We have a rock-solid eight-game NHL schedule on tap Tuesday including a prime Lightning-Leafs matchup. That said, let’s dive in and see which bets are going to make the most money, including a pair of plus-money road underdogs. For more NHL odds, best bets and parlays be sure to check out the OddsShopper tool.
Best NHL Bets Tonight and NHL Odds
Odds via FanDuel
Tampa Bay Lightning Moneyline vs. Toronto Maple Leafs (+115)
In what should be a dandy of a matchup in Toronto, you must like the price you’re getting here with the Tampa Bay Lightning visiting the Maple Leafs.
The Leafs went on a torrid stretch in notching at least a point in 15 straight contests but have dropped back-to-back games entering this one. Meanwhile, the Bolts have won five in a row as they make up ground in the Atlantic division.
The Leafs have been excellent on the back end in the face of injury-related adversity; however, they’ll have their hands full with a Lightning group that sits third with 3.67 goals per game and fifth with a 27.4% clip on the power play. Tampa also sits fifth in expected goals for per 60 minutes of five-on-five action, so we know this offense is for real as it’s been for many years at this point.
There really isn’t much to provide to discredit the Maple Leafs. They’ve been excellent defensively, in between the pipes and while the offense hasn’t quite scored as much as we thought they would, they find themselves 14th in overall offense 32 games into the season. The underlying metrics with this club are supportive of their tidy work to this point in the season.
However, this gig is about finding value when it presents itself. The Bolts are rolling right now, and their offense has been dynamite. A banged-up Maple Leafs blueline will be hard-pressed to keep this group in check and both sides of special teams are advantage Lightning in this one.
It should be a good one, but the Lightning hold the value in a rematch of last spring’s seven-game playoff series.
Philadelphia Flyers 60-Minute Moneyline vs. Columbus Blue Jackets (-111)
From a game that features a pair of Stanley Cup contenders to a contest featuring a pair of draft lottery hopefuls, the Flyers should absolutely have this one tonight on home ice against the Blue Jackets.
After all, this is the second game in as many nights for the Jackets after they took a narrow 2-1 defeat last night at the hands of the Dallas Stars. Columbus had to travel for this one, and while it’s a short distance, this is a game Philly must have.
Due to an illness with Elvis Merzlikins, it will be third string netminder Daniil Tarasov getting his second start in as many days in this one. That’s right, not only are the Jackets on a back-to-back but so is their netminder. Tarasov owns a 3.03 goals against average and .915 save percentage on the season but this is a big ask for a goaltender with all of 14 career NHL appearances under his belt.
The Flyers have been hampered by injuries for much of the season, but this is a 31st-ranked Blue Jackets defense that is without Zach Werenski, Adam Boqvist, and Jake Bean now. They most recently lost Boone Jenner up front while Jakub Voracek remains sidelined with concussion issues.
Admittedly, the Flyers have plenty of issues themselves, but goaltender Carter Hart has been the least of their concerns. Hart might own a 2.82 goals against average and .913 save percentage that has been buoyed by his October numbers, but has allowed two goals or fewer in three of his last five starts.
While I haven’t promoted the Flyers this season — quite the opposite, actually — this is a game where they have zero excuse to not take it to their vulnerable opponent. Grab the Flyers to win this one in regulation tonight.
Ottawa Senators Moneyline vs. Winnipeg Jets (+108)
Again, let’s grab some plus-money value with a road underdog as the Ottawa Senators travel to Winnipeg to take on the Jets.
Winnipeg has had a nice season to this point as they contend for the top spot in the Central division, but despite a crisp 11-5-0 mark on home ice, I like Ottawa here. Why? It starts between the pipes.
Once again, Connor Hellebuyck has been one of the better goaltenders in the NHL this season. The potential problem for Winnipeg is that it will be backup David Rittich getting the nod for this one. Rittich owns a 2.77 goals against average on the season, but also a subpar .896 save percentage in seven outings. The owner of a career 2.89 goals against average and .905 save percentage, Rittich has performed beneath those figures in each of the past three seasons.
It’s not as if the Senators have struggled to score. They are missing two key centers Josh Norris and Tim Stützle, but they’ve managed to score a healthy 3.13 goals per game. They also own the NHL’s fourth-ranked power play at 28.1%, to your surprise.
They sit 17th overall defensively, but they are just one spot back of the Jets at 19th in terms of expected goals against per 60 minutes at five-on-five. For context, the Jets are fourth overall defensively but their 2.00 goals against per 60 minutes at five-on-five is well below their 2.66 expected mark. In other words, Hellebuyck has been the difference between their real and expected results. Without him, they are a below-average defense.
Let’s see if the Sens can pull off the minor upset tonight in the bitter-cold city of Winnipeg, Manitoba.
