Check out the Betway Insider's NHL picks and predictions page for best bets throughout the 2020-21 NHL season.

Montreal Canadiens to beat Vancouver Canucks 

The Canucks’ top line has finally awoken after a rough start to the season from Elias Pettersson, but is it enough to topple the red-hot Canadiens?

The teams face off in the second half of a back-to-back after playing on Monday, and these ties favour teams that have more depth at their disposal.

The Canadiens still rank first in the NHL in expected goals for percentage at 5-vs-5 - the only team above 60 per cent - while the Canucks are below 50 per cent. The Canadiens drop to second best in the league when factoring in special teams, but the Canucks drop to 28th.

The only thing that could get in the Canadiens’ way is the fact that they lead the league in penalties taken per minute this season.

Carolina Hurricanes to beat Chicago Blackhawks 

The Hurricanes have only dropped one game this season and, while it was to one of the worst teams in the league, they still drastically outplayed them - they just got goalied.

What’s even more impressive is that the Canes have managed to go 5-1-0 despite scoring just 47 per cent of the goals at 5-vs-5 despite earning a 56 per cent expected goals for percentage. The Canes have been extremely unlucky to start the season, and they’re still winning.

The Blackhawks are in a somewhat similar boat - they’ve actually played better than average even strength - but without Jonathan Toews in the lineup they’re having difficulty getting the offence going.

Kevin Lankinen has had a hot start to his NHL career to give them some hope, but he alone isn’t enough to withstand the relentless attack of the Hurricanes.

Dallas Stars to beat Columbus Blue Jackets 

A fair bit of the Stars’ hot start is a mirage - they’re scoring 60 per cent of the goals with a sub-50 per cent expected goals ratio at even strength, and are even luckier on special teams.

They should, however, beat the Blue Jackets, who have been awful amidst the early-season Pierre-Luc Dubois theatrics.

In all situations, only the Anaheim Ducks have been worse than the Blue Jackets in expected goals, controlling just under 46 per cent of the play.

Joonas Korpisalo has given them a chance to win consistently, but Elvis Merzlikins hasn’t been so stellar. Columbus are a hard working team, but they’re too erratic right now.

Edmonton Oilers to beat Ottawa Senators 

Connor McDavid has 15 points in his last five games. That’s completely nuts, but so is the fact that Leon Draisaitl has 14 points in those same five games. Both players have had multiple points in each one of those contests, and they just put up eight goals against the Senators on Sunday.

With their superstars red hot, and Mikko Koskinen getting his first rest of the season in that game, the Oilers should be primed to beat up the 1-7-1 Senators once again.  

BOOSTED TREBLE

Montreal, Carolina and Edmonton all to win

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