Tuesday's Best NHL Bets
By Covers.com
Atlanta Thrashers vs. Montreal Canadiens (-118, 6)
Montreal plays in just its second home game of the season Tuesday night and it’s not clear if that’s a good thing. Nobody’s home fans are quicker to boo their own side when things aren’t going well and right now, things aren’t going well.
The Habs have lost five straight games after scraping out two overtime wins to open the season.
Scoring goals has been the biggest problem with just 13 in regulation time through seven games. The power play is a pathetic 2-for-22 and many blame that on the injury to defenseman Andrei Markov in the season opener.
In hopes someone else can kick start things, Montreal is recalling offensive-minded blueliner Marc-Andre Bergeron from Hamilton for Tuesday’s game, but we wouldn’t advise to expect any miracles.
Pick: Under 6
Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Calgary Flames (-145, 5.5)
If the Flames are still upset about losing to Columbus last week, they’ll have a chance to take it out on the Blue Jackets Tuesday.
Columbus beat the Flames in a tight-checking 2-1 game last Tuesday that had an extra bit of sting for the Flames because the loss came just one day after their now infamous 6-5 embarrassment to the Blackhawks. (The Flames had a 5-0 first period lead in that game).
Even though the Flames have looked a little better in their two games since the loss to Chicago, they apparently haven’t learned their lesson. They held a 5-0 lead after two periods over the Vancouver Canucks over the weekend but were outscored 3-0 in the third to make the game closer than it should have been.
The good news is that Columbus plays such a defensive style from end to end that it’s unlikely Calgary will have a chance to build a big lead and then give its fans a heart attack.
Pick: Under 5
St. Louis Blues vs. Pittsburgh Penguins
The St. Louis Blues and the Pittsburgh Penguins will both be gunning for a victory on Tuesday when they meet at Mellon Arena.
Ty Conklin stopped all 26 shots for the shutout on Saturday, as the Blues defeated the Ducks 5-0. The Blues won the game as +120 underdogs, while the teams played UNDER the posted over/under (5.5).
Andy McDonald scored twice for the Blues, while Patrik Berglund, Carlo Colaiacovo, and T.J. Oshie scored for the Blues.
Sergei Gonchar scored once and added an assist as the Penguins defeated the Lightning 4-1 on Saturday. The Penguins won the game as -200 favorites, while the five goals went UNDER the posted over/under (6).
Bill Guerin, Pascal Dupuis, and Michael Rupp also scored for the Penguins. Sidney Crosby pocketed two assists in the win, and Marc-Andre Fleury made 22 saves.
Current streak:
Pittsburgh has won 5 straight games.
Team records:
St. Louis: 3-2-1
Pittsburgh: 7-1-0
St. Louis most recently:
When playing on Tuesday are 5-5
Before playing Tampa Bay are 3-3-1
After playing Anaheim are 4-6
After a win are 6-4
Pittsburgh most recently:
When playing on Tuesday are 8-2
Before playing Ottawa are 7-3
After playing Tampa Bay are 6-4
After a win are 7-3
A few trends to consider:
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of St. Louis's last 6 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of St. Louis's last 5 games when playing Pittsburgh
St. Louis is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games when playing Pittsburgh
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of St. Louis's last 6 games when playing on the road against Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
Pittsburgh is 7-1 SU in its last 8 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Pittsburgh's last 5 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Pittsburgh's last 5 games when playing St. Louis
Next up:
St. Louis home to Minnesota, Friday, October 23
Pittsburgh home to Florida, Friday, October 23
Atlanta Thrashers vs. Montreal Canadiens
The Atlanta Thrashers and the Montreal Canadiens will both be trying to pick up a win on Tuesday when they battle at Bell Centre.
Ilya Kovalchuk scored a pair of goals in leading the Thrashers to a 4-2 victory over the Sabres on Saturday, as +135 underdogs. The six goals went as a PUSH against the posted over/under (6).
Todd White and Maxim Afinogenov scored the other goals for the Thrashers. Johan Hedberg made 40 saves in collecting the win.
Michael Cammalleri had the only Montreal goal in their 3-1 loss to the Senators on Saturday night.
The Sens were winners at -105 on the road in that contest, while the combined score fell UNDER the night's posted total (5.5).
Current streak:
Atlanta has won 2 straight games.
