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You can't beat perfect.

Despite there being just three NHL games on Wednesday, we finished 4-0 with our bets to rake in a hefty profit.

Let's keep the good times rolling into a busy Thursday night.

GOATs and scapegoats

It's hard to have a scapegoat when you don't lose a bet. Instead, Wednesday night was full of GOATs: Carey Price and Tukka Rask combined for a .939 save percentage to help us hit the under. Twelve different Los Angeles Kings players registered points in a win over the Calgary Flames. Patrick Kane went over 3.5 shots in the first period, while Bo Horvat needed just two to go over his shot total.

All of these guys are forever in my good books.

Thursday bets

Columbus Blue Jackets (-115)

I can be guilty of looking a gift horse in the mouth. Sometimes, you see a line and it just looks off, so you stay away or even bet the other side. More often than not, you live to regret it.

This feels like one of those instances. The Blue Jackets are playing great hockey right now - riding a 6-1-1 run on the road - while the Buffalo Sabres have dropped five of their last seven on home ice, including losses to the Ottawa Senators and Detroit Red Wings. The price on Columbus seems a bit short here given the current direction of both teams, but I'm not going to let it scare me off. The Blue Jackets are the play here.

Dallas Stars (+130)

Frederik Andersen will return tonight for the Toronto Maple Leafs, but that won't sway my stance on this game. A goalie can only mask so many defensive issues. The Leafs have largely struggled at home of late, needing overtime to beat the Anaheim Ducks and Arizona Coyotes - the latter coming with the help of a controversial disallowed goal. Those unconvincing wins followed a 2-5 stretch at Scotiabank Arena, during which Toronto also needed overtime to beat the Senators.

This matchup is a significant step up in competition, as the Stars have emerged victorious in seven of their last 10 on the road. They're also riding a 4-1-1 road run versus Eastern Conference teams. Toronto won in Dallas last month, but I like the Stars to return the favor here at a very generous price.

Calgary Flames' team total under 2.5 (+140)

There's no team in the NHL that's struggled more in a particular city than the Flames have in Anaheim. Calgary's won just two of its last 32 road games against the Ducks and has scored two or fewer goals in its last nine contests in Anaheim. This time, the Flames will also be playing the second leg of a back-to-back. They've gone 3-4 on no rest this season, scoring two or fewer goals in five of those seven games while being shut out twice.

Best bet

St. Louis Blues/Vegas Golden Knights over 6 (-105)

Who doesn't love a good show in Vegas? The Golden Knights have allowed four or more goals in five of their last six home games, giving up at least three in all of them. The Blues have allowed three or more goals in nine straight on the road and four or more in six of their last seven. If we're looking at three goals against as the floor for both of these teams, this game should have no issue sailing over the total.

Trend of the night

The Edmonton Oilers are on an 11-2 run away to Eastern Conference teams.

They'll play down south tonight against the Tampa Bay Lightning, who are the hottest team in hockey but will be missing Nikita Kucherov, Anthony Cirelli, and Steven Stamkos. The Oilers are dealing with their own major absence in superstar Connor McDavid, so even at +180, it's going to take some courage to back this trend. Are you feeling dangerous? I know I am.

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.

Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

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Overtime decided our fate on Tuesday, as we settled for a 1-2 record with our bets, though you managed a 2-2 night if you followed our trend of the day.

Despite the small card on Wednesday, we're undoubtedly set to bounce back.

GOATs and scapegoats

Jamie Benn went into Tuesday with just 15 goals through 55 games this season. That had him pace for 23, which would be his lowest output since the lockout-shortened 2012-13 campaign. The Dallas Stars captain put on his cape for us yesterday though, potting a hat trick in a 4-1 win over the Carolina Hurricanes. Boy, did we need that.

Benn's performance was especially important after we lost our best bet on the Pittsburgh Penguins, who fell to the Tampa Bay Lightning in overtime. Evgeni Malkin scored the Pens' lone goal in the game, but I still can't believe what I saw from him in overtime. There are forwards playing in the GTHL that would have put forth a better defensive effort on Yanni Gourde's overtime winner.

