NHL bets: No Hughes, no problem for Devils

There are quite a few NHL games tonight that look to offer some value on the total, so let's build up some bankroll on a couple of overs and then roll that over into an NFL weekend full of bets. Sound good? Good.

Bring on the goals on the ice

Betting: New Jersey-Tampa Bay over 6.5 (-122 FD)

While the absence of Jack Hughes might frighten you from taking an over that involves the New Jersey Devils, it seems it shouldn't. New Jersey has played without its star center six times this season, with those games averaging 7.83 goals per game.

That's great to see, because on the road over the last month, New Jersey games tally 7.6 goals on average, and Tampa Bay home games are averaging 6.5/game.

That's a solid intersection, and seeing that three of the last four meetings have gone over is enough for us to load up an over in this one.

Betting: Toronto-NY Islanders over 6.5 (-115 FD)

We've got two of the 10 best over teams in the NHL squaring off tonight in New York, and this is a number worth jumping on.

Toronto on the road over the last month is averaging 7.0 goals per contest, and Islanders home games in the same stretch average 6.7. That, like above, is simply what brings us consider this game.

We dig a level deeper and we see a decisive edge that favors the Maple Leaf's power play against a struggling New York penalty kill. A PP goal or two always helps the cause in a bid for the over. 

Tack on that three straight meetings have gone over, and we're ready to light the lamp in Long Island tonight.

In the news ...

Nick Saban retires after 17 years and six national championships with Alabama — In a surprise announcement Wednesday afternoon, Nick Saban has announced his retirement from coaching football, ending one of the most dominant runs in college sports history. Saban took over the Alabama Crimson Tide in 2007 and proceeded to win six national championships, three in the BCS era and three in the CFP era, churning out NFL first round picks with regularity. The Tide will now begin searching for a new coach, but their odds to win a title next season only slightly dipped from +600 on Tuesday to +800 now.

Bill Belichick and New England Patriots to part ways — Speaking of legendary coaches, more news broke early Thursday morning, and it's official: Bill Belichick is done in New England. This wraps a 24-year run that saw New England win six Super Bowls and make it to three more, forming the NFL's strongest dynasty to date. The Patriots are expected to explore internal options such as Jerod Mayo, or perhaps pursue Mike Vrabel. The assumption is Belichick would like to keep coaching, but we shall see. He's currently favored to be the coach of the Chargers at +200, but don't sleep on not coaching a team at +700 on DraftKings. There are now eight head coaching vacancies in the NFL, as Pete Carroll and Seattle split yesterday afternoon too. Sheesh, what a 24 hours.
 
Victor Wembanyama records first career triple-double — Spurs rookie and the top pick in last year's draft Victor Wembanyama recorded his first ever triple-double in a win over the Pistons on Wednesday, finishing with 16 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists. Wembanyama has lost ground to Oklahoma City's Chet Holmgren in the Rookie of the Year race, currently +140 to win compared to Holmgren at -200.

Today's Bark Bets is written by Griffin Carroll. Follow him on Substack: griffybets.substack.com.