NHL bets: Four plays for Thursday 2/9
We have ourselves an inviting night on the ice, and I for one am ready to win some bets. We've got a mixture of looks for tonight in the NHL no matter which bets you prefer to make.
Nathan MacKinnon over 4.5 SOG (-115 FD)
I expect the first meeting between the Avalanche and Lightning since the Stanley Cup Final to be a great one, and shots look strong on both ends.
I will happily bet Nathan MacKinnon at this line and at this price. He has six or more SOG in four straight meetings against Tampa Bay, and he has 7+ shots in five of his past six on the road. All we're asking for here is five, which seems quite reasonable.
Blake Coleman over 2.5 SOG (-110 FD)
It doesn't seem to matter much who is on the other end for this Calgary offense right now, they fire the puck at will. In their past 10 on the road, the Flames are averaging a league-best 38.7 shots per game, and Coleman has consistently gotten in on the action.
He's over 2.5 in 11 of his past 15 games and six of his last seven on the road. He's averaging 5.3 attempts per game over his last on the road, and he's gone for four or more in five of these seven games. Similarly to MacKinnon, we're just modestly asking for three shots here. For good measure, Coleman has gone over this number in four of his last five against Detroit.
Jack Eichel over 3.5 SOG (+125 FD)
Books want to let us bet on Jack Eichel again at +125 so I say we just play their little game and load him up no questions asked.
Eichel's volume on the road has been far steadier. He's averaging 4.6 SOG/game over his last 10 on 7.6 attempts/game.
He leads Vegas in power-play shooting against a Wild team that has had their penalty issues, and with Minnesota on a back-to-back, it seems likely that the Golden Knights find some shots here.
Eichel loves the Wild, going over this 3.5 number in five straight meetings, averaging 5.6 SOG in that stretch.
SJ-FLA over 5.5 goals & CGY over 2.5 goals in regulation (+114 DK)
The Sharks-Panthers over is set at seven for good reason, so I feel extremely comfortable moving these down to 5.5. Aleksander Barkov is out tonight and his impact may be felt a bit in what is a smash spot for the Panthers offense.
I took a gander at how Florida does without Barkov this year, and noticed that the game total has reached six goals in all 10 of the games they've played without him this season. A look at recent meetings between these two teams shows the total hitting six in six of their past seven, so I love this parlay leg tonight.
Florida averages 4.2 goals and allows 3.2 more in their last 10 at home. San Jose is allowing 3.7 and scoring 3.5 of their own in their last 10 road games. Expect scoring.
I'm pairing this watered-down total with Calgary to find the back of the net three times. Their shot volume has corresponded well with scoring, as these things tend to do. The Flames are averaging 3.4 goals per game in their last 10 on the road, and with Detroit allowing 3.3 at home lately and Ville Husso still having some struggles, I like this number.
The Flames have scored three goals in six straight meetings with the Red Wings.
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