Montreal has lost 5 straight games.
Team records:
Atlanta: 4-1-0
Montreal: 2-5-0
Atlanta most recently:
When playing on Tuesday are 6-4
Before playing NY Rangers are 2-8
After playing Buffalo are 5-5
After a win are 6-4
Montreal most recently:
When playing on Tuesday are 8-2
Before playing NY Islanders are 5-5
After playing Ottawa are 4-6
After a loss are 0-10
A few trends to consider:
Atlanta is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games
Atlanta is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 12 of Atlanta's last 18 games when playing Montreal
Atlanta is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games when playing Montreal
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Montreal's last 7 games at home
Montreal is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games when playing at home against Atlanta
Montreal is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games when playing Atlanta
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Montreal's last 6 games
Next up:
Atlanta home to Washington, Thursday, October 22
Montreal home to NY Islanders, Thursday, October 22
Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Calgary Flames
The fans at Pengrowth Saddledome will be treated to a game between the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Calgary Flames when they take their seats on Tuesday.
Steve Mason stopped 27 shots to help the Blue Jackets earn a 4-1 win over the Kings on Saturday, as -140 favorites. The five goals went UNDER the posted over/under (5.5).
Jason Chimera, Rich Nash, Raffi Torres, and Jakub Voracek also scored in that game.
The Flames ended a three-game slide by defeating the Canucks 5-3 on Friday, as -140 favorites. The eight goals sailed OVER the posted over/under (5.5).
Curtis Glencross, Nigel Dawes, Dion Phaneuf, Dustin Boyd, and Brian McGrattan scored for the Flames.
Current streak:
Columbus has won 3 straight games.
Team records:
Columbus: 5-1-0
Calgary: 5-2-1
Columbus most recently:
When playing on Tuesday are 2-8
Before playing Edmonton are 5-5
After playing Los Angeles are 3-7
After a win are 4-6
Calgary most recently:
When playing on Tuesday are 8-2
Before playing Los Angeles are 4-6
After playing Vancouver are 6-4
After a win are 4-6
A few trends to consider:
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Columbus's last 8 games when playing Calgary
Columbus is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Columbus's last 10 games when playing on the road against Calgary
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Columbus's last 6 games
The total has gone OVER in 7 of Calgary's last 8 games
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Calgary's last 8 games when playing Columbus
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Calgary's last 7 games at home
Calgary is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games when playing at home against Columbus
Next up:
Columbus at Edmonton, Thursday, October 22
Calgary home to Edmonton, Saturday, October 24
ST. LOUIS vs. PITTSBURGH
St. Louis is 2-7-1 SU in its last 10 games when playing on the road against Pittsburgh
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of St. Louis's last 6 games when playing on the road against Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 8 of Pittsburgh's last 11 games
ATLANTA vs. MONTREAL
Atlanta is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games when playing on the road against Montreal
Atlanta is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games when playing Montreal
Montreal is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Montreal's last 6 games
COLUMBUS vs. CALGARY
Columbus is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games when playing on the road against Calgary
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Columbus's last 10 games when playing on the road against Calgary
Calgary is 7-2 SU in its last 9 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Calgary's last 7 games at home
ICE PICK
Atlanta Thrashers have raced out to a 4-1 start their best in history behind sharp shooting Ilya Kovalchuk lighting the lamp seven times in the first five games and stellar goaltending from both Ondrej Pavelec (3-1, 2.76 GAA), Johan Hedberg (1-0, 2.00 GAA). Meanwhile, new-look Montreal Canadians suffering it's fifth straight loss the last time out have opened 2-5 with the biggest problem being a lack of offense. Habs are getting the shots but they can't get the frozen rubber between the pipes scoring at a lowly 7.7% rate at full force and coming up empty with the man advantage hitting just 15.3% (4-of-26). Still, splitting four games last year with the home skaters having the edge in each contest we'll side with Habs at the Bell Center. Canadiens have won five of the past six as host in the series and 13-of-18 vs Thrashers in front of the home. If Johan Hedberg is between the pipes for Atlanta the Thrashers 7-13 L20 in October are in for a long night, the netminder is 1-6-1 career vs Habs.
ST LOUIS (3-2-0-1, 7 pts.) at PITTSBURGH (7-1-0-0, 14 pts.)
