NHL Picks: Can the Ottawa Senators Keep Up Hot Scoring Against Minnesota?
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The NHL week continues with ten more games on Thursday night. Ontario sports bettors should be encouraged that Montreal and Calgary are at home tonight against teams capable of giving up a few goals.
Let’s get you ready for your NHL betting with our picks tonight.
Montreal Canadiens at Buffalo Sabres
The Canadiens and Sabres face off on Thursday, which could feature some offence. Montreal and Buffalo are younger teams who like to sacrifice defence for a little more pace.
Montreal’s defence and special teams are the root of their headaches. Fortunately, tonight it is kind of facing a team that is similar. Buffalo does possess a bit more offensive firepower, but goaltending is about the same.
That means low-key wagers can be placed with Montreal. Those will feature less risk. Looking toward players like Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield can pay dividends.
Bettors in Canada should look at the Over on a night like this. That 1.80 number is reasonable, but not wrong, either. The Montreal first-period three-way lies at 3.01. If it goes below 3, stay away. However, a ¼ unit wager is not out of bounds here. A few dollars here or there does not break one’s bankroll.
These two teams, as we said, can score goals. It is the defending part that is questionable. Shot props could move around later, so watch for action after morning skates. Montreal can give up 35+ shots, and Buffalo is one of those teams that can fire close to 35 shots on a given night.
Minnesota Wild at Ottawa Senators
With six Canadian teams in action tonight, that spreads things around. Do not fret. We saved a gem for the readers. That is the Senators entertaining the Wild. Minnesota defeated Montreal on Tuesday night, while Ottawa won its fourth straight game, beating a game Dallas Stars team earlier in the week.
Ottawa is red-hot scoring lately. The Senators have put 22 pucks in the net over the last four contests. Minnesota has been hitting the Over with regularity in the early going.
What does that mean for tonight? It figures to be Anton Forsberg in goal for Ottawa going up against Marc-Andre Fleury for Minnesota.
Ottawa might be inspired knowing that Josh Norris will be out for at least three months because of a shoulder injury. His 2022-23 season is in jeopardy. After losing two straight, the Senators have won four consecutive games since.
Ottawa, in regulation, is up to 2.44. The Over is dicey at 1.76. With 6.5 goals, that needs to be around 1.80 to 1.85. Use caution. The Senators’ moneyline is something to watch.
Edmonton Oilers at Chicago Blackhawks
Edmonton and Chicago could be the scariest matchup of the night. Chicago has won four straight games, and Edmonton is coming off a massive win in St. Louis, where it allowed just one goal. Jack Campbell figures to start this game versus a motivated and rested Blackhawks team. The Oilers are heavily favoured in the 1.40 to 1.45 range on the back end of a back-to-back.
The surprise involves that Over 6.5 is still holding firm at 1.80. Honestly, 7.0 was inevitable waking up this morning. Leon Draisaitl scored again last night and could again tonight, too. Two of the past three meetings have hit the Over right at seven. Look for some possible afternoon line movement before making any decisions.
Vancouver Canucks at Seattle Kraken
As much as we wanted to touch on Toronto, its matchup against the San Jose Sharks has less value than the Battle of the Pacific Northwest. Vancouver is a total mess, with several players out because of injury. Their 0-5-2 record does not help matters. The best thing is a trip across Puget Sound to Seattle.
Seattle features issues of its own. The Kraken needs help holding leads themselves. The only difference is they have three wins. Vancouver allows more than four goals a game, while Seattle yields 3.5. Despite this, the Over of 6.5 is at 1.95 because Vancouver is struggling to score goals.
The Kraken give up their goals in bunches. See the Chicago game as a viable example. They do not always yield a ton of shots. It truly is the chances Seattle allows at the worst possible times. For as awful as Vancouver has been, the Moneyline is only 2.02, and the in-regulation number is a whopping 2.67. It might be tonight if there was time to toss a ¼ unit wager on both.
Some Random Wagers For Canadian Sports Bettors Tonight
Here are some early ideas:
- Montreal to lead after 20 - 3.01
- Sabres to win by 1 - 7.25
- J.T. Miller Over 0.5 PowerPlay points - Check for number later
- Canucks in regulation - 2.67
Good luck. There may be a few more plays via social media later on today. Look out for John Ryan’s hockey pick of the day, also. Thanks for reading!
Numbers are via Sports Interaction and BetMGM.
What Went Wrong Last Night
On the bright side, Edmonton and Stuart Skinner winning was great news for the Oilers.
The good thing about not having any wagers on Edmonton was enjoying what became quite the physical goaltending duel.
For once, nothing went wrong here, which was good.
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