NHL Daily Gambling Preview – 10/18/22

Third profitable night in a row yesterday on the NHL for me, going 8-3 to win 2.47 units. Tonight we have another solid slate with eight games. Let’s keep on winning!

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Blue Jackets vs. Canucks (7:00)

Both of these teams are still looking for their first win both coming into tonight’s game at 0-3. The Blue Jackets have played three very good playoff teams in Carolina, Tampa and St. Louis. Through those games their offense hasn’t gotten much done, averaging just 1.67 goals per game on an average of 28.3 shots per game. They’ve given up a ton of shots, an average of 35.7 per game and have allowed an average of 4.67 goals per game. The Canucks are on the second half of a back to back after last night’s 6-4 loss in Washington. They’ve been better offensively in their three losses than Columbus has, averaging 3 goals per game on an average of 32 shots. Defensively, they’ve given up the same average of 4.67 goals per game as the Jackets have, but on a low shot average of 28.7 per game. Last season these teams split their two games with the home team winning each of them. Tonight Vancouver is likely starting their young backup goalie Spencer Martin in goal. With the Canucks on the second half of a road back to back, I’d slightly lean the Blue Jackets here but not enough to bet on it. So I’ll skip this game entirely.

Devils vs. Ducks (7:00)

Another lousy matchup. I expected the Devils to be much improved this season compared to the results of last year for them. Through two games though, they don’t look any better with losses to the Flyers and Red Wings. Not even the stiffest competition with those two teams and they lost 5-2 to both of them. They’re gonna get blown out when they face a good team. New Jersey has been able to generate a good amount of shots through those two games, an average of 38 per game but that isn’t translating to scoring. Defensively, they’ve only allowed an average of 23.5 shots per game but have given up 5 goals in each of their contests. Not great. The Ducks come into tonight’s game with a 1-2 record and they’re on the second half of a back to back after their 6-4 loss to the Rangers last night. They got completely outplayed last night, down 5-2 after two periods and got outshot 43-22 and outhit 27-17. They opened their season with a 5-4 overtime win against the Kraken where they came back from a two goal deficit but after that they got blown out 7-1 by the Islanders. Through their three games, the Ducks have scored an average of 3.33 goals per game on an average of 24 shots per game and have giving up a ton of shots, an average of 43 per game leading to them giving up an average of 5.67 goals per game. Last season these teams split their two games between them, the Ducks shut out the Devils 4-0 and the Devils grinded out a 2-1 victory. I’d slightly lean the Devils get their first win at home tonight but not enough to bet on it. I do like the over though, expecting both teams to give up goals while generating enough offense. I’ll take the over for half a unit.

Senators vs. Bruins (7:00)

The Bruins have looked phenomenal through their three games to start of the season 3-0, beating the Panthers 5-3 last night after getting 6-3 and 5-2 wins against the Coyotes and Capitals respectively. They have averaged 5.33 goals per game through their three games on an average of 35.7 shots on goal. Defensively, they’ve allowed an average of 2.67 goals per game on an average of 33.3 shots. The Senators are 0-2 to start the season after losing 4-1 to my Sabres in their season opener that was much closer than the score suggests and then losing 3-2 to the Leafs two days later. They’ve only been able to generate an average of 1.5 goals through those two games on an average of 32 shots on goal. Defensively, they have allowed an average of 3.5 goals on an average of 34 shots. In the four games these Atlantic Division teams played last year Boston won three of those games, with all of them hitting the under. I might be walking directly into a trap on this one but this line makes no sense to me, even with the B’s on the road in the second half of a back to back. No way should they be underdogs in this game. I know I said I was just going to stick to half unit bets for the first month or so of the season but I have to jump on this value here. I’ll go with the Bruins ML and Bruins TT over 2.5 for a unit each and the Bruins alternate puck line -1.5 for half a unit.

Lightning vs. Flyers (7:00)

I’m pretty surprised the Flyers have started off their season with back to back wins under new head coach John Tortorella. They opened the year with a big 5-2 win against the Devils and followed that up with a 3-2 win against the Canucks on Saturday afternoon. They’ve averaged 4 goals per game on an average of just 28 shots on goal while Carter Hart has been solid in goal and they’ve defensively allowed an average of 2 goals per game while giving up an average of 33.5 shots on goal. They’ll face a much tougher test tonight though as they go to Tampa to face off against last year’s Eastern Conference champion Lightning. The Bolts haven’t had a great start, going 1-2 in their first three games. Tampa’s coming off a 6-2 blowout loss in Pittsburgh on Saturday night with backup Brian Elliot in goal. Through their three games, they’ve scored an average of 2.67 goals per game on an average of 33.6 shots on goal and have allowed an average of 3.67 goals per game while giving up 37.3 shots. Last year to a surprise to no one, the Lightning swept the Flyers with 4-3, 4-0 and 7-1 wins. I think the expected results of these two teams comes through tonight. Andrei Vasilevskiy’s a world class goaltender and he should be able to completely shut down the Flyers offense. This game is too expensive for me to bet the moneyline at -295, but I’ll go with a half unit each on the Lightning in regulation and the Flyers TT under 2.5 in regulation.