Top Trends for this game.
PITTSBURGH is 128-87 ATS (+248.6 Units) in all games over the last 3 seasons.
PITTSBURGH is 23-9 ATS (+11.2 Units) on Tuesday nights over the last 3 seasons.
PITTSBURGH is 17-6 ATS (+9.6 Units) when playing with 2 days rest over the last 2 seasons.
PITTSBURGH is 97-52 ATS (+26.6 Units) in home games after a win by 2 goals or more since 1996.
Head-to-Head Series History
PITTSBURGH is 1-0 (+1.0 Units) against the spread versus ST LOUIS over the last 3 seasons
PITTSBURGH is 1-0-0 straight up against ST LOUIS over the last 3 seasons
1 of 1 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Over=+1.0 Units)
ATLANTA (4-1-0-0, 8 pts.) at MONTREAL (2-5-0-0, 4 pts.)
Top Trends for this game.
ATLANTA is 109-120 ATS (+270.3 Units) in a road game where where the total is 6 or more since 1996.
MONTREAL is 43-50 ATS (+98.5 Units) in all games over the last 2 seasons.
MONTREAL is 17-21 ATS (-18.1 Units) in home games first half of the season over the last 3 seasons.
Head-to-Head Series History
ATLANTA is 4-4 (+1.5 Units) against the spread versus MONTREAL over the last 3 seasons
MONTREAL is 4-4-0 straight up against ATLANTA over the last 3 seasons
4 of 6 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Under=+1.7 Units)
COLUMBUS (5-1-0-0, 10 pts.) at CALGARY (5-2-0-1, 11 pts.)
Top Trends for this game.
COLUMBUS is 14-31 ATS (+49.0 Units) after scoring 4 goals or more in their previous game over the last 3 seasons.
COLUMBUS is 26-21 ATS (+54.7 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 2 seasons.
COLUMBUS is 15-10 ATS (+28.3 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record in the first half of the season over the last 2 seasons.
Head-to-Head Series History
COLUMBUS is 5-4 (+1.3 Units) against the spread versus CALGARY over the last 3 seasons
COLUMBUS is 5-4-0 straight up against CALGARY over the last 3 seasons
7 of 9 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Under=+4.9 Units)
Tips and Trends
St. Louis Blues at Pittsburgh Penguins
Blues: The Blues are coming off a big 5-0 win against Anaheim on Saturday, which ended a three-game losing streak. Goalie Ty Conklin recorded 26 saves in the shutout. The Blues opened their season winning two games against Detroit in Sweden. St. Louis scored nine goals in its two victories versus the Red Wings. However, the Blues managed just five goals in losing their next three games before defeating Anaheim. The Blues were 0-for-10 on the power play during their losing skid. St. Louis ranks ninth in the NHL with a 2.47 goals-against average. The Blues and Penguins are 5-1-1 to the under in their past seven meetings. The under is 5-0-3 in the Blues’ last eight games against opponents with winning records. The visiting team has lost in eight of the past 11 head-to-head games. The Blues will still be without injured defenseman Barret Jackman for this game.
The Blues are 5-11 in their last 16 games versus Eastern Conference foes.
Key Injuries - Defenseman Barret Jackman (ankle) is out.
PROJECTED SCORE: 2
Penguins (-$2.00, O/U 6 under -$1.25): The Penguins are off to their second-best start in franchise history at 7-1-0. They’ve won five in a row. Pittsburgh has allowed just six goals in its last four games. Defenseman Jay McKee had seven blocks in the Penguins’ last game, a 4-1 win over Tampa Bay on Saturday. McKee leads the lead with 28 blocked shots. McKee had spent the previous three seasons with St. Louis. Goalie Marc-Andre Fleury is 7-0-0 with a 2.08 goals against average. However, he’s yielded three goals in each of his last two games versus St. Louis. The Penguins have allowed 13 goals in their last four games against the Blues. They have lost three of their last four to St. Louis. Pittsburgh is 40-14 the past 54 times it has played on two days rest. The Penguins have won 39 of their last 53 games.
The Penguins are 21-7 in their last 28 Tuesday games.
The Under has cashed in 8 of Pittsburgh’s last 11 games
Key Injuries - None.
PROJECTED SCORE: 4 (Side of the Day)