Wednesday bets

Montreal Canadiens/Boston Bruins under 5.5 (+105)

Canadiens netminder Carey Price is looking like his old self these days, posting a remarkable .947 save percentage since Jan. 11. Price was pulled back on Nov. 26 in his last meeting with the Bruins, so you can expect an inspired performance from one of the league's best goaltenders.

The last six meetings between these teams in Boston have gone under the total, with Montreal scoring just nine goals combined. Don’t expect much offense from the Canadiens tonight, but Price should keep them in the game.

Patrick Kane over 3.5 shots (-110), Bo Horvat over 2.5 shots (-110)

There should be a ton of offense in this matchup with the total set at 6.5 (more on that below with our trend of the night). The Chicago Blackhawks' last seven meetings with the Vancouver Canucks north of the border have produced six overs and a push, with Patrick Kane and Bo Horvat being major factors. Kane has recorded at least four shots in all four meetings with the Canucks over the last two seasons, while Horvat has managed a whopping 23 shots over his last four games against the Blackhawks (5.75 per game), including 14 in the two meetings this season.

Best bet

Los Angeles Kings (+120)

The Kings are in the midst of a miserable 1-9-1 run, but the team - especially stud defenseman Drew Doughty - always seems to get fired up for dates with nemesis Matthew Tkachuk and the Calgary Flames. The Kings have won two of three meetings with the Flames this season, including a 4-1 victory in the other game in Los Angeles.

The Flames will be without both of their top defensemen, Mark Giordano and Travis Hamonic, and have endured a busy travel schedule of late, while Los Angeles has been idle since Sunday. The Kings have won five straight home games on two days of rest and seven of their last eight.

L.A. goalie Jonathan Quick is playing some of his best hockey of the season right now, and his home/away splits show just how much better he performs at Staples Center. Quick should have no problem getting up for this game, much like he did in the 4-1 win over the Flames in Los Angeles back in October, his only previous start against Calgary this season.

Trend of the night

The Canucks and Blackhawks have gone over the total in 10 of their last 11 meetings.

There's a high total of 6.5 for Wednesday's game, but if history is any indication, it won't be a problem. The previous two matchups between these sides this season produced 19 total goals.

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.

Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

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We had to settle for a 2-2 Monday night - 3-2 if you tailed the Columbus Blue Jackets' team total under - but a win for the Calgary Flames helped us improve to 5-2 in the last seven days with our best bets.

Let's keep it going Tuesday.

GOATs and scapegoats

The Flames had the power play working and Milan Lucic was a big part of that. He started the scoring during the opening frame for his first of three points on the night to help both his team pick up the win and us cash in on our best bet.

We needed that boost, too, because Pekka Rinne was of absolutely no help. Nothing kills an under quite like four goals on 14 shots. Thanks, Pekka.

Tuesday bets

Chicago Blackhawks (+110)

I had the Blackhawks circled in this one before the news of Connor McDavid's extended absence, so it becomes an even easier decision now to fade the Edmonton Oilers without their captain. Chicago has won eight of its last 11 on the road and three of four in Edmonton but continues to be undervalued by oddsmakers. Playing catchup in the wild-card race, this is a huge game for the Blackhawks against an Oilers team that's inconsistent on home ice - it's won five of its last seven at Rogers Place after losing eight of 10 before that.

Dallas Stars (-130)

I told you a few weeks ago to buy low on the Stars and said the same thing Friday about the Carolina Hurricanes. I think we'll see both of these teams playing deep into the spring, and it'll be fascinating to watch them square off tonight in Dallas. Carolina has won back-to-back games on the road after dropping five in a row, but the Stars are a different beast on home ice. While the Hurricanes have been scoring a lot of goals, they've also been allowing them in bunches. Carolina can't go into Dallas and hope to simply outscore its opponent. Expect the Stars to build off their win Saturday in St. Louis and end a mini-slump at American Airlines Center.

