This weekend’s NHL schedule features some of top the teams and some excellent betting opportunities. Saturday has a a total of 14 games on tap, including five matinees, as the Bruins visit the Sabres, the Penguins visit the Devils, the Predators are in Florida to face the Panthers, the Wild are at the Avalanche and the Blackhawks visit the Lightning.
Sunday’s schedule has 4 games, including Vegas at Los Angeles on NBCSN. Our staff has analyzed some betting trends for this weekend’s games. Let’s take a look.
Saturday, March 20 Games
As you probably already know, Covid this season has forced teams to play within their divisions exclusively. This has meant that teams are oftentimes playing a set of games against each other. As a result, a clear betting trend has come to light where in the second game of these series are lower scoring. Â We have four of those games on Saturday and one on Sunday.
Calgary Flames vs Toronto Maple Leafs
Our pick: Take the UNDER
It is always risky to play Toronto games under the total, but Calgary is much more of a defensive team now that they are coached by Darryl Sutter. This is the second half of a back-to-back and we’ll follow the system and take the under.
New York Rangers vs Washington Capitals
Our pick: Take the UNDER
The Rangers and Capitals played on Friday night, so this game fits into the system. These teams have a lot of matchups scheduled against one another in upcoming weeks so you can expect a lot of intensity, especially in the second half of a back-to-back. We’ll go under the total in this one.
Vancouver Canucks vs Montreal Canadiens
Our pick: Take the UNDER
These teams met on Friday night in Montreal and now they meet again on Saturday night. This is a system play and one that didn’t work earlier this season. The teams met twice early in February and the second game went over the total. We’ll come right back and take this game on Saturday under the total.
Dallas Stars vs Detroit Red Wings
Our pick: Take the Dallas Stars
The Stars still have games in hand over their division rivals, but the Stars have to start winning those extra games. This is definitely a game that Dallas simply has to win, as they are playing a weak Red Wings team. I’ll lay the small price and take the Stars in this game.
St. Louis Blues vs San Jose Sharks
Our pick: Take the UNDER
The Blues and Sharks meet for the second straight day and these teams are definitely capable of playing a low scoring game. The teams played a 3-2 contest in San Jose earlier this month that went under. We’ll take this game under the total.
Winnipeg Jets vs Edmonton Oilers
Our pick: Take the OVER
Every time I see these teams play; I expect a shootout. The Jets have a decent goaltender in Connor Hellebuyck but I have no confidence in either of Edmonton’s two goaltenders. These teams did go under the total in Edmonton in late February, but the previous two games in Edmonton went over. I will take this game over the total.
Sunday, March 21 Games
Florida Panthers vs Tampa Bay Lightning
Our pick: Take the OVER
This is not the second straight game between these teams, but it is a back-to-back for both squads. Florida was home against Nashville on Saturday and Tampa was home against Chicago on Saturday. These teams have been scoring a lot of goals this season and their recent meetings have been high scoring. Six of the last seven, including the last four in Tampa have gone over the total. I will take this game over the total.
New Jersey Devils vs Pittsburgh Penguins
Our pick: Take the UNDER
We get one more of these back-to-back situations on Sunday, as New Jersey visits Pittsburgh. The teams met in Jersey on Saturday and now they play another matinee on Sunday. The Devils don’t score a lot of goals and Pittsburgh is not the high-flying team you might expect. This has all the looks of an under and we get the system trend in our favor. We’ll go under the total in this one.
Check out the latest NHL odds.
