With four of the 10 games scheduled for Thursday currently having a six-goal total, goals might be hard to come by in some of the matchups. The NHL saw three of the four games played on Wednesday have five goals or less scored so that is something for those who bet online to keep an eye on.
However, with so many of the teams struggling to keep pucks out of their own net, this is going to be a tough slate of games to call. It could very easily break right down the middle with five goals going over the total and five finishing under.
Let’s check the latest NHL odds, stats, injury reports, and NHL lines for NHL Salami. We’ve plenty of NHL betting odds for you to consider.
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Flames vs Bruins
- Over 6 (-115), Under 6 (-105)
The 11-2-0 Bruins not only have the best record in the Eastern Conference, but another key piece could be returning on Thursday with defenseman Charlie McAvoy having a chance to make his season debut.
“You always have to get to a comfortable point where they feel like the healing, the integrity of the injury, the healing has to be sure…so, that’s really the most important step.”
📰Wednesday’s Practice Rundown: https://t.co/7f09rkmyPO
— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) November 9, 2022
Only San Jose has scored fewer goals this season among the Pacific Division teams than Calgary. Some early-season offensive struggles are not surprising, considering the departures of Johnny Gaudreau and Matthew Tkachuk.
This is a tough one to call with the teams a combined 12-12-1 against the spread and the total set at 6. The Bruins are 6-0 when listed as the favorite by the sportsbook.
- Pick: Under 6 (-115)
Golden Knights vs Sabres
- Totals: Over 6½ (-110), Under 6½ (-110)
There figures to be a less than welcoming reception as former Buffalo captain Jack Eichel is set to return to the city where his NHL career began. Eichel was held scoreless when he played in Buffalo as an opposing player for the first time back in March. He is off to an impressive start with the Golden Knights with 15 points in the first 14 games.
Eichel and Vegas lead the NHL with a 12-2-0 record. A key is that the Golden Knights lead the NHL with a 2.14 goals-against average. Buffalo is second in the NHL with an average of 3.85 goals per game.
The last time the teams played, it ended as a 3-1 defensive battle. However, both teams have looked dangerous in the early portion of the season and neither are particularly effective in killing penalties so expect a few more goals in this one.
- Pick: Over 6½ (-110)
Oilers vs Hurricanes
- Totals: Over 6½ (-125), Under 6½ (+105)
After seeing all 40 of their shots stopped in a loss to Florida, the Hurricanes are right back on the ice.
Carolina has just one goal in the last two games. Now the Hurricanes get to face an Edmonton team not known for its defensive prowess. The Oilers are 25th in the NHL goals allowed per game and only Anaheim and Vancouver struggle to kill penalties more than the Oilers.
There are too many talented forwards for Carolina to continue to struggle offensively. With Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl on the other bench, this doesn’t have the vibe of a 2-1 tight-checking matchup. The teams combined for 10 goals the last time they met.
The NHL odds total has gone over in six of the last 10 games that the Oilers played against Metropolitan Division teams.
- Pick: Over 6½ (+105)
Senators vs Devils
- Totals: Over 6½ (-115), Under 6½ (-105)
It would be hard to find a matchup with more talented young players than this one.
The Devils have won seven games in a row with at least seven goals being scored in five of those contests.
Jesper Bratt has four goals and five assists during the winning streak while former No. 1 overall picks Nick Hischier and Jack Hughes have combined for seven goals and 10 assists during that stretch. Goalies Mackenzie Blackwood and Jonathan Benier are both injured so that could mean even more work for Vitek Vanecek, one of the top goalies in the early portion of the 2022-23 season.
Ottawa is headed in the other direction with six losses in a row and 26 goals allowed during that stretch.
- Pick: Over 6½ (-115)
Flyers vs Blue Jackets
- Totals: Over 6½ (-105), Under 6½ (-115)
Only three teams in the NHL average fewer goals per game at home than the Columbus Blue Jackets. It hasn’t helped that in 19 power-play opportunities on home ice, the Blue Jackets have allowed more short-handed goals than they have power-play goals scored.
