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Go against this trend in Pens-Sharks game and this week's NHL predictions and picks
Monty Andrews
The Pittsburgh Penguins and the San Jose Sharks are two of the highest scoring teams in the NHL but the Under is 7-2-1 in the last 10 meetings between these sides.
The Colorado Avalanche are going through their worst stretch of the season – but past trends suggest the Avs might be able to turn things around as they visit Toronto to kick off an interesting week of hockey action. There are plenty of great matchups on the early-week schedule, including a showdown between two of the league's hottest teams in San Jose, and an Eastern Conference series that has been one-sided lately. Here are the top games and betting tips to monitor over the next few days.
No home team advantage here
A midseason swoon has the Colorado Avalanche scrambling to remain in the Western Conference playoff picture entering Monday's showdown with the powerhouse Maple Leafs. The Avs are a miserable 3-10-3 SU over their past 16 games to tumble all the way down to 28th in overall money earned at -10.30 units. But the road team has dominated this matchup in the post-lockout era, winning 11 of the previous 15 encounters. The teams have combined for six or more goals in six of their past seven meetings, as well, so bettors should consider the Over.
Good Luck, Goalies
Two of the highest-scoring clubs in the NHL will do battle Tuesday night at SAP Center as the Pittsburgh Penguins visit the San Jose Sharks. The Penguins rank fourth in the league in goals per game at 3.56, a fraction ahead of fifth-place San Jose (3.55). And both sides have been even more prolific in January, ranking first (4.67) and third (4.50), respectively, entering the week. That being said, the Pens and Sharks have scored more than five combined goals just twice in their previous eight meetings – but can you really ignore the video-game numbers these teams are putting up?
Jekyll and Habs
The Montreal Canadiens have been truly consistent in their inconsistency when matching up against the Florida Panthers, making it difficult to predict which version will show up for Tuesday's encounter between the two teams at Bell Centre. The Canadiens have won four of the previous seven meetings with the Panthers, and scored a whopping 20 goals in those victories. But Montreal was a completely different team in the three defeats, failing to score in any of them. We like the latter iteration to show up Tuesday night, with the Canadiens entering the week with a league-low 10 goals so far this month.
Philly Chilly vs. Bruins
The Philadelphia Flyers have sunk to the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings – and things likely won't get any better for them Wednesday night as they host the surging Boston Bruins. Philadelphia has been the worst value play in the league to date (more on that later), and has lost five of its previous six encounters with the Bruins, who come into the week having won nine of their previous 12 games overall. Goal scoring has been a major problem for the Flyers in that span, as they've finished with two or fewer goals on four occasions while being shut out twice.
Goalie Profile: Henrik Lundqvist, New York Rangers
One of the greatest goaltenders of the 21st Century might be nearing the end of his sensational career – at least if his recent struggles are any indication. Henrik Lundqvist has been unspeakably bad for the better part of a month, allowing four or more goals in eight of his previous 11 games. Things are so bad for the Swedish superstar that the Rangers opted to give him a "mental break" over the weekend.
Injury Update: Victor Hedman, Tampa Bay Lightning
The Lightning have been fortunate from a health perspective this season – but they're holding their breath after losing star defenseman Victor Hedman to injury over the weekend. Hedman left Sunday's 5-1 loss to the New York Islanders after colliding with an official; he didn't return, but head coach Jon Cooper said after the game that Hedman didn't go through the league's concussion protocol. Hedman has 29 points in 39 games this season with the Lightning, who are 5-2-0 SU and 4-2-1 O/U in the seven games Hedman has missed in 2018-19.
Hat Trick Trends
Is it better goaltending or wasted offensive chances? Whatever the case, non-overtime games have been a boon for Under bettors of late, cashing at nearly a 60-percent clip over the previous seven days (25 of 42). The Under has been converted in 57.4 percent of non-OT contests over the past month.
If you do want to take your chance on an Over play, you can't do much better than choosing games featuring Chris Rooney. The veteran referee has 24-13 O/U record in the 37 games he has officiated this season, good for a massive +10.72-unit surplus. Teams are averaging nearly 6 1/2 goals per game in Rooney's assignments.
There's quite a battle going on for the worst value team in the NHL. And while the Flyers (-15.16) own top spot entering the week, they're facing a significant challenge from the Panthers, who sit at -15.10. Four other teams are also at -10 or worse on the season: New Jersey (-10.05), Chicago (-10.22), Colorado (-10.30) and Los Angeles (-10.46).
