Saturday feels a lot like Hockey Day in North America with 10 NHL matchups starting from 1 p.m. ET. Fans of all kinds will find something to their liking but for me, I like three games in particular … three easy games by online betting standards, all available with the BetUS sportsbook.
The NHL’s new divisional format makes it that teams face each other repeatedly and in back-to-back sets. That’s a good thing if you’re the Bostons and Vegases of the world as you get to run all over the overmatched bottom dwellers in your division. And that’s what we’ll see here.
Boston Makes It Two Against Chippy Devils
It was supposed to be business as usual for Boston on Thursday, but the Devils had other plans. New Jersey took it to Boston and almost beat them in the shootout. LW Brad Marchand bailed out the Bruins.
While New Jersey was the feistier and more energetic team, Boston soundly outplayed them outshooting them 37-22 and scoring twice on the power play while shutting down New Jersey’s.
Still, underdog bettors are looking at the Devils to get the job done this time. Don’t bet on it. G Mackenzie Blackwood will have to be phenomenal again (15 saves in the first period and 35 overall), but he’ll come back down to earth this time. Boston wins more decidedly this time.
Pick: Boston Bruins to win (-175)
Hurricanes Continue to Storm Detroit
It’s not every NHL game you get to say a 3-0 game was more lopsided than it seemed. But that’s exactly what it was as the Hurricanes dominated the Red Wings, outshooting them 43-14.
G Thomas Greiss was on fire for the Wings and was their lone bright spot as they continue to be as incompetent carrying over from last season. Carolina was in top form and now has won four of the last five meetings against Detroit, including the last three.
In fact, the Hurricanes’ last three meetings have looked more like an NHL team against an AHL team. The Canes outscored Detroit 10-2 and outshot them 115-60. They blanked all 24 of their power-play attempts and… should I keep going? Canes win in another route.
Pick: Carolina Hurricanes to win (-210)
In Vegas, the House Wins
From one lopsided match to another. This time, it’s the Golden Knights defending home ice against the Ducks. Unlike the Wings, however, Anaheim managed to put up a little bit of fight against Vegas scoring two goals. But Vegas dropped five on them.
As far as matchups go, Vegas has always had Anaheim’s number, even when the Ducks were still decent. In their last 10, Vegas has won eight. During this span, they outshot the Ducks 357-241 and nearly doubled their goal output, 38-20.
Anaheim is in rebuilding purgatory. Their prospects are not good enough yet and their vets are in that point where they can’t carry the team. Overall, it’ll be poor G John Gibson being left out to dry. Chalk Vegas as they make it two in a row.
Pick: Vegas Golden Knights to (-200)
Parlay: Boston Bruins to win (-175), Carolina Hurricanes to win (-210), and Vegas Golden Knights to win (-200) at +247
Making cheesy parlays like this makes me feel exploitative. But when we’re getting double the return on three cup contenders it makes everything better. NHL betting odds have all of Boston, Carolina, and Vegas as playoff contenders, but not so much their opponents.
The “gimme” here is Carolina ousting the Red Wings followed not too far by Vegas holding it down against the Ducks, and then Boston beating the Devils again. All three of these teams already beat their opponents and are going to go 2-0 in matchups that shouldn’t be close.
With so many NHL games on Saturday night, you can pick whichever teams you want to put in a parlay at BetUS.
Read the sportsbook reviews and learn why playing with BetUS is a solid play.
