NHL Best Bets Today: November 14 Picks & Predictions
Hockey fans are in for a heck of a Saturday. There are 14 games on the slate beginning at 1:00 pm ET and going all through the afternoon, evening, and night. There are some true heavyweight bouts, division matchups, inter-conference matchups and battles between superstars. This will be a fantastic day and night of hockey.
If you want to have a little bit of action while you watch, here are a few markets that caught our eye.
Florida Panthers vs St. Louis Blues Over 5.5 (-125)
Ottawa Senators ML over Pittsburgh Penguins (-125)
Montreal Canadiens 3-way ML over Colorado Avalanche (+130)
Florida Panthers vs St. Louis Blues Over 5.5 (-125)
This is a homecoming game and family reunion of sorts. Matthew and Brady Tkachuk return to their home town the same week their father was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. Beyond that, Blues Captain Robert Thomas lived with the Tkachuks for his first few years with St. Louis. There will be a lot of emotion with Keith Tkachuk in the building, and a lot of good players on both sides that want to make a mark on this game. In addition to the intangible appeal to the over in this game, the line and odds have appeal for this matchup.
While -125 are not huge-return odds, the total is set at 5.5 goals. These are a couple of volatile teams this season. The volatility in the Panthers’ case has led to high totals lately. The over has hit in five out of the last seven Panthers games with the average game total being 7.0 goals during that span. They have either scored or allowed 4+ goals in eight straight games with five of those being 5+ goals scored or allowed. The Panthers are prone to both scoring and allowing goals in bunches, as are the Blues. The 5.5 total does not look like a high mark.
Ottawa Senators ML over Pittsburgh Penguins (-130)
These teams have trended in opposite directions in the last few weeks. The Senators have maintained their solid start to the season with a 12-6-2 record. The Penguins have had a more bleak run, going 2-4-1 in their last seven games as part of a 7-10-2 record. Pittsburgh actually has two wins in its last three. Those wins were against struggling teams, but still got the job done. Otherwise, they have been getting bullied lately. Fans do not know what version of this team will show up game in and game out. But for the most part this season, it has not been a great version while Ottawa has been fairly consistent.
In the five losses over their last seven games, the Penguins got beat by an average of two goals per game. When playing a better team, the Penguins have been struggling and will have an uphill battle again on Saturday. The Senators enter this game 3-0-1 in their last four contests that came against the Sabres, Mammoth, Capitals, and Avalanche. That is a run of good hockey against good teams. If Ottawa can hold to its recent form, it should be able to take care of this Pittsburgh team.
Montreal Canadiens 3-way ML over Colorado Avalanche (+130)
There are two factors that make the +130 for a regulation win look attractive. The first is that the Canadiens are one of the best teams in hockey and are rolling right now. The second is that the Avalanche are likely without Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar. Those are not a couple of depth role players. MacKinnon and Makar are two of the best players on the planet. For all intents and purposes, the Avalanche go as those guys go. Without those guys, this Avalanche team is not near the same caliber. Even if one of both of those guys suit up, they obviously will not be healthy.
The Canadiens have appeal regardless. They have the fourth-best point percentage in the NHL and are in excellent form entering Saturday. Montreal is 8-0-2 in its last 10 games with a +14 goal differential over that span. They would be difficult to fade no matter their opponent. Facing an Avalanche team that has a road record of 4-5-1 and will be without their superstars gives this plus money great value. If you are feeling bullish, there are more profitable odds for Canadiens -1.5.
