A big Saturday in the National Hockey League brings 13 great games. The best games of the weekend include an always-intense Toronto Maple Leafs-Montreal Canadiens matchup and a big meeting in Pittsburgh between the two most successful franchises over the last 10 seasons when the Penguins host the Chicago Blackhawks. With so many games, there are many wagering options to pick from. A couple of road teams (one being a considerable underdog) highlight this Saturday’s slate of picks. Here are the best teams to bet for this Saturday of NHL hockey.
Arizona Coyotes @ Ottawa Senators
NHL Odds: ARI +168, OTT -189
The Arizona Coyotes picked up their first regulation win of the season on Thursday, erasing a two-goal deficit to beat the Montreal Canadiens 5-4. Considering that it took a miraculous performance to pull off the win suggests their winning streak will conclude in Ottawa on Saturday. The Ottawa Senators lost on Thursday to the Pittsburgh Penguins, but the team is continuing to work Matt Duchene into the lineup and will use the game on Saturday as another opportunity to get their new star forward comfortable. Expect the Senators to win at home against the worst team in the National Hockey League.
Pick: Ottawa
Toronto Maple Leafs @ Montreal Canadiens
NHL Odds: N/A
The Maple Leafs have reeled off five consecutive wins, four of which have come with their best player, Auston Matthews. He is sidelined with an undisclosed injury. He did manage to skate on Friday, so it is possible that he returns on Saturday but we don’t know right now.
The Maple Leafs are winning games due to the stellar play of goaltender Frederik Andersen. Andersen is coming off a 42-save shutout on Thursday and will be the difference maker on Saturday night. The Montreal Canadiens are still playing without Carey Price, who has been sidelined since November 2nd. His replacement, Charlie Lindberg, filled in admirably at the beginning but is now showing signs of slowing down. He is coming off an ugly effort where he gave up five goals to the Arizona Coyotes. The Coyotes hadn’t won a single game in regulation to date yet the Canadiens helped them out. Lindberg has allowed two goals or less in every other game he’s played, though.
The Maple Leafs are clicking right now while the Canadiens are falling apart…again. After a brief bright spot, they have lost three of four and are again toiling. Although the Habs typically dominate this series, this looks like another win for Toronto.
Pick: Toronto
Chicago Blackhawks @ Pittsburgh Penguins
NHL Odds: CHI +133, PIT -147
The other marquee matchup of Saturday features two teams with six Stanley Cups over the last ten years. The two teams played earlier in the season, with the Chicago Blackhawks dismantling the Pittsburgh Penguins 10-1 in Chicago. The Blackhawks have outscored the Penguins 19-3 in their last three meetings. The Penguins have the best home record in the NHL (in terms of point percentage), going 6-0-1 to start the year. After some early season jitters, Matt Murray is now playing like an elite goaltender. The Penguins will be thirsty for revenge in this game and with an amped up home crowd, they should end this streak of futility against the Chicago Blackhawks.
Pick: Pittsburgh
Colorado Avalanche @ Nashville Predators
NHL Odds: COL +177, NAS -189
The big underdog to bet on Saturday is the Colorado Avalanche. The Avalanche are coming off their best win of the season, a 6-2 shellacking of the Washington Capitals. The Predators are riding a seven-game winning streak against Colorado, but the Avalanche are much better than they were last season. Winning more than a half dozen games in a round against a divisional opponent is challenging and all these types of streaks have a shelf life. Semyon Varlamov is playing better lately, and the team is utilizing their youth better after the trade of Matt Duchene. Look for the Avalanche to pull off the biggest upset on Saturday and continue to be one of the biggest surprises in the NHL through the first seven weeks of the season.
Pick: Colorado
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