The Flyers average just 2.17 goals in six road games so this has a chance to be a low-scoring matchup.
The Flyers are without forwards Cabm Atkinson, Sean Couturier and James van Riemsdyk. Former Flyers forward Jakub Voracek is out while Patrik Laine is questionable for Columbus.
- Pick: Under 6½ (-115)
Coyotes vs Islanders
- Over 6 (-110), Under 6 (-110)
The Islanders’ games have been entertaining with late-game comebacks, allowing them to steal games and points.
They will be facing an Arizona team that will be looking for its third win in a row, with a victory moving the Coyotes to .500.
Five of Arizona’s last six games have had five goals or less scored.
The Islanders have overcome two-goal deficits in wins over Calgary and the New York Rangers.
A total of 10 goals have been scored in the last three matchups between the Coyotes and Islanders.
- Pick: Under 6 (-110)
Rangers vs Red Wings
- Totals: Over 6 (even), Under 6 (-120)
The visiting Rangers play Detroit for the second time in less than a week. The Rangers jumped out to the early 2-0 lead before falling in overtime. Failing to hold onto early leads has become a disturbing trend for the Rangers.
Just 16 goals have been scored in Detroit’s four games played in November. Detroit came away with seven out of eight points in those games so obviously the defense has been getting the job done.
Detroit’s 1.25 goals-against average in November is second only to Winnipeg, with each of those games having no more than five goals scored. A total of nine goals have been scored in the last two games between the Original Six franchises.
- Pick: Under 6 (-120)
Sharks vs Blues
- Totals: Over 6 (-110), Under 6 (-110)
One of these teams has to win, right?
St. Louis is tied for the fewest points in the NHL and has lost eight games in a row. San Jose is tied for last in the Pacific Division and takes a four-game losing streak into the game.
There are 11 NHL teams allowing at least four goals per game in November and two of them will be featured in this showdown. One major issue for St. Louis is that the Blues are killing off just 40% of the opponent’s power plays in November.
St. Louis has won the last three games against the Sharks and scored 12 of the 17 goals in those affairs.
San Jose’s last three games all went into overtime, with the Sharks falling in shootouts in each one.
Four of San Jose’s five road games have finished under the Las Vegas odds total. Scoring goals has not been the issue for San Jose while St. Louis has too many talented and proven scorers to continue to struggle offensively.
- Pick: Over 6 (-110)
Predators vs Avalanche
- Totals: Over 6½ (-120), Under 6½ (even)
Winning back-to-back Stanley Cup championships is no easy feat, as Colorado is finding out.
Six Western Conference teams have more points than the team picked in the NHL odds, to win the Stanley Cup. It hasn’t helped that only eight forwards have played in every game this season.
Colorado is without winger Valeri Nichushkin and that hurts as he had 12 points in the seven games he played. Veteran winger Gabriel Landeskog isn’t expected back until January while first-pair defenseman Devon Toews is also sidelined.
The Avalanche haven’t played in five days while Nashville is coming off a 5-1 loss to Seattle.
The Predators have allowed 16 goals in its last four games, and struggling on defense when facing Colorado can be a dangerous combination.
Eight of the last 10 games between the teams went over the total and this one might be headed in the same direction.
- Pick: Over 6½ (-120)
Blackhawks vs Kings
- Totals: Over 6½ (Ev), Under 6½ (-120)
There has been a power shortage in Chicago with the Blackhawks scoring once in the last three games. The Kings have won three home games in a row and that included a 1-0 victory against Minnesota on Tuesday.
Both teams are struggling on the power play and on the penalty kill so it is worth watching to see how that plays out.
Just eight goals have been scored in the last two games between Chicago and Los Angeles. However, the teams have gone over a combined 16 times in 27 games this season.
- Pick: Under 6½ (-120)
And the Totals are …
Nine of the 12 NHL teams averaging less than three goals per game in November will be in action on Thursday night, so that is why it is hard to project a majority of the games going over the NHL betting lines total.
This could be a risky night to go with this bet unless you have a strong vibe that one or two of the offensively challenged teams is set to break out.
- Pick: Even 63
