This has been an excellent week of NHL hockey, and it gets even better with a 10-game slate on Thursday. What a great way to spring into Friday. There is a ton to watch tonight, as there are intriguing rivalry games, inter-conference matchups and several meaningful points up for grabs with contending teams suited up. If you will be tuning in and want to have some action, here are a few betting markets that may be worth considering — with lines and odds courtesy of DraftKings at the time of writing. Also be sure to check out all of our NHL predictions for every game throughout the season, including all 10 matchups today.
NHL best bet: Winnipeg Jets vs Minnesota Wild Over 5.5 (-135)
This is the 4th and final matchup of the season series between the Jets and Wild. There have been 17 total goals scored in the first 3 games for an average game total of 5.67. Each team has won a game by a score of 4-3, and recent form of both Winnipeg and Minnesota indicate that tonight could be a similar result. Winnipeg has bounced back from an 11-game winless streak to now 3 straight wins. In those wins, the Jets have scored 14 goals. That is also part of a stretch in which Winnipeg has allowed 4+ goals in 5 out of its last 7 games.
The volatility has hit the Wild as well. Although they have points in 8 out of their last 10, the Wild have just 1 win in their last 5 games. Furthermore, they have allowed 4+ goals in 4 out of their last 5 games. Overlapping a game from the prior week, that follows a stretch in which Minnesota scored 4+ goals in 4 out of 5 games. The hot and cold nature of these teams, pure matchup this season and general range of outcomes lately all give appeal to this over 5.5 total goals.
Read our full Jets vs Wild prediction
NHL best bet: Boston Bruins 3-way ML over Seattle Kraken (-105)
The Kraken and Bruins are both playing very good hockey lately. The Bruins have really solid value on this regulation win pick, though, given they are heavy money line favorites and enter this game rolling. Boston has clawed its way back to a playoff spot on the back of a current 4-game winning streak. Tonight is the last of a 5-game home stand in which the Bruins have already beaten the Flames, Rangers, Penguins, and Red Wings by a combined score of 18-3. That is part of a stretch in which Boston is 6-1-0 with an average of 4.43 goals scored per game.
Though they are 6-1-3 in their last 10 games, the Kraken enters Thursday with 1 win in their last 4 games. That win was over a spiraling Rangers team, while their losses came at the hands of the Wild, Hurricanes, and a struggling Devils team. The Kraken beat the Bruins last week, but under much different circumstances. This time, Seattle will be playing its second road game in as many nights and the 4th of a 5-game road trip. The Kraken have their work cut out for them against a Bruins team that is playing great both overall and at home.
Read our full Kraken vs Bruins prediction
NHL best bet: Chicago Blackhawks ML over Calgary Flames (-115)
This is the 5th of a 5-game road trip for the Flames in which they have gone 1-4-0. Their losses on this road trip have come to the Canadiens, Bruins, and Blue Jackets by a combined score of 13-5. With that, the Flames have dropped 5 out of their last 6. During that stretch, they have allowed 4+ goals in 5 games, and have scored 2 or fewer goals in 4 games. The Flames are just 7-16-2 on the road this year, and they have the worst point percentage and goal differential of road teams in the NHL.
The “get away game” aspect for the Flames already bodes well for the Blackhawks. Even furthering Chicago’s home-ice advantage, the Hawks have an extra day of rest over Calgary. They have had rough patches this year, but the Blackhawks have been better than the Flames both all season and recently. Chicago has won 5 out of its last 7 games with wins over Dallas, Washington, and Vegas. This is one the Blackhawks should win.
Read our full Flames vs Blackhawks prediction
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