Online NHL Betting – Taking A Look At The Weekend Matchups On The Ice
Online betting odds for the Stanley Cup are becoming clearer as the season winds down, and there are a number of big games on the NHL slate this weekend as teams are jockeying for position in the postseason, or they’re just trying to get into the postseason, and here are the most important matchups of the weekend.
(All numbers as of Thursday, March 24th)
Hurricanes Lightning Betting – Friday, 7:30 PM ET
The Lightning should be favored at the St. Pete Times Forum against the Hurricanes in the first half of back-to-back games, and Carolina is one of three teams chasing a single spot in the East playoff race, along with eighth-place Buffalo as well as Toronto. The Lightning are 4-1 SU in their last five at home against the Hurricanes, with four of those games going over the posted total. Tampa Bay has lost five of their last six games, including three in overtime or a shootout, while Carolina has won three of their last four, and all three wins have been by a goal or less. The Hurricanes are playing like a team with their back against the wall.
Betting Edge: Carolina Hurricanes
Lightning Hurricanes Betting – Saturday, 7:00 PM ET
Carolina will likely be favored in the rematch at the RBC Center, and they’re on the other side of the spectrum as they are 4-1 SU in their last five home meetings with the Lightning, and four of those games have gone under the posted total. The Lightning look like they’re running out of gas, and no one expected them to be at this position after missing the playoffs for three straight seasons. The Hurricanes, on the other hand, have a core that has won a Stanley Cup, so this time of year doesn’t bother them at all. A late-season sweep isn’t what the Lightning need right now.
Betting Edge: Carolina Hurricanes
Maple Leafs Red Wings Betting – Saturday, 7:00 PM ET
The Red Wings are banged up right now, but they should still be the NHL betting favorites at home against the Maple Leafs, who play in Colorado on Thursday and if they lose that game, they could be out of the playoff race already. The Red Wings are 3-2 SU in their last five meetings at Joe Louis Arena with the Maple Leafs, with four of those games going over the posted total. Detroit is on a three-game skid coming into this clash, and they lost to Vancouver on Wednesday without Pavel Datsyuk, Johan Franzen, Todd Bertuzzi and Jiri Hudler, so they could be ripe for the Maple Leafs, who are making their customary late-season run that doesn’t go anywhere.
Betting Edge: Toronto Maple Leafs
Capitals Canadiens Betting – Saturday, 7:00 PM ET
The Canadiens should be favored at the Bell Center against the team they upset in the first round of the playoffs, and Washington should still be without Alex Ovechkin, who has an undisclosed injury. The Capitals are 3-2 SU in their last five trips to Montreal, and three of those games went over the posted total, along with a push as well. The Capitals are still rolling without Ovechkin, while the Canadiens will be coming off an emotional game in Boston in their first meeting with the Bruins since the Zdeno Chara-Max Pacioretty incident. Washington should be able to catch a Montreal team that starts slow, even on a Saturday night at the Bell Center.
Betting Edge: Washington Capitals
Ducks Blackhawks Betting – Saturday, 8:30 PM ET
The Blackhawks will be favored at the United Center, where they are 4-1 SU in their last five meetings with the Ducks, and three games have gone under the posted total. The Ducks go into Thursday’s game in Nashville trailing the Blackhawks by a point as they are hanging on to the last playoff spot in the West, while Chicago will be home and rested. Both teams are playing very well right now with Chicago winning three of their last four, while the Ducks had a four-game winning streak as of Wednesday with three straight overtime victories. Still, we’re skeptical on taking a West Coast team when they’re west of the Mississippi River.
Betting Edge: Chicago Blackhawks
Bruins Flyers Betting – Sunday, 7:00 PM ET
In the final NHL betting matchup of the weekend, the Flyers should be favored at home against the Bruins, who are 3-2 SU at the Wells Fargo Center, and two games have gone over the posted total along with a push. The Flyers are trying to hang on to the top spot in the Eastern Conference with Washington hot on their heels, and neither team has been playing well recently. Both teams will be in action on Saturday night (Boston at home against the Rangers, Philadelphia visiting the Islanders), but this game will be for bragging rights and momentum as they head into the postseason. We have to give the Flyers the sports betting edge at home.
Betting Edge: Philadelphia Flyers
