's last 6 games on the road
Anaheim is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Dallas's last 5 games at home
Dallas is 11-4 SU in its last 15 games when playing at home against Anaheim
MINNESOTA vs. CALGARY
Minnesota is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Minnesota's last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Calgary's last 5 games
Calgary is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games when playing Minnesota
PHOENIX vs. LOS ANGELES
Phoenix is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Phoenix's last 6 games when playing Los Angeles
Los Angeles is 3-6 SU in its last 9 games when playing at home against Phoenix
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Los Angeles's last 7 games
VANCOUVER vs. SAN JOSE
Vancouver is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Vancouver's last 6 games
The total has gone OVER in 8 of San Jose's last 12 games at home
San Jose is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games at home
BUFFALO at BOSTON
BUFFALO: 9-3 Under off a home win by 2+ goals
BOSTON: 2-7 SU off 4+ games scoring 2 goals or less
MONTREAL at CAROLINA
MONTREAL: 12-4 Under revenging a home loss
CAROLINA: 3-11 SU after allowing 5+ goals
OTTAWA at TAMPA BAY
OTTAWA: 13-5 SU after scoring 5+ goals
TAMPA BAY: 3-17 SU off a home loss by 2+ goals
NY ISLANDERS at PITTSBURGH
NY ISLANDERS: 5-13 SU off a win by 1 goal
PITTSBURGH: 8-0 SU off a home loss by 2+ goals
NEW JERSEY at FLORIDA
NEW JERSEY: 7-1 SU off 4+ Unders
FLORIDA: 5-17 SU off a home loss
ANAHEIM at DALLAS
ANAHEIM: 1-10 SU away vs. division opponents
DALLAS: 20-10 SU after allowing 4+ goals
MINNESOTA at CALGARY
MINNESOTA: 12-28 SU in road games
CALGARY: 17-5 Under playing with same-season revenge
PHOENIX at LOS ANGELES
PHOENIX: 6-1 SU off a win by 3+ goals
LOS ANGELES: 6-13 SU revenging a loss by 1 goal
VANCOUVER at SAN JOSE
VANCOUVER: 16-5 SU off BB Overs
SAN JOSE: 23-14 Under playing their fourth game in seven days
Hot Teams
-- Buffalo won eight of its last eleven games. Bruins are 8-2 in the game following their last ten losses.
-- Senators won seven of their last eight games.
-- Islanders won four of their last five games.
-- Devils won last two games, 4-0/3-0; they allowed three goals total in their last four games.
-- Ducks won four of their last five games.
-- Kings won three of their last four games.
-- Sharks won six of their last eight games. Vancouver is 8-1 in the game following its last nine losses.
Cold Teams
-- Carolina lost 4-0 in both its last two home games. Canadiens lost three of their last four road games.
-- Lightning lost four of last five games, allowing 23 goals.
-- Penguins are 5-8 in their last thirteen games.
-- Panthers lost six of their last seven games.
-- Dallas Stars lost last two games: 2-1/5-2.
-- Minnesota lost last four games, outscored 15-6. Flames lost last two games: 4-1/2-1.
-- Coyotes lost their last four road games, outscored 12-5.
Totals
-- Last six Boston games stayed under the total. Five of Buffalo's last seven games went over.
-- Seven of last nine Carolina games stayed under the total.
-- Three of last four Ottawa games went over the total.
-- Three of last four Penguin games went over the total.
-- Six of last eight Florida games stayed under the total.
-- Five of last seven Anaheim games stayed under the total. Three of last four Dallas games went over.
-- Seven of last eight Calgary games stayed under the total.
-- Five of last seven Los Angeles games stayed under the total.
-- Four of last five Vancouver games went over the total.
Playing second of back-to-back nights
-- Coyotes are 5-4 on road if they played the night before.
Series Records
-- Sabres are 4-3 in their last seven visits to Boston.
-- Canadiens are 6-4 in last ten visits to Raleigh.
-- Senators won four of last five games against Tampa Bay.
-- Pittsburgh won five of last six games against the Islanders.
-- Devils won five of their last seven games against Florida.
-- Ducks are 5-4 in their last nine visits to Dallas.
-- Flames lost their last five games against Minnesota.
-- Coyotes won six of last nine visits to Staples Center.
-- Sharks won nine of last eleven games against Vancouver.