Best bet

Pittsburgh Penguins (-110)

I love what the Penguins did in trading for Jason Zucker, who's an excellent player and a great fit on the wing alongside either Sidney Crosby or Evgeni Malkin. Pittsburgh is almost flying under the radar in what is an especially strong Eastern Conference, but it has the NHL's second-best record since the start of December, just a hair behind the Tampa Bay Lightning's.

This should be a great game and possible Eastern Conference Final preview, which I'd typically just sit back and enjoy. However, fatigue will likely play a role for the Lightning, who were pushed to the brink Monday night in their overtime win against the Blue Jackets. This isn't an ideal situation away to the Penguins, who have won 12 of their last 15 on home ice and five of their last six games at home to Tampa.

Trend of the night

The Philadelphia Flyers have scored at least three goals in each of their last nine road games against the New York Islanders.

The last time they failed to do so was in November 2015. The Flyers have also won three of their last four on the road after winning just two of their previous 10, and have scored at least three goals in five straight road affairs. You have to lay -130 to get it, but over 2.5 on the Flyers' team total seems a strong play tonight.

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.

Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find line reports, best bets, and subscribe to push notifications in the Betting News section.

This past weekend could have gone a lot better. Three of the four teams we wagered on held two-goal leads and lost, while the team that didn't is the only one that won for us. Watching those bets play out was a good way to take some years off your life.

At least the Detroit Red Wings cashed as +270 'dogs on Sunday, if you followed our trend of the week.

In any case, let's bounce back during this massive week ahead.

GOATs and scapegoats

Given how some of our other weekend bets unfolded, we needed the Colorado Avalanche to come through in a big way on Saturday - and they did. Kudos to Nazem Kadri and Nathan MacKinnon for finding a way to solve Blue Jackets goalie Elvis Merzlikins, who was looking like he might never allow a goal again.

We followed that up with the Red Wings trend play on Sunday afternoon, and it was looking like we might never lose again after the Chicago Blackhawks jumped out to a 2-0 lead over the Winnipeg Jets at MTS Place. Well, after leading for 48:49 of game time, Chicago collapsed in spectacular fashion. The Jets scored four goals in the last 11 minutes to win the contest and break our spirit.

Monday bets

Florida Panthers (+120)

The Panthers are in the midst of a small rough patch, but Aleksander Barkov is back and this team has still won five of its last seven on the road. The Philadelphia Flyers are a remarkable 18-5-4 at home, but three of those five regulation losses came in their last seven games. These are two evenly matched teams, so I'll gladly take Sergei Bobrovsky at +120 over Carter Hart at -135. Hart might need a game or two to shake off the rust after not starting since Jan. 13th due to an abdomen injury.

Tampa Bay Lightning (-150)

No team had its pride ripped away during last season's playoffs quite like the Lightning did at the hands of the Columbus Blue Jackets. This is the first meeting between these teams since Columbus swept Tampa, and we can expect a significant response here in a massive revenge game for the Lightning, who'd won six of their last seven visits to Columbus before that postseason nightmare. Given that defenseman Seth Jones is now sidelined for the home team, I'm comfortable laying the juice.

I'd also play the Blue Jackets' team total under 2.5 in this spot. Tampa's allowed one goal or fewer in five of its last six regular-season visits to Columbus, including three shutouts.

Nashville Predators/Vancouver Canucks under 6 (-105)

This is typically a spot where I'd be all over the Canucks (+105), who had a nine-game home winning streak snapped on Saturday. However, I really like what I've seen from the Predators of late, as they've won six of their last eight on the road. This is an incredibly tight contest to call, so let's focus on the total. Nashville is playing some really strong defensive hockey, while Vancouver's allowed two or fewer goals in seven of its last nine games at Rogers Arena. Take the under in a matchup that has 3-2 in overtime written all over it.

