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Top NHL Odds, Picks & Predictions: Tuesday (2/13)

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With football season in the books, it's the NHL's turn to take the spotlight for the next few months. We have a stacked 11-game slate on the ice tonight, and below, I'll break down three of those games from a betting perspective.

Here are my top three NHL bets for Tuesday, Feb. 13.

Tuesday’s NHL Best Bets

(Odds courtesy of Caesars Sportsbook)

Colorado Avalanche (-165) @ Washington Capitals (+140) | O/U 6.5 (+105/-125)

Tonight's action gets underway with a cross-conference battle in the nation's capital as the Avalanche square off against the Capitals. Colorado has lost four straight games (0-3-1), dropping them to second in the Central Division at 32-17-4 (68 points). Washington's currently sixth in the Metro, sitting at 23-20-8 (54 points). Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. ET from Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. 

The biggest issue with the Capitals this season has been their offense. At this point of the season, they're still ranked just 30th in scoring (2.4 GPG) and 28th on the power play (14.79%). They're also 29th in 5-on-5 goals this season, lighting the lamp only 81 times when both teams are at full strength. Furthermore, Washington has scored three goals in just one of their last four games, averaging 2.25 goals per contest over the four-game sample.

With Washington's offensive struggles, I can't see this game reaching seven goals. They'll welcome an Avs side that's sliding right now, losing four straight games. Colorado was shutout last time out (2-0 against Florida), and they're averaging only 1.5 goals per game over the four-game skid. Ultimately, this total's a little too high for two struggling offenses, so I'll be on the under tonight in D.C. 

Bet: Under 6.5 (-125)

Anaheim Ducks (+110) @ Montreal Canadiens (-130) | O/U 6.5 (+100/-120)

The Ducks open up a four-game road trip tonight, which features stops in Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, and Buffalo. They're currently seventh in the Pacific with a record of 18-31-2 (38 points). Meanwhile, Montreal resides in seventh place in the Atlantic, owning a 21-23-8 (50 points) record. This contest is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. ET from the Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec. 

This total is 0.5 goals too high, in my opinion. Neither of these offenses has been overpowering this season, so I'll play the under in Montreal. The Habs are ranked 28th offensively (2.7 GPG), while the Ducks are right below them at 29th (2.6 GPG). As for their power play units, they're ranked 19th (19.41%) and 21st (18.99%), respectively. 

Surprisingly, both defenses rank in the middle third of the league regarding 5-on-5 goals allowed. Montreal's 14th (103), while Anaheim’s 18th (106). With Anaheim still missing Trevor Zegras and Alex Killhorn, along with Mason McTavish being day-to-day, I don't anticipate Anaheim's offense finding much success. Montreal's a team that takes care of business when they're favored, where they're 3-1 as a betting favorite. I expect them to put the clamps on defensively and for this game to come in under the total.

Bet: Under 6.5 (-120)

Vancouver Canucks (-292) @ Chicago Blackhawks (+235) | O/U 6.0 (+105/-125)

Vancouver is on an insane run this season, and they enter tonight's game as the best team in the league at 35-12-6 (76 points). The Canucks will take on the Blackhawks, who are comfortably in the cellar of the Central at 14-35-3 (31 points). Puck drop from the United Center in Chicago is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. ET. 

The Canucks haven't been overly dominant over the last few weeks, considering they're 6-1-3 in their last 10 games. They've won just two of those games by multiple goals. However, one of those two games was a 2-0 victory against the visiting Blackhawks back on Jan. 22. Additionally, Vancouver is the second-best team on the puck line this season, going 33-20. They trail only Philadelphia (34-20) in the category. 

Ultimately, these teams are trending in completely opposite directions. This feels like a great spot to lay the 1.5 goals with the Canucks. They'll have a favorable matchup against the wounded Hawks team without Connor Bedard for another week. Chicago also has a trio of defensemen on the injury list in Jarred Tinordi, Connor Murphy and Nikita Zaitsev. They'll have to lean on depth defenders to elevate their game, and hosting the league's best offense (3.7 GPG) isn't an ideal spot for them to get their feet underneath them. Look for the Canucks to secure an easy two points tonight in the Windy City. 

Bet: Vancouver Canucks -1.5 (-110)

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

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