NHL Weekend Betting Preview: Schedule breakdown, top stories, odds, analysis, and best bets
While the sports world is buzzing about Selection Sunday and the upcoming March Madness tournament, there are still plenty of exciting betting opportunities to be found in the NHL this weekend. With 23 games on the schedule, there's no shortage of action for hockey fans and bettors alike.
NHL Schedule Breakdown
All 32 teams are in action this weekend and 14 of the 30 teams that play on Saturday will play again on Sunday.
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Saturday, March 11th
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Rest
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Away
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Home
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Rest
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2
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Minnesota Wild
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San Jose Sharks
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4/6
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1
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New York Rangers
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Buffalo Sabres
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4/6
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1
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Edmonton Oilers
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Toronto Maple Leafs
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3
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1
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St. Louis Blues
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Columbus Blue Jackets
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3
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1
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Ottawa Senators
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Vancouver Canucks
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2
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2
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Detroit Red Wings
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Boston Bruins
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1
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1
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Philadelphia Flyers
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Pittsburgh Penguins
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1
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1
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Arizona Coyotes
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Colorado Avalanche
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1
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1
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New Jersey Devils
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Montreal Canadiens
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1
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1
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Vegas Golden Knights
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Carolina Hurricanes
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1
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1
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Washington Capitals
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New York Islanders
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1
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1
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Dallas Stars
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Seattle Kraken
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1
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1
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Nashville Predators
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Los Angeles Kings
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1
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0
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Chicago Blackhawks
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Tampa Bay Lightning
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1
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2
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Winnipeg Jets
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Florida Panthers
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0
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Sunday, March 12th
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Rest
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Away
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Home
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Rest
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0
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Nashville Predators
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Anaheim Ducks
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4/6
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0
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Ottawa Senators
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Calgary Flames
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1
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0
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Boston Bruins
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Detroit Red Wings
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0
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0
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New York Rangers
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Pittsburgh Penguins
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0
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0
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Vegas Golden Knights
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St. Louis Blues
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0
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0
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Carolina Hurricanes
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New Jersey Devils
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0
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0
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Winnipeg Jets
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Tampa Bay Lightning
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0
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0
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Minnesota Wild
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Arizona Coyotes
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0
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Top Stories from around the NHL
Kirill Kaprizov expected to miss three-to-four weeks.
With Kaprizov set to miss the next three-to-four weeks, the Wild's lack of offense could get them into trouble. Despite being one of the best defensive teams in the league, the Wild have scored the fewest goals (per 60 minutes) dating back to December 27th, with Kaprizov (39 goals) being their leading scorer by a significant margin.
The Wild could be without Kaprizov for 10 games or more if he isn’t back until April and because players like Sam Steel (promoted to the top line) and Ryan Hartman (moved to the top power play) are going to be playing above their weight class, the scales could tip enough to the other side that they underperform against teams they should beat.
John Tavares back with Maple Leafs after missing Tuesday’s game.
Tavares missed Tuesday’s game in New Jersey due to an illness (and maybe due to getting rocked by a Tyler Myers’ hit in Vancouver on Sunday) but he will be back in the lineup on Saturday when the Maple Leafs host Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers. Head coach Sheldon Keefe confirmed that the team will go with 11 forwards and seven defensemen against the Oilers.
Tough stretch ahead for Winnipeg Jets.
Connor Hellebuyck is the Jets’ best player, but he’s gone 5-11 straight up since the middle of January and he’s allowed approximately seven goals above expected over his last five games. Things aren’t going to get easier, either, as Winnipeg’s next four games are against Florida, Tampa Bay, Carolina, and Boston.
Math, and my gut, both say Hellebuyck will be fine in the long term (probably in the short term, too) but what if he’s not in goal on Saturday? The Lightning are probably going to start Andrei Vasilevskiy against the Jets on Sunday, and – as mentioned – the Hurricanes and Bruins are waiting, so maybe David Rittich starts since the Panthers will be playing tired.
Four games in six days and forward Pierre-Luc Dubois will miss both games in Florida this weekend. The team hopes that Dubois will join them in Carolina.
Tyler Seguin out after being cut by skate on Thursday.
In a scary incident that took place on Thursday in Buffalo, Tyler Seguin suffered a laceration above his knee when the blade of Sabres' forward Jordan Greenway's skate contacted him. It's unknown how long this injury will keep him out of the Stars' lineup, but it creates a hole in their lineup that they'll need to fill. Dallas has five games left to play on a six-game road trip but their remaining schedule grades out as one of the easiest in the NHL overall.