Best bet

Calgary Flames (-115)

Give me a break with this line. Sure, the Flames have lost five of their last seven games, but they're a very different team on the road, where they've won 10 of their last 13. Calgary also put in a terrific showing to win in Vancouver on Saturday, and I expect the team to build on that momentum against a San Jose Sharks side that's not nearly as talented. The Sharks won in Calgary last week and I expect the Flames to return the favor in a game they really have to have.

Trend of the night

The Arizona Coyotes have lost six consecutive road contests for the first time since December 2017

The Coyotes have been outscored 25-8 over those six games while failing to register a single point in the standings. Three of the losses came against Eastern Conference teams - just like Monday's opponent, the Montreal Canadiens. Additionally, Arizona was shut out in two of those three.

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.

Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find line reports, best bets, and subscribe to push notifications in the Betting News section.

We went just 2-2 on Thursday but finished the night strong and will aim to carry that momentum into this weekend's slate.

There are 21 games scheduled over the next three days, which is more than enough to satisfy all your wildest betting desires.

GOATs and scapegoats

The Nashville Predators were our best bet on Thursday, but it's tough to single out one GOAT from their win, as Roman Josi, Mikael Granlund, and Kyle Turris all played starring roles. Instead, we'll go with Carolina Hurricanes forward Andrei Svechnikov, who came through in a big way with a three-point night (two goals) to help beat the Arizona Coyotes. Keep doing your thing, Andrei.

As for our scapegoat, well ... you know what's not great for a first-period under?

What a miserable way to lose a bet. Thanks for nothing, Buffalo.

Weekend bets

Friday: Dallas Stars -1.5 (+140)

The Minnesota Wild have lost nine of their last 11 road games on no rest, and seven of those came by two goals or more. The Stars have won five of their last six over the Wild in Dallas, and each of those wins came by at least two goals. Back the Stars to get a comfortable victory on Friday.

Saturday: Nashville Predators

We're going back to the well here with the Predators, who've caught fire and are simply playing better hockey right now than the Edmonton Oilers are. Nashville has won six of its last seven road games and seven of its last eight matchups in Edmonton. Back the Preds to make it eight of nine on Saturday.

Saturday: Colorado Avalanche

Tread carefully because I'm lower on the Columbus Blue Jackets than most. They will play Friday night as well, and although they've won four straight games on no rest, their opponents in those matchups were all among the league's bottom teams. Let's see them do it against one of the NHL's best clubs in the Avalanche, who can probably be wagered at a very short price here given the recent form of both sides.

Best bet

Sunday: Chicago Blackhawks

Sunday's game at Bell MTS Place will be massive for the Chicago Blackhawks and the Winnipeg Jets, who are both chasing a wild-card spot and are separated by one point in the standings as of Friday.

The Blackhawks' rise has largely been due to their terrific play away from home, as they've won eight of their last 10 on the road. The Jets, meanwhile, have struggled mightily on home ice, losing nine of their last 11 at MTS place.

This will be the second game in as many nights for the Jets, who've also struggled in back-to-backs, losing six of their last nine on no rest. Chicago won't have played since being robbed of a win by the referees on Thursday, which means they'll be rested and chomping at the bit to avenge that overtime loss.

Trend of the night

The Boston Bruins have lost four straight against the Detroit Red Wings, including three in a row at Little Caesars Arena.

With only a four-game sample size, this is hardly the most overwhelming trend, but it's still remarkable how much the Bruins have struggled against the lowly Wings of late. This game will be the second leg of a back-to-back for Boston as well. There's certainly a case to be made for wagering on Detroit at around +200.

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.

Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find line reports, best bets, and subscribe to push notifications in the Betting News section.

On this date last season, the Carolina Hurricanes sat three points out of a wild-card spot with less than a 40% chance of making the playoffs.

Not only were the Canes three points back of the Columbus Blue Jackets, who had played one less game, but they were eight behind the Montreal Canadiens for seventh in the Eastern Conference.

