NHL picks: 4 best bets for Tuesday
Andrew Berkshire picks out his four best bets for Tuesday, including two anytime goalscorer props.
All the latest NHL lines can be found on the Betway sportsbook. Before finalising your online sports betting selections, make sure to check out our expert’s NHL picks and NHL predictions.
The hottest story in the NHL right now happens to be about a start that’s simply mediocre. The Toronto Maple Leafs came into this season with extremely high expectations after a seventh-straight playoff appearance that was ended in a single round, and after 10 games they’re just 4-4-2, losing to some of the worst teams in the league in the process. Those odds of Sheldon Keefe being the first coach fired this season seem prescient now. On to the fun stuff though...
Chris Kreider (New York Rangers) to score anytime vs Philadelphia Flyers
Last season Kreider flew higher than he ever had before, and scored goals at a rate that should never be expected for him to repeat, but this year he’s off to a slow start with just three goals in 10 games.
The thing is, as much as Kreider shouldn’t be expected to repeat last year’s numbers, the chances he’s been getting early this season are incredible, and he has the second-highest expected goal total in the entire NHL at 6.99.
While the Flyers have had a strong start to the season, it’s mostly a mirage. They have the fourth-highest expected goals against rate per game in the league in all situations at 3.61, with their goalies stopping a full goal over expected so far.
This could be a ripe opportunity for both the Flyers and Kreider to regress to expected outcomes at the same time.
Pittsburgh Penguins to beat Boston Bruins
While the Maple Leafs absorb all the media hits, the Penguins had a disastrous Western road trip of their own, losing to Edmonton, Calgary, and Vancouver before dropping a fourth straight to Seattle. However, heading back home with bees in their bonnet against a team that looks nearly unbeatable so far this season is the perfect recipe for a rebound game.
Kris Letang is under the weather, but Jake Guentzel and Jason Zucker are both back in the lineup, while the Bruins are dealing with a minor injury to David Krejci that could keep him out. So far this season the Bruins are obviously the better team, but the Penguins should be highly motivated to squeak out a win here.
Los Angeles Kings to beat Dallas Stars
The Stars are off to a very strong start to the season, but Jake Oettinger missing practice due to injury is a huge blow for them, and due to cap constraints they can’t even call up their most capable substitute in Anton Khudobin.
The Kings meanwhile, haven’t grabbed the reins like many expected after that brilliant run into the playoffs last season, winning and losing in equal parts through 10 games played. They are however, a top-10 team in expected goals for percentage at 5-vs-5 so far this season, a hair ahead of the Stars.
This one should be a tight game, but without Oettinger you have to lean Kings, even on the second half of a back-to-back.
Timo Meier (San Jose Sharks) to score anytime vs Anaheim Ducks
He paid off for us last time, and he remains one of the best scoring chance generators in the NHL, so let’s go right back to Timo Meier as he faces off against a cross-state rival with a record as poor as his own team’s.
Meier has fired 103 shot attempts at the net already this season, the most in the league, and he’s still sitting at one lowly goal after striking against the Maple Leafs. Anaheim should give him plenty of opportunities to make good once again.