Daily NHL Picks
Where are the best bets on tonight’s NHL schedule? Let’s take a look at the docket, which only includes three games.
Columbus Blue Jackets at Toronto Maple Leafs, 7PM ET
According to oddsmakers at YouWager, the Maple Leafs are listed as a -185 favorite on the moneyline. The Blue Jackets are a +165 underdog, while the total is set at 5.5 goals. Toronto opened as a -180 fave before the line creeped up slightly.
The public has placed 57 percent of bets on the Maple Leafs as of Wednesday afternoon. Online wager info also shows a whopping 91 percent of bets coming in on the over.
If you want to place a bet on Toronto at the steep price, I’m not going to advise against you. Toronto is 18-8-2-0 at home this season and are coming in a four-game winning streak. Do be advised that Columbus has beaten the Maple Leafs in three consecutive meetings. But I’m more interested in the over at a better price. Toronto has scored six and seven goals in two of its last four games, while also scoring four in another. If the Blue Jackets can at least add in a couple of their own, there is an easy pathway to the over. Columbus has been strong defensively the last two games, but had a less impressive stretch previously and there are few teams more high-powered than the Maple Leafs. Take the over.
Montreal Canadiens at Colorado Avalanche, 9:30PM ET
Oddsmakers at YouWager have placed the Avalanche as a -125 favorite to win on the moneyline. The Canadiens are a +105 underdog, while the total sits at 5.5 goals. Colorado opened as a -120 fave before bettors pushed it up a bit.
As of Wednesday afternoon, public bets show that 76 percent of wagers are coming in on the Avalanche. Betting information also states 67 percent of bets are siding with the over.
Colorado has been surprisingly decent this season and is a sparkling 19-7-1-0 in its home arena. Meanwhile, Montreal has struggled mightily on the road at 8-16-0-1. For that reason alone, it feels this line could be larger. The Canadiens did win the first meeting this season 4-2 last month, but that was on their home ice where they are much more formidable. There is no info to be gained from the last 10 meetings as each team has won five games, while the over has had a slight advantage going 6-4. I have to take the Avs here at a good price.
Florida Panthers at Vancouver Canucks, 10PM ET
According to oddsmakers at YouWager, the Panthers are a small -115 road favorite. The Canucks are a -105 underdog, while the over-under is set at 5.5 goals just like the other two games on tonight’s schedule. Florida opened as a -120 favorite before the line was bet down.
Public bets are siding with host Vancouver thus far with 62 percent of the bets on that side. Online wager info also shows 75 percent of bets on the over.
These two teams met only eight days ago in Florida, with the Panthers securing a 3-1 victory. Florida has won six of the past 10 meetings overall, while the under is 5-3-2. You have to like the way the Panthers have been playing lately with wins in five of their last six contests including the game against the Canucks. Vancouver has struggled more recently, but did end its four-game losing skid with a convincing 6-0 triumph at Dallas its last game. Traveling this far is tough for any opponent and while the Panthers already have a 7-5 win at Edmonton under their belts this road trip fatigue can set in quickly. I like the home team to get some revenge here. Bet on the Canucks.