NHL Betting Picks - No stopping the Devils and Flyers right now
Saturday’s NHL betting picks once again feature a very busy schedule to choose from at your sportsbook. This time around, we’ll focus on some key Eastern Conference matchups featuring four of the top five current seeds. Can the Ovechkin-less Capitals win in the swamp?
| NHL betting picks: Devils, Flyers are the NHL’s hottest teams |
| Vintage Devils are back thanks to Jacques Lemaire’s returns |
| New Jersey allows fewest goals in the NHL; few teams have a better chance to contain the Caps |
| Flyers’ physicality, league-leading power play will overwhelm Sabres |
Capitals vs Devils odds
Saturday, November 14, 7:00 p.m. ET
So far, not so bad for the Washington Capitals in Alexander Ovechkin’s absence. He remains sidelined with an upper-body injury but the Caps have won three straight. That shouldn’t come as a huge shock to NHL betting fans, as Washington shouldn’t be mistaken for a one-man team. Alexander Semin, Nicklas Backstrom and even Tomas Fleischmann have stepped up without Ovie. Unfortunately, Washington’s three straight wins came against Florida, Florida again and the Islanders. Knocking off those pushovers is no huge accomplishment. The Caps’ last loss came to the New Jersey Devils on the road; can they right the wrong on Saturday back at Jersey?
I’m guessing no. The Devils are on one of those unstoppable runs they enjoy once or twice every season. Playing true team hockey under returning head coach Jacques Lemaire’s defensive system, New Jersey is the NHL’s stingiest team, allowing 2.03 goals per game. The Devils have won six straight and 10 of 11. Zach Parise and Travis Zajac are picking up where they left off last season but the biggest surprise has been tough guy David Clarkson, who has 14 points in 17 games. It feels like no one can beat New Jersey at the moment so the Devils are your best bet.
Capitals vs Devils Betting Edge: Devils
Sabres vs Flyers odds
Saturday, November 14, 7:00 p.m. ET
It’s been a nice early-season run for the Sabres but you have to wonder if they’re coming back to Earth. They’ve enjoyed some true bright spots – especially Ryan Miller’s stellar play in goal and the emergence of Tyler Myers on the blueline – but Buffalo is still a young team. The Sabres are also small and lacking physicality up front, so a trip to Philly is a difficult matchup for them.
The Flyers are truly rolling, having won five straight games. How deep is their forward corps? After Simon Gagne went down with hernia surgery, Philly simply plugged rookie and former second-overall draft pick James Van Riemsdyk into the lineup. He promptly posted 15 points in his first 13 NHL games. He’s just one reason why the Flyers boast the NHL’s best power play this season.
The Sabres can skate with Philly but they just don’t have the mean streak to survive a night at the Wachovia Center. Go with the Broadstreet Bullies in your online betting. It’s also worth nothing that the Sabres play tonight against an equally bruising Calgary team, so they’ll already be tired for Saturday’s contest.
Sabres vs Flyers Betting Edge: Flyers
Check the Betting Edge at BetOnline.com on Tuesdays and Fridays for NHL betting picks from Don Melrose. He’s just one of our many sports betting experts.