However, the Hurricanes passed both teams over the final two months of the regular season and ultimately reached the conference finals before losing to the Boston Bruins, who later came within one win of lifting the Stanley Cup.

Fast forward exactly one year to Feb. 7, 2020, and Carolina is currently occupying the final wild-card spot in the East with a 60.8% chance to make the postseason. It's a much better position than the Hurricanes were in at this time last season, yet their Stanley Cup odds are a staggering 40-1 - more than double the odds of the Toronto Maple Leafs (16-1), a team with just a 39.3% chance to reach the playoffs.

The Canes were actually being offered at 16-1 earlier this season after a strong start, but oddsmakers have since cooled on a team that's been winning fewer games despite no drop-off in its underlying performance.

On the surface, it appears Carolina's offense is average, with the team ranking 12th in goals for this season. However, the Hurricanes lead the NHL in expected goals for per game (xGF/60). They're also first in high-danger scoring chances per game (HDCF/60) and fourth in total scoring chances created per 60 minutes (SCF/60).

Why haven't they scored more goals? The team is being hindered by below-average shooting percentages on scoring opportunities - both high danger and overall - which should be due for some positive regression.

The Canes also lead the NHL in expected goals for percentage and Corsi For percentage (CF%), which refers to the percentage of shot attempts per game that are for that team. That's partially due to the quality chances the Hurricanes have been generating, but it's also because they've allowed the third-fewest shots against per game (SA/60). Additionally, only three other teams have given up less scoring chances per contest (SCA/60).

Carolina's unique ability to create quality chances at one end and limit them at the other makes this a very dangerous team, which isn't accurately reflected in the standings.

The Canes will have to fight down the stretch to secure a playoff spot, but it's nothing they aren't used to. They were worse off at this time last year but played their best hockey down the stretch, closing out the regular season on a 21-8-1 run.

This season, a lot will depend on whether the capable Petr Mrazek can get his 2.73 goals-against average and .900 save percentage closer to the 2.39 and .914 marks he posted last season. With respectable goaltending, this Carolina team is certainly capable of another strong finish and a deep playoff run.

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.

Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find line reports, best bets, and subscribe to push notifications in the Betting News section.

Tuesday night was a sickening case of what could have been.

We had a pair of winners in the Arizona Coyotes (-125) and a contest between the Ottawa Senators and Anaheim Ducks that needed extra time (+300). But we were otherwise buried by a blown three-goal lead, bad bounces, an overtime loss, and a shootout loss. You can't make this stuff up.

Despite a modest two-game slate, I'm feeling great about Wednesday's card. It's going to be a big night.

GOATs and scapegoats

This distinction could go to Antti Raanta for his shutout in the desert, but Tuesday's true GOAT was overtime king Marcus Hogberg. The guy lives for OT. As noted in yesterday's article, seven of his last 10 starts had required the extra frame. Well, make that eight of his last 11 after last night. I sincerely hope you took advantage of the +300 odds on a tie game after regulation.

There are several deserving contenders for Tuesday's scapegoat crown, but one particularly irked me. I hate to rag on a classy veteran like Joe Pavelski, but he really did us no favors last night. Not only did he squander a glorious chance to break a 3-3 tie late, but he committed an unforgivable turnover that gifted the New York Islanders an overtime win after the Dallas Stars absolutely dominated the three-on-three period. Just a brutal loss.

Wednesday's bets

New York Rangers (+120)

To call this a massive game for the Toronto Maple Leafs would be an understatement. They collapsed in rather spectacular fashion Monday against a team they're chasing in the playoff race, and they now find themselves in a crucial bounce-back spot against a team they need to beat. But what evidence have the Maple Leafs provided to suggest they have the character to respond? I'm especially hesitant to trust them with Frederik Andersen out.

