We started the week on a high note, going 2-1 with our best bets. The Vancouver Canucks blanked the Los Angeles Kings while the Anaheim Ducks kept things close and covered the +1.5 spread against the Washington Capitals. If not for a couple of posts from the New Jersey Devils, we could have been looking at a perfect night.
Nevertheless, we gave ourselves a good base to build upon, so let's get into our best bets for tonight's busy slate.
Rangers (-130) @ Blackhawks (+110)
The Blackhawks are not a good team. They just don't have the necessary defensive acumen or depth throughout their roster. However, they are better than they were at the start of the year.
Chicago has won six of its last 10 games. In that time, the team ranks 16th in shot attempt share, 22nd in scoring chance share, and it owns a positive goal differential. The Blackhawks aren't playing great hockey, per se, but they're competent, particularly when Marc-Andre Fleury starts.
Fleury has really responded from the worst start imaginable. Among 37 eligible netminders, Fleury sits eighth in five-on-five save percentage. He's sandwiched between Thatcher Demko and Connor Hellebuyck - great company!
Things haven't gone as smoothly for Alexandar Georgiev, who's projected to start tonight for the Rangers. He's conceded 7.7 more goals than expected through eight appearances this season. Among those with at least seven games played, only Aaron Dell and Anton Khudobin have allowed more goals than expected per 60 minutes than Georgiev (minus-1.25).
While New York's play is trending upwards, Georgiev tends to erase a lot of the good work done in front of him.
I see value on Chicago as home underdogs.
Bet: Blackhawks (+110)
Lightning (-220) @ Canadiens (+180)
The Canadiens have struggled from the word go this season, and things are somehow getting worse. They've controlled just 38.5% of the expected goals at five-on-five over the last 10 games, which is an unfathomably bad number.
With key players like Tyler Toffoli, Brendan Gallagher, Josh Anderson, and Jeff Petry out of the lineup due to injury, I don't see things getting better for Montreal. They might well get worse.
The Lightning have controlled better than 52% of the expected goals on the season. They should have their way against the injury-plagued Canadiens.
Andrei Vasilevskiy, who will return to the pipes following a night off, should have little problem fending off this putrid Canadiens offense.
I don't see Montreal hanging around in this game.
Bet: Lightning -1.5 (+120)
Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. Be sure to follow him on Twitter @ToddCordell.
Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.