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An Original Six rivalry highlights this weekend's slate as the Boston Bruins head north of the border aiming to continue their dominance over the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Of course, that's just one of 22 games scheduled over the next three days, as the NHL season starts to kick into high gear. Here's your guide to making the weekend a profitable one:
Game betting
Dallas Stars at Pittsburgh Penguins (Friday)
With one win in their first eight games, the Stars are simply trying to stop the bleeding. Winning hockey starts with defense, which is one thing Dallas has managed to do well over the first two weeks - the goals have just dried up. Injuries have left the Penguins shorthanded up front, and Pittsburgh's last six home games against Western Conference teams are 5-0-1 to the under. Dallas' last 11 away contests against Eastern Conference clubs are 7-2-2 to the under. With the total set at six in this game, look for a tight, low-scoring affair.
Carolina Hurricanes at Anaheim Ducks (Friday)
This is a really tough spot for the Hurricanes, who face their fifth game in eight nights and their third in four, including a pair of back-to-backs. Anaheim has been a juggernaut early in the season, thanks in large part to stellar goaltender John Gibson. Teams are still looking to get their legs under them this early in the campaign, and fatigue will definitely play a part for Carolina against a stingy Ducks team. The hosts are small underdogs here and are well worth a bet to kick-start the weekend.
Boston Bruins at Toronto Maple Leafs (Saturday)
News that Leafs captain John Tavares will miss at least two weeks with a broken finger is poorly timed as the team welcomes the Bruins to town Saturday night. Boston has played well early in the year and should rebound here after losing to the Lightning in a shootout Thursday. The Leafs lack the depth to absorb the loss of their captain, have struggled against good teams, and are typically owned by the Bruins.
Buffalo Sabres at San Jose Sharks (Saturday)
Don't look now, but the Sharks have turned things around after a poor start, winning three in a row as they head into Saturday's contest on two days rest while in the midst of a homestand. The Sabres, and Carter Hutton, have been on a tear, but this is a tough spot as they conclude their California road trip with a third game in four nights.
Edmonton Oilers at Winnipeg Jets (Sunday)
Credit the Jets for avoiding a miserable start despite trotting out a depleted defense, but they've still been vulnerable shorthanded. Winnipeg owns the league's worst penalty kill (56.3%) heading into the weekend and will welcome the Oilers, who own the league's best power play (45.5%), to town. Those numbers really don't bode well for the Jets. Look for the Oilers to keep their hot start alive, courtesy of their special teams.
Calgary Flames at Anaheim Ducks (Sunday)
Not sure exactly who in the league offices the Flames pissed off, but it was someone. Calgary wraps up a brutal opening stretch - six games in nine days - in Anaheim, following an unenviable travel schedule that saw the team head from Dallas to Vegas to San Jose to Calgary to Los Angeles. This game concludes the Flames' second back-to-back in a week and it comes against the white-hot Ducks. It also doesn't help that Calgary has lost 32 of its last 33 games in Anaheim. That's not a typo. This is one of those empty-the-bankroll type of plays.
Game props
New York Rangers at Washington Capitals (Friday)
With the Rangers on a back-to-back, Henrik Lundqvist gets the start for them in Washington. He's a shell of the goalie he once was and is in for a long night as he plays behind a tired team against the free-scoring Capitals. You should be jumping at Washington -1 in regulation at +125.
Montreal Canadiens at St. Louis Blues (Saturday)
After beating the Blues 6-3 in Montreal last week, the Canadiens travel to St. Louis for a return date with the Stanley Cup champions. The Habs don't typically excel in matinees, and with the Blues out for revenge, this should be a much tighter, lower-scoring game than what we saw Saturday at the Bell Centre. Playing Montreal's team total under 2.5 should be profitable in this spot.
Calgary Flames at Anaheim Ducks (Sunday)
As mentioned above, this really is the perfect storm. The Flames, who already suck in Anaheim, will be playing the Ducks under brutal conditions. John Gibson might be in line for a shutout. Play Calgary's team total under 2.5, as well as 1.5, the latter of which should be priced around +350.
Player props
Boston Bruins at Toronto Maple Leafs (Saturday)
Is there anyone Leafs fans are more tired of seeing than David Pastrnak? He owns the Leafs like the Yankees owned Pedro Martinez. In fact, Boston's whole top line does. The Bruins should have even more success with Tavares missing from Toronto's top line. The man they call Pasta torched the Leafs for six goals in four games last season and he should be celebrating another at Scotiabank Arena on Saturday night.
Edmonton Oilers at Winnipeg Jets (Sunday)
By now you know about the mismatch between the Oilers' powerplay and the Jets' penalty kill. James Neal has been one of the catalysts of Edmonton's powerplay, with six of his eight goals coming on the man advantage. He's got a great chance to add to that tally against the league's worst penalty kill Sunday.
Alex Moretto is a sports betting writer for theScore. A journalism graduate from Guelph-Humber University, he has worked in sports media for over a decade. He will bet on anything from the Super Bowl to amateur soccer, is too impatient for futures, and will never trust a kicker. Find him on Twitter @alexjmoretto.
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