Monty Andrews
The Pittsburgh Penguins and the San Jose Sharks are two of the highest scoring teams in the NHL but the Under is 7-2-1 in the last 10 meetings between these sides.
The Colorado Avalanche are going through their worst stretch of the season – but past trends suggest the Avs might be able to turn things around as they visit Toronto to kick off an interesting week of hockey action. There are plenty of great matchups on the early-week schedule, including a showdown between two of the league's hottest teams in San Jose, and an Eastern Conference series that has been one-sided lately. Here are the top games and betting tips to monitor over the next few days.
No home team advantage here
A midseason swoon has the Colorado Avalanche scrambling to remain in the Western Conference playoff picture entering Monday's showdown with the powerhouse Maple Leafs. The Avs are a miserable 3-10-3 SU over their past 16 games to tumble all the way down to 28th in overall money earned at -10.30 units. But the road team has dominated this matchup in the post-lockout era, winning 11 of the previous 15 encounters. The teams have combined for six or more goals in six of their past seven meetings, as well, so bettors should consider the Over.
Good Luck, Goalies
Two of the highest-scoring clubs in the NHL will do battle Tuesday night at SAP Center as the Pittsburgh Penguins visit the San Jose Sharks. The Penguins rank fourth in the league in goals per game at 3.56, a fraction ahead of fifth-place San Jose (3.55). And both sides have been even more prolific in January, ranking first (4.67) and third (4.50), respectively, entering the week. That being said, the Pens and Sharks have scored more than five combined goals just twice in their previous eight meetings – but can you really ignore the video-game numbers these teams are putting up?
Jekyll and Habs
The Montreal Canadiens have been truly consistent in their inconsistency when matching up against the Florida Panthers, making it difficult to predict which version will show up for Tuesday's encounter between the two teams at Bell Centre. The Canadiens have won four of the previous seven meetings with the Panthers, and scored a whopping 20 goals in those victories. But Montreal was a completely different team in the three defeats, failing to score in any of them. We like the latter iteration to show up Tuesday night, with the Canadiens entering the week with a league-low 10 goals so far this month.
Philly Chilly vs. Bruins
The Philadelphia Flyers have sunk to the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings – and things likely won't get any better for them Wednesday night as they host the surging Boston Bruins. Philadelphia has been the worst value play in the league to date (more on that later), and has lost five of its previous six encounters with the Bruins, who come into the week having won nine of their previous 12 games overall. Goal scoring has been a major problem for the Flyers in that span, as they've finished with two or fewer goals on four occasions while being shut out twice.
Goalie Profile: Henrik Lundqvist, New York Rangers
One of the greatest goaltenders of the 21st Century might be nearing the end of his sensational career – at least if his recent struggles are any indication. Henrik Lundqvist has been unspeakably bad for the better part of a month, allowing four or more goals in eight of his previous 11 games. Things are so bad for the Swedish superstar that the Rangers opted to give him a "mental break" over the weekend.
Injury Update: Victor Hedman, Tampa Bay Lightning
The Lightning have been fortunate from a health perspective this season – but they're holding their breath after losing star defenseman Victor Hedman to injury over the weekend. Hedman left Sunday's 5-1 loss to the New York Islanders after colliding with an official; he didn't return, but head coach Jon Cooper said after the game that Hedman didn't go through the league's concussion protocol. Hedman has 29 points in 39 games this season with the Lightning, who are 5-2-0 SU and 4-2-1 O/U in the seven games Hedman has missed in 2018-19.
Hat Trick Trends
Is it better goaltending or wasted offensive chances? Whatever the case, non-overtime games have been a boon for Under bettors of late, cashing at nearly a 60-percent clip over the previous seven days (25 of 42). The Under has been converted in 57.4 percent of non-OT contests over the past month.
If you do want to take your chance on an Over play, you can't do much better than choosing games featuring Chris Rooney. The veteran referee has 24-13 O/U record in the 37 games he has officiated this season, good for a massive +10.72-unit surplus. Teams are averaging nearly 6 1/2 goals per game in Rooney's assignments.
There's quite a battle going on for the worst value team in the NHL. And while the Flyers (-15.16) own top spot entering the week, they're facing a significant challenge from the Panthers, who sit at -15.10. Four other teams are also at -10 or worse on the season: New Jersey (-10.05), Chicago (-10.22), Colorado (-10.30) and Los Angeles (-10.46).
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