Michael Hutchinson gets the start and has been absolutely miserable away from Toronto this season, allowing at least four goals in each of his seven road appearances. He's posted a 4.73 goals-against average with an .861 save percentage away from home in 2019-20. The Rangers should be able to get to him fairly easily with the Maple Leafs' leaky defense offering little resistance.

On the other side, Igor Shesterkin will get the nod for New York. The rookie has impressed in his first four NHL starts, allowing three goals or fewer in each of them while posting a 3-1-0 record with a .927 save percentage. Hutchinson can only dream of such numbers. Getting the Rangers at plus-money is an absolute steal.

Chicago Blackhawks (+140), Blackhawks' team total over 3.5 (+215), Boston Bruins' team total under 2.5 (+200)

I've got a tripleheader going at the United Center tonight. The Blackhawks are 5-0-0 at home when playing on no rest this season, scoring at least four goals in each contest. They're 9-1 straight up in the second legs of back-to-backs regardless of the venue, allowing two goals or fewer in seven of those games. The Bruins, meanwhile, have lost five of their last six road games after playing at home the night before, allowing at least four goals in each of those tilts. They've also scored two or fewer goals in each of their last five games played on no rest. I need to get my hands on a Blackhawks jersey for tonight.

Best bet

New York Rangers' team total over 3.5 (+130)

If Hutchinson's stats weren't enough to convince you, consider this:

The Rangers have scored four or more goals in six of their last nine games at Madison Square Garden, only failing to do so against the Columbus Blue Jackets, New York Islanders, and Dallas Stars - three of the NHL's four best teams in terms of goals allowed. The Maple Leafs, meanwhile, rank bottom-five in that regard and have allowed 27 goals over their last five road games against Eastern Conference teams.

Trend of the night

The Maple Leafs are on a 9-0-1 run to the over in road games against Eastern Conference opponents.

That's quite a remarkable run. Toronto has both conceded and scored in bunches over that stretch, but bookmakers are starting to adjust, setting a total of 7 for tonight's contest. Still, you'd have to be a glutton for punishment to bet the under.

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.

Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find line reports, best bets, and subscribe to push notifications in the Betting News section.

We enjoyed a solid start to the week by nailing the Florida Panthers' team total over 2.5 (-120) and 3.5 (+180) goals, though we did lose the under at Madison Square Garden.

Let's improve Tuesday night.

GOATs and scapegoats

Panthers defenseman Mark Pysyk had never scored more than four goals in a season before last night when he potted his first career hat trick against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Talk about an unlikely hero putting the team on his back. GOAT move, Pysyk.

There are a couple of things we can blame for our failed under bet. First, the referees, who weren't interested in letting the boys play last night at MSG. They called 11 minor penalties, which led to four power-play goals in the first period alone, setting the tone for the game and effectively ending any hope of hitting the under. Similarly, we can blame the brutal penalty-killing efforts by both teams or, instead, look to New York Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist, who allowed five goals on just 21 shots.

Tuesday's bets

New Jersey Devils (+110)

Carey Price is out with the flu and the Montreal Canadiens are coming off a tough loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets, which has left them reeling in the playoff chase. Charlie Lindgren (0-3 this season) will start for the Habs, who have lost seven straight against the Devils. Also, look to play New Jersey's team total over 3.5 goals (+190).

Winnipeg Jets under 0.5 first-period goals (+145)

The Jets have been shutout during the first period in each of their last 10 games at home to the Nashville Predators, including earlier this month in a 1-0 loss. That's far too dominant of a trend not to tail, especially at this price. I'd also play the Predators -0.5 in the first period (+175) if you're feeling up to it.

Arizona Coyotes (-125)

All the info says to back the Edmonton Oilers here. They've won five of their last six in Glendale and three of the last four on the road, while the Coyotes are reeling with five losses in a row and defeats in eight of their last nine. But this game is absolutely massive for Arizona, which is in danger of dropping out of a wild-card spot. I expect Rick Tocchet to get an impressive performance out of his team, while this is also a letdown spot for the Oilers after an emotional victory against the Calgary Flames on Saturday.