Evan Rodrigues promoted to top power play unit alongside MacKinnon, Rantanen, and Makar.
According to Evan Rawal of Colorado Hockey Now, forward Evan Rodrigues will skate on the top power play unit with Nathan Mackinnon, Mikko Rantanen, Cale Makar and J.T. Compher. Rodrigues has scored just four goals since Jan. 1st, but he has been snake bitten. The 29-year-old’s shooting percentage has been sitting at about half his three-year average since the middle of January. However, Rodrigues has taken advantage of these promotions in the past and six of the 13 goals he’s scored this season have come on the power play.
Other news and notes.
- Columbus recalled goaltender Daniil Tarasov from the American Hockey League on Friday shortly before the team announced that starter Elvis Merzlikins will be away from the team for temporarily due to a personal matter.
For update information on NHL Injuries click here.
NHL Odds
Here are the latest odds for Saturday’s games from DraftKings Sportsbook. Visit VSiN NHL Odds to see the entire board!
- Detroit Red Wings (+275) at Boston Bruins (-330)
- Philadelphia Flyers (+220) at Pittsburgh Penguins (-260)
- New York Rangers (-150) at Buffalo Sabres (+130)
- Arizona Coyotes (+330) at Colorado Avalanche (-410)
- Vegas Golden Knights (+160) at Carolina Hurricanes (-190)
- St. Louis Blues (-115) at Columbus Blue Jackets (-105)
- Edmonton Oilers (+110) at Toronto Maple Leafs (-130)
- Chicago Blackhawks (+400) at Tampa Bay Lightning (-500)
- New Jersey Devils (-255) at Montreal Canadiens (+215)
- Winnipeg Jets (+110) at Florida Panthers (-130)
- Washington Capitals (+125) at New York Islanders (-145)
- Dallas Stars (-125) at Seattle Kraken (+105)
- Ottawa Senators (-130) at Vancouver Canucks (+110)
- Minnesota Wild (-180) at San Jose Sharks (+155)
- Nashville Predators (+125) at Los Angeles Kings (-145)
Saturday’s Best Bets
Los Angeles Kings (Moneyline) -145
The Kings (20-11 straight up) are one of the best home teams in the NHL this season and everything has been right for the team lately. Los Angeles ranks fifth in expected goals percentage, sixth in shot attempt percentage, and third in goals for percentage since the start of February.
Only Edmonton and Boston have been more scoring more goals over the last month-plus and with the addition of Joonas Korpisalo, we might even see the team improve their defense, which has snuck its way into the top-10.
Nashville is a solid defensive team with good goaltending, and they’ve given the Kings trouble this season, but Los Angeles has been a different team (13-5) since their last meeting back on Jan. 21st and the Predators’ lineup has been thinned out due to trades and injury.
Nashville’s Filip Forsberg has yet to return to the Predators’ lineup and the star forward’s return to the lineup is imminent according to head coach John Hynes. From a betting perspective, Los Angeles will have a much better chance of winning if Forsberg remains out on Saturday, but regardless, the Kings’ chances are better than the current odds (-145) suggest.
Carolina Hurricanes (Puck Line) +145
Vegas defeated the Hurricanes back on March 1st but it’s probably no coincidence that the Hurricanes played poorly after spending two days in Sin City prior to the game. Vegas dominated the early going in that game and held on for a 3-2 win. The Golden Knights are a good first-period team, but the Hurricanes are arguably the best in the league, and they start on time most nights.
The Golden Knights have won 10 of their last 14 games, but I wouldn’t count on goaltender Jonathan Quick’s (projected) record improving to 3-0 against the Hurricanes. The Golden Knights’ median shots against is 35.5 over the last 10 games and if they give up that many versus the Hurricanes, with Quick between the pipes, things could get ugly. Since Jan. 19th, Carolina ranks second on offense and first on defense.
Vegas is 9-5 against Eastern Conference teams on the road, but six of those wins came against non-playoff teams and their win over the Lightning, who have been slumping, snapped a four-game losing streak on the road against teams from the East. The Hurricanes moneyline odds (-190) don’t do them justice as my model estimates that they should be priced closer to -220 if Frederik Andersen is in goal, but the puck line odds (+145) at DraftKings are just as enticing, even if the bet will lose more often than it will win.
All bets tracked via third part app Betstamp.