Navigate

Top NHL Odds, Picks & Predictions: Thursday (11/02)

by |

There’s no shortage of action to get on Thursday’s 12-game NHL slate. In this NHL best bets article, we dive into some of the best available betting lines to wager within various NHL betting markets.

Make sure to follow Matt MacKay on Twitter to get more free plays and NHL best bets.

Thursday's NHL Best Bets

Tampa Bay Lightning (-166) vs. Columbus Blue Jackets (+138) | O/U 6.5 (-128/+100)

Two Eastern Conference opponents with a lot of history, dating back to Columbus sweeping the Lightning in the playoffs a few years ago, will face off at Nationwide Arena on Thursday night.

Oddsmakers are giving the edge to Tampa Bay, who just lost 4-3 at home to Seattle. Columbus has cooled off considerably after starting 3-2, losing four consecutive games, including two in overtime to Montreal and Anaheim. Columbus ranks T24 in goals scored (3.3) this season, while they are expected to face Jonas Johansson in the net, who has been great, allowing four total goals in his last three starts, which include two shutouts.

Tampa Bay’s offense is much more efficient and loaded with talent comparatively, ranking T7 with 3.6 goals per game. Columbus’ goaltender, Elvis Merzlikins, has below a .900 save percentage and has surrendered four goals in three of his past four starts. Each of the last six games between these two teams has gone over the total goals line, set to 6.5, while the Blue Jackets have failed to cover the puck line in seven of their last eight home games against Atlantic Division opponents. We could see Columbus score one or fewer goals against Johansson, so instead of betting over 6.5, let’s place a unit on the Lightning to win by at least two goals on the road in Columbus, covering -1.5 at +150 odds at FanDuel.

Bet: Tampa Bay -1.5 (+150 at FanDuel)

Los Angeles Kings (-120) vs. Ottawa Senators (+100) | O/U (-150/+122)

Two teams who swapped goaltenders this offseason, Cam Talbot and Joonas Korpisalo, will play each other at the Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, Canada on Thursday night.

Oddsmakers have this game valued pretty closely, with the Kings holding a slight edge as -120 moneyline road favorites. The Kings have been machines cashing overs this season, going 7-2 in favor of the over on total goal lines, while Ottawa has also gone 5-2-1 in this metric.

Korpisalo has allowed five combined goals in his last two starts, compared to surrendering five goals a piece in two earlier starts this season. Talbot has been improving lately as well, surrendering five goals in his past three starts. Instead of siding with a moneyline, total, or puck line wager, let’s jump into the NHL player prop market to bet a unit on Vladimir Tarasenko’s anytime goal scorer odds, available at +26o on FanDuel. Tarasenko has scored three goals in the Senators’ past four home games, plus Talbot’s former teammates in Ottawa will be able to familiarize themselves with his tendencies, helping Tarasenko find the net on the Senators’ second attack line.

Bet: Vladimir Tarasenko Anytime Goal Scorer (+260 at FanDuel)

New Jersey Devils (-114) vs. Minnesota Wild (-105) | O/U (-132/+108)

New Jersey has been the best NHL team for overs, remaining 8-0 against the goal total line this season. Minnesota isn’t far behind, going 7-2 with overs, including a 4-3 loss to the Devils on October 29th at the Prudential Center.

On Thursday, the Devils will hit the road to play the Wild, where they remain a slight favorite at -114 odds. New Jersey has won four of their last five games outright, while Minnesota is 1-5 SU in its last six games played, which includes two home losses to Columbus and Los Angeles.

Oddsmakers have juiced the goal total over line to -132, especially since Filip Gustavsson is allowing a 4.36 GAA through five games this season. Minnesota has lost each of their last six games against Metropolitan Division opponents, while New Jersey has failed to cover the puck line in each of their last six games against opponents on a losing streak. The over seems too obvious, but there’s a lot more juice out there on Thursday’s NHL slate compared to -132 odds. Taking the Devils’ moneyline odds at -114 is better, but we’ve seen them lose to Washington and Arizona this season, so let’s stick with hammering a two-unit bet on over 6.5 total goals to be scored in a matchup that should yield at least seven total goals.

Bet: Over 6.5 Total Goals (-132 at FanDuel)

Make sure to check out our other best bets for Thursday:


Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | RadioPublic | Breaker | Castbox | Pocket Casts

Matthew MacKay is a featured writer for FantasyPros. For more from Matthew, check out his archive and follow him @Matt_MacKay_.

Try Premium for FREE in our mobile app

BettingPros App