Best bet

Dallas Stars (+110)

Has any team come crashing down to earth quite like the New York Islanders have? They went from a virtual playoff lock and potential Stanley Cup contenders to possibly on the outside of the postseason picture depending on tonight's results. New York was 22-7-2 on Dec.16 but has since gone 7-12 straight-up. The Isles have lost eight of their last 10 at home as regression has hit them hard.

The Stars have been one of the best teams in the NHL since mid-October and are enjoying themselves on this eastern swing. They enter this contest on no rest but have been profitable in such a situation all season, posting a 5-2 record on the road in the second game of back-to-backs. Dallas is unquestionably the better team and can be had at a bargain.

Trend of the night

Seven of the last 10 games started by Ottawa Senators goalie Marcus Hogberg have gone to overtime or shootout.

All five of Hogberg's starts against teams not currently occupying a playoff spot - such as tonight's opponents, the Anaheim Ducks - have gone beyond 60 minutes. There's real value in backing this game to go to overtime at +300.

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.

Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find line reports, best bets, and subscribe to push notifications in the Betting News section.

Luck really wasn't with us Thursday as we fell on the wrong side of a come-from-behind shootout victory and a goal short of nailing an over, finishing 1-2 on the night.

These things happen, but that New Jersey Devils game is going to haunt me for a while.

Let's get it back Friday.

GOATs and scapegoat

Brendan Gallagher put on a show in his return to the ice for the Montreal Canadiens after missing 10 of the last 11 contests. He scored the game-winning goal and also registered an assist as the Canadiens marched into Buffalo and claimed two points from the reeling Sabres.

We needed that from the Habs, because the Devils absolutely broke our spirit. They held three separate leads over the Nashville Predators - including two in the third period - but Mackenzie Blackwood was the victim of his miserable defense and allowed five goals on 25 shots. I'm never betting New Jersey again. That was torture.

Friday bets

Carolina Hurricanes (-140)

Laying this sort of juice isn't something I typically like to do but there are times when the occasion calls for it. The Vegas Golden Knights have generally been pretty poor on the road. They've lost four of five, 12 of 18, and are 3-7 away to Eastern Conference teams, beating only the Devils, New York Rangers, and Ottawa Senators.

This is the first game of a back-to-back for the Knights, with Peter DeBoer confirming Malcolm Subban will get the start against the Hurricanes, who are 7-2 at home to Western Conference teams this season and have won five of their last six in Raleigh. The Canes have allowed just four goals in their last five home games and are playing some excellent hockey at the moment.

Boston Bruins/Winnipeg Jets over 6 (-110)

Give me the Bruins' team total over 3.5 (-110) and the Jets' team total over 2.5 (-120), as well. Winnipeg is on a 6-0-1 run to the over against Eastern Conference teams and has allowed 25 goals in its last four contests.

Boston has played to three straight overs against Western Conference teams and its last four games in Winnipeg have averaged 7.3 goals. All signs point to fireworks.

Best bet

Philadelphia Flyers/Pittsburgh Penguins over 6 (-110)

This will be the first action for both the Flyers and Penguins since they met in Philadelphia just before the All-Star Break, with the latter losing that one 3-0. Brian Elliott put on an unlikely performance in that game, but I expect a much different result this time around. Elliott allowed 32 goals and was pulled four times over his previous eight games against the Penguins before that shutout.

Pittsburgh has had 10 days to stew over that result and should put in a much-improved offensive effort on home ice. The over has hit in eight of the Flyers' last nine road games for an average of 7.8 goals per contest. The Penguins are on a 5-2 run to the over on home ice.

I also like the Flyers' team total over 2.5 goals here at just -110. They've won four of their last five in Pittsburgh and are going to need to score to keep pace.