Islanders vs. Sharks (7:30)

The Islanders bounced back big time from their 3-1 loss to the Panthers to open their season with an absolute shit kicking of the Ducks on Saturday, beating Anaheim 7-1 for a no doubter win and easy cash for me. The Isles have scored an average of 4 goals per game through their 1-1 start on an average of 35.5 shots on goal. Defensively they’ve been very good with solid goaltending from Ilya Sorokin and have allowed an average of 2 goals per game, giving up an average of just 26 shots on goal. The Sharks are the first team in the league to start this year at 0-4 and they look like they could be the worst team in the NHL. After back to back losses in Prague to the Predators, they lost at home to Carolina and got embarrassed 5-2 to by the horrible Blackhawks. Their lowly offense has only averaged 1.5 goals per game on an average of just 27.3 shots on goal per game and they’ve allowed an average of 3.5 goals per game on an average of 27.5 shots on goal. Last year the Sharks beat the Islanders in one goal games both times they played. I don’t see that happening again this year though. I really love the Isles to win here at home and will take them for a unit with a price coming in below -200.

Oilers vs. Sabres (9:00)

As a huge Sabres fan with a lot of hope for improvements this season and even more hope for the future of this franchise I’ve been pleased with their 1-1 start to the season, beating the Senators 4-1 in a way closer game than the score showed in the season opener and then losing 4-3 in another close game to the President’s Trophy winning Panthers. There’s a lot to like so far with this up and coming team. They’ve scored an average of 3.5 goals per game on an average of 31.5 shots on goal and they’ve allowed an average of 2.5 goals against while giving up an average of 36.5 shots on goal. The Oilers are coming off a 4-3 loss in the Battle of Alberta (cashing my over) against the Flames on Saturday night after opening their year with a 5-3 win against Vancouver. Through their two games, McDavid, Draisaitl and the Edmonton offense has scored an average of 4 goals per game on just an average of 27 shots on goal. Defensively, they’ve allowed a high average of 39 shots on goal, giving up an average of 3.5 goals per game. Last year these teams split their two games with a 3-2 Sabres win and a 6-1 Oilers blowout win. Obviously Edmonton’s the better team in this matchup and they’re at home but the -240 price seems too steep, especially with backup Stuart Skinner in goal. It might be a bit of a homer pick here against McDavid, Draisaitl and the Oilers but I like the Sabres at their odds here and I’ll take a half unit stab on the Sabres +1.5 puck line. They should be able to hang in there with Edmonton, keep it close and hopefully win this one on the road. Recap and my reactions to the game will be up on the blog tonight after our hopeful win!

Flames vs. Golden Knights (9:00)

This should be the most fun game to watch on tonight’s slate with two teams that have been electric to watch in their undefeated starts to their seasons. The Flames are 2-0, winning the Battle of Alberta 4-3 in Edmonton on Saturday night after giving the defending Cup Champion Avalanche a 5-3 loss. The Flames are one of my picks to win the Stanley Cup this season and they look great. Through their two games they’ve averaged 4.5 goals per game on an average of 34.5 shots against two really good teams. Defensively they’ve allowed an average of 3 goals per game on an average of 27 shots. The Golden Knights are 3-0 to start the year but haven’t faced too difficult of competition against the Kings, Blackhawks and Kraken. But they’re all wins in the standings the same way. The Knights have looked really solid though. They’re averaging 3.33 goals per game while generating an average of 39.3 shots on goal. Defensively they’ve been impressive as well, limiting their opponents to an average of just 1.67 goals per game on an average of 30 shots on goal. In the three games these teams played last season, the Knights won two of those games with 3-2 and 6-1 scores with the Flames getting a 6-0 shutout win in their’s. I think the Flames are the better team in this Pacific Division matchup and will take them for half a unit. Along with that I like the over too and I’ll take the alternate over 6 here for half a unit as well.

Predators vs. Kings (9:30)

This game is a tough one to figure out. I think they’re both bubble teams that end up around the Wild Card spots aunt hey both have started their seasons 2-2. After getting back to back wins in Prague against the Sharks, they came back and lost in 5-1 and 4-1 blowouts in their home and home with the Stars. Through their four games they’ve averaged 2.25 goals per game on an average of 28 shots on goal and they’ve allowed an average of 3 goals per game on 28.8 shots on goal. The Kings are on the second half of a back to back after a 5-4 overtime win in Detroit last night after getting a huge 7-6 win against the Wild earlier this week. Through their four games, their offense has been good, averaging 4 goals per game on an average of 31.8 shots per game but they’ve struggled defensively, even in their wins, allowing an average of 4.5 goals per game on an average of 35.3 shots on goal. In their three games last season, the Preds went 2-1 against the Kings with all entirely different game flows. I’ll stay off this game entirely since so far these two teams have been a little tough to figure out but I’d slightly lean the Predators at home in Smashville tonight. I’d lean the under but not enough to bet on it.

Game Bets

.5u Devils/Ducks over 6.5 (-120)

1u Bruins TT over 2.5 (-160)

1u Bruins ML (+118)

.5u Bruins -1.5 (+275)

.5u Lightning in regulation (-186)

.5u Flyers TT under 2.5 in regulation (-158)

1u Islanders ML (-196)

.5u Sabres +1.5 (-125)

.5u Flames ML (-155)

.5u Flames/Golden Knights over 6 (-130)

Record: 27-18-1 (-0.17 units)