This has been an eventful week in the NHL to say the least. From Brady Tkachuk’s return to Ottawa, to Connor Hellebuyck getting traded to New Jersey, and all of the highlights and headlines in between, the NHL has been non-stop lately. With 12 games on tap on Saturday, who knows what fans are in store for?

If you will be watching and want to make a couple of wagers, here are a few bets we have our eyes on. 

New Jersey Devils 3-way ML (-105) over Los Angeles Kings

Toronto Maple Leafs vs Edmonton Oilers over 6.5 (-142) or 7.5 (+155)

San Jose Sharks +1.5 and game total over 5.5 vs Boston Bruins (+156)

New Jersey Devils 3-way ML (-105) over Los Angeles Kings

The Devils are one such team in the mix of such a busy week in the NHL. They acquired superstar goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, ending yet another trade request saga. New Jersey was already a good team. Hellebuyck adds a piece and dynamic to this team that they have lacked for years, and that the franchise hopes takes them from a good team to a great team. Hellebuyck will not likely start for a few games, but there is a good feeling going through that locker room right now. That’s not nothing. 

Entering this game, the Devils beat the Avalanche and Ducks by scores of 4-3 and 4-1. Those wins were part of a current streak of 4 wins in their last 5 games with an average of 4.40 goals scored per game during that span. This team is buzzing right now and they high they were riding just got higher. They will make it an uphill battle for a Kings team that is trying to find their identity. 

Toronto Maple Leafs vs Edmonton Oilers over 6.5 (-142) or 7.5 (+155)

When it feels like what the Oilers are doing is not sustainable, they find a way to outdo themselves. Edmonton beat Carolina on Thursday in a game which Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl both had 5 points. In their last 5 games, Draisaitl has 7 goals and McDavid has 18 points. These guys are on a historical pace early on and the team is benefiting. The Oilers rank 1st in the NHL in goals scored per game with 4.60, and their power play ranks 2nd. Their 19th ranked goal prevention makes for a good recipe for a 4th consecutive game total over. 

Things look similar, albeit on a lesser scale, for the Maple Leafs. Toronto has won 3 straight games, having scored 14 goals over that span. The Maple Leafs too have a strength of goal scoring and a weakness of goal prevention, resulting in 7 overs in their last 9 games. The pure matchup here gives the over appeal, and even gives strong consideration for an alternate total 7.5 goals at +155 odds. The star power and current form of both teams make the over a tough fade. 

San Jose Sharks +1.5 and game total over 5.5 vs Boston Bruins (+156)

This same-game parlay brings good odds to a Sharks team that is live to win this game. San Jose is a +160 underdog to the Bruins’ -192 on the money line. The Sharks enter this game having beat good Canadiens and Senators teams by a combined score of 10-5. The Bruins have been great to start the year and in general, enter this game in strong form. But as does this good Sharks team. Taking San Jose +1.5 as part of a same-game parlay brings solid value to what are otherwise less valuable odds. 

The other leg of the same-game parlay is taking the alternate game total over 5.5 goals. The +156 odds for a couple of outcomes that Vegas handicaps as fairly likely is good value. The Sharks have scored 10 goals in their last 2 games as part of 3 overs in their last 4 games. The Bruins have been producing at an impressive clip themselves, lately. They have scored 4+ goals in 6 out of their last 7 games. Over that span, Boston has scored an average of 6.0 goals per game. The offensive form and overall pedigree of these teams bodes well for an over 5.5 total goals.