Saturday features an NHL slate with 13 games throughout the day. Let’s dive into a two-leg NHL parlay for Saturday, which pays out +225 at DraftKings, and be sure to use the OddsShopper tool to shop more NHL bets.
Best NHL Parlay Bet Today | November 12
Fade Montreal’s Defense
There is an Eastern Conference tilt with the Atlantic Division’s Montreal Canadiens hosting the Metropolitan Division’s Pittsburgh Penguins. After snapping a seven-game losing streak, the Penguins have now won two straight games and have scored four goals in each contest.
That trend should continue against Montreal as Pittsburgh looks to continue to turn things around after a slow start to the season. Positive regression for this group is not shocking considering that the Penguins rank sixth in the league in expected goals for per 60 minutes (xGF/60) at 5v5.
This offense should continue to score against a weak Montreal blue line that ranks 21st in the league in expected goals against per 60 minutes (xGA/60) at 5v5. The primary reason for this poor defensive play is the fact that the Habs are starting four rookie defensemen, which is a tough ask regardless of their talent.
Backing up this defense is goaltender Jake Allen, who is confirmed to start between the pipes in this game. Through nine starts this season, Allen is 4-5 with a .907 SV% and 3.11 GAA.
Among starting goaltenders, he ranks 16th in goals saved above expected per 60 minutes (GSAx/60) at 5v5. Across eight career starts against the Penguins, Allen is 3-4-1 with a .885 SV% and 3.73 GAA.
Best NHL Parlay Bet: Penguins Team Total Over 3.5 (-110)
Expect Goals in Sin City
Later in the evening, there is a Western Conference tilt between the Pacific Division’s Vegas Golden Knights and Central Division’s St. Louis Blues. These teams started the season in vastly different forms as the Knights are 13-2 while the Blues sit at the bottom of the Central with a 4-8 record.
There are two main culprits for St. Louis’ terrible start: poor defense and inconsistent goaltending. The Blues do not have a real number one defensemen as their blue line essentially consists of seasoned veterans who are nowhere near the talent level that they used to be.
At 5v5, St. Louis ranks just 19th in the league in xGA/60. Backing up this below-average defense is goaltender Jordan Binnington, who enters this contest in terrible form.
Over his last five starts, the Blues’ netminder is just 1-4 with a troubling .849 SV% and 4.77 GAA. His metrics suggest that positive regression will be tough to come by as he ranks 24th amongst starting goaltenders in GSAx/60 at 5v5.
Meanwhile, Vegas is developing into a Western Conference powerhouse and is looking like a legitimate Cup Contender. For the first time in two years, this team is finally fully healthy, and they are reaping the benefits, especially offensively as they rank second in the league in xGF/60 at 5v5.
The Knights have scored four or more goals in four straight games while the Blues have surrendered at least four in five of their last seven contests, two trends that are likely to continue Saturday night.
Best NHL Parlay Bet: Golden Knights Team Total Over 3.5 (-135)
