Top 3 NHL Odds, Picks & Predictions: Thursday (10/13)
We have an exciting 10-game slate of hockey on Thursday with plenty of betting angles to attack. Below, I give out my three best bets for Thursday’s NHL slate.
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Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook.
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Top 3 NHL Odds, Picks & Predictions: Thursday (10/13)
Seattle Kraken (+155) @ Los Angeles Kings (-180) | O/U 6 (-110/-110)
In tonight’s nightcap, we have a Pacific Division tilt as the Los Angeles Kings host the Seattle Kraken. Seattle enters this contest on the second half of a back-to-back after last night’s dramatic 5-4 overtime loss to the Anaheim Ducks.
Both offenses were humming in that contest as the over cashed in the second period, and we should expect more of the same in this contest. The Kraken’s new-look offense looked outstanding, particularly the acquisitions of Andre Burakovsky and Oliver Bjorkstrand.
Firing 48 shots on goal, Seattle generated 5.03 expected goals for (xGF). Last season, the over was a tremendous bet for this squad (44-32) and the offense has only gotten stronger.
Projected to take the net for the Kraken is backup goaltender Martin Jones, who has failed to post a SV% north of .900 in each of his last four seasons. Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Kings enter this contest after their 4-3 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights.
The over hit in that contest as well with Los Angeles’ depth at the forward position looking extremely promising. In that game, the Kings produced 3.06 xGF.
This offense is due for regression all season. At 5v5, Los Angeles ranked 23rd in goals for (GF) and eighth in xGF last year.
There have been six or more goals scored in each of the last three meetings between these two teams.
Best Bet: Kraken/Kings o6 (-110)
Arizona Coyotes (+300) @ Pittsburgh Penguins (-365) | O/U 6.5 (+100/-120)
In what will likely be a lopsided affair, the Metropolitan Division’s Pittsburgh Penguins host the Central Division’s Arizona Coyotes. We are targeting a specific player in this game, defenseman Kris Letang.
When an opposing defenseman who is talented in the offensive zone faces the Yotes, he is always worth a look. Arizona runs an extremely passive defense where they all collapse down low in an effort to prevent the low-to-high pass back up the boards.
The problem with this defense is that they are terrible at preventing a pass from going across the zone to the weak-side defenseman. Because of their passiveness, opposing defenseman props were money last season because of the number of uncontested shots they gave up from defenseman on the weak side, whether It be a goal, a tipped/rebound assist, or just producing shots.
Through two games against Arizona last season, Letang posted two goals on nine shots on goal (SOG). After signing a six-year, $36.6-million contract extension over the off-season to stay in Pittsburgh, look for one of the league’s best blue liners to have a good start to the campaign.
Best Bet: Kris Letang SOG Over (Play No Higher Than 3.5)
Washington Capitals (+160) @ Toronto Maple Leafs (-190) | O/U 6.5 (-120/+100)
The Metropolitan Division’s Washington Capitals travel to Toronto to take on the Atlantic Division’s Maple Leafs. Both of these teams had disappointing starts to the season on Wednesday and will look to bounce back.
Besides both losing their openers, these teams also share the fact that the over is 1-0 to start the season for each squad. With seven or more goals scored in each of the last five contests between these two clubs, we should expect yet another high-scoring affair.
One of the best over teams last season (45-30), Toronto has a juggernaut offense that finished third in both GF and xGF when playing at 5v5. The same rings true for Washington as the over went 46-32 last season.
With a pair of backup goaltenders projected to take the crease in this matchup, look for plenty of goals once again between these two offensively-talented lineups.
Best Bet: Capitals/Leafs o6.5 (-120)
Best of luck!
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Tony Sartori is a featured writer at BettingPros. For more from Tony, check out his archive and follow him @tony_sartori.