Two-team total bets for the NHL Thursday night

We've already touched on two games we like for goals Thursday in the NHL, which you can dig into here. There are two more spots I like for scoring, going back to the typical team total approach we tend to deploy here on Yardbarker.

Boston Bruins

I think this game offers us the best value of the day, specifically on the Boston Bruins side.

I'm throwing out the numbers a bit for Boston, as their last five scoring average is not good.

With a hat tip to StatMuse here, there is a pronounced difference in Bruins scoring with and without Brad Marchand in the lineup.

Without him, Boston is averaging 1.73 goals per game this season (11 games). With him, that average flies up to 3.21 goals per game (39 games).

That's a significant difference, and I'm sharing it because yes, Marchand will return to the lineup Thursday after serving a suspension.

He's the motor for Boston, with a team-high 49 points in 39 games played.

His return comes at an opportune time for goal-scoring, as Seattle is allowing 4.6 goals per game in their last five home games, which is the second-highest total in the league.

There's also a power play edge for Boston, who own the second-best power play scoring rate in their past 20 games. The Kraken have struggled on the penalty kill, coming into this one with the fifth-worst PK rate.

Put it all together, and I'm liking the Bruins to score goals Thursday. We get this at plus-money on both DraftKings and FanDuel, with FD offering slightly better odds.

Best Bet: Over 3.5 total goals in regulation (+114 FD)

Minnesota Wild

I think there's potential for scoring for both Minnesota and Toronto in this one, but I'm rolling with the Wild simply because I believe these odds/total offer us the best value at an extremely attainable number.

Minnesota own one of the most explosive offenses in the NHL, and their recent road splits are solid. They're averaging 3.6 goals per game in their past 10 and their past five on the road, both top-10 marks.

Toronto has been looser to goal-scoring of late, allowing 3.4 goals per game at home in their last five. 

It'll be Petr Mrazek in net for the Maple Leafs, who has allowed 3.16 goals per game this season, sporting just a .890 save percentage.

Minnesota should be able to capitalize and get to this number against Toronto.

Best Bet: Over 2.5 total goals in regulation (-135 DK)