Cross-sport prop

George Kittle total receptions > Columbus Blue Jackets at Montreal Canadiens total goals

This one is almost too good to be true. The Kansas City Chiefs were a bottom-five team at defending the tight end position this season in terms of receptions and yards allowed. San Francisco head coach Kyle Shanahan is the best in the business at exploiting a defense's weakness and, with a projected total of 54.5, the 49ers will have to throw the ball a fair bit Sunday, with Kittle expected to be a focal point of that. Six receptions should be the minimum.

And six should be more than enough to surpass the total number of goals scored at the Bell Center on Sunday when the Blue Jackets visit the Canadiens. Their last five meetings in Montreal have featured just 18 goals (3.6 per game). Even if they fly over that total and the game finishes 3-2, we should feel more than comfortable with Kittle surpassing that mark.

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.

Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

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We enjoyed a 3-1 night on Wednesday, taking us to 7-3 overall since the All-Star break. It's nice to have the NHL back.

There are just three games tonight, which is strangely quiet for a Thursday, but I think we've got three winners picked out. Let's get to it.

GOATs and scapegoats (Wednesday)

Adam Henrique scored a pair of first-period goals to help the Anaheim Ducks (+110) beat the Arizona Coyotes on Wednesday, ensuring we took home a nice profit on the night. That's what I call GOAT material.

We can't say the same for Dallas Stars forwards Tyler Seguin and Jamie Benn, who each finished minus-1 and couldn't register a single point against a miserable Toronto Maple Leafs defense. That's why we didn't finish 4-0 on Wednesday.

Thursday's bets

Montreal Canadiens (-115)

I suffered through the Buffalo Sabres' loss to the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday, and there were some troubling signs from the Sabres. Forget about their ineffective penalty kill or complete lack of offense outside of Jack Eichel - the team just looked defeated long before the game was over. Losing to the Senators effectively ended any hope Buffalo had of pulling back into the playoff race, and given the seemingly fragile mindset of this team, it's hard to imagine a positive response here.

Despite what their record might indicate, the Canadiens are playing competitive hockey on a nightly basis. They're also getting healthy and have goaltender Carey Price in his best form of the season (.933 save percentage in January). Trust Montreal to leave Buffalo with two points.

New Jersey Devils (+120)

The Devils have been playing some really strong hockey on home ice over the past month. They've beaten the Ducks, Boston Bruins, and Tampa Bay Lightning while losing to the Toronto Maple Leafs and New York Islanders in overtime. That's an impressive point haul given the quality of opponents.

It's fair to say the underachieving Nashville Predators are a step down in class. The Preds are coming off a hard-fought win in Washington on Wednesday that was both physically and emotionally draining, leaving them in a letdown spot here. Nashville is just 1-3 this season when playing on no rest (allowing 17 goals in those games) and has lost seven of its last eight in that spot. Falling to the Devils a night after beating the Capitals would be right in line with the sort of season the Predators have produced.

Best bet

Los Angeles Kings/Arizona Coyotes over 5.5 (+110)

There's still a perception that the Coyotes are an "under" cash cow, but that hasn't been the case on home ice ever since the team traded for Taylor Hall. Following the trade, Arizona has gone 6-1 to the over at Gila River Arena, with those games averaging a staggering 7.6 goals. Additionally, Thursday's contest is the second leg of a back-to-back for the Coyotes, and they've hit four straight overs at home when playing on no rest.

The Kings were also in action last night. They're 2-4 on the road this season when playing in the second game of a back-to-back, with five of those contests seeing at least six goals. Expect more fireworks on Thursday in the desert, despite what the total might indicate.

Trend of the night

The Coyotes are 1-9 in their last 10 home games played on no rest.

As mentioned above, Arizona faced Anaheim last night. The Coyotes have posted a brutal record on home ice recently when playing in the second leg of a back-to-back, so this would appear to be a good spot to fade them. That being said, the Kings also played last night and are cemented in the basement of the Western Conference, which makes them a tough team to back here, even at the generous price of +170.

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.

Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.