After underdogs went 6-2 in NHL betting last night, we're looking for a return to normalcy on Friday as we back two Stanley Cup contenders to win big, and ride one of the best Over/Under trends of the early season.
Here are our best NHL picks and predictions for Friday, February 5.
NHL Picks for Today
Detroit Red Wings vs Tampa Bay Lightning
This just in: the defending Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning are really good, while the Detroit Red Wings are very, very bad. The Bolts hammered the Red Wings 5-1 on Wednesday night to hand them their seventh straight loss.
The Red Wings are awful in every phase of the game. They are 30th in the league in both goals per game and high-danger chances per 60 minutes, while ranking 27th in goals allowed with 3.64. They also rank 29th in the league on both the power play and the penalty kill.
Thomas Greiss is expected to once again get the start in nets for Detroit and he's still looking for his first win of the year, having gone 0-6-2 with a 3.46 GAA and a save percentage of .885.
While the Wings are brutal in every possible way, the Lightning are excellent. With 2019 Vezina Trophy winner Andrei Vasilevskiy in the crease, they are holding opponents to a league-low 2.13 goals per game. They also rank fifth in scoring with 3.63 goals per game and are second in high-danger chances per 60 minutes during 5v5 play.
We're not overthinking this one, back the Bolts on the puck line.
PREDICTION: Tampa Bay -1.5 (-140)
San Jose Sharks vs Anaheim Ducks
The Ducks have been a terrific option for Under bettors this year going 8-1-1 to the Under in their last 10 games. That's what will happen when you rank dead-last in the league in scoring with just 1.73 goals per game and are second-last on the power-play, converting on just 8.3 percent of chances with the man advantage.
But another ingredient to the Ducks' Under success has been the play of goaltender John Gibson. The workhorse has a GAA of 2.34 with a save percentage of .924 while starting in 10 of Anaheim's 11 games this season. Tonight, Gibson will try to stymy the San Jose Sharks, who are tied for 26th in the league in scoring with 2.5 goals per game.
While the Sharks are 7-3 O/U in their last 10 games overall that has a lot to do with strong offenses they have played against. As a matter of fact, over their last 13 games against teams with a losing record, they are 10-3 to the Under. Take the Under tonight.
PREDICTION: Under 5.5 (-110)
Los Angeles Kings vs Vegas Golden Knights
The Golden Knights are playing for the first time in 10 days as they try to improve on their already-impressive 5-1-1 record. The Kings are 3-4-2 and coming off a 3-1 loss to Anaheim on Tuesday.
The Knights will likely have Robin Lehner between the pipes tonight. Lehner has looked shaky recently, allowing four goals in each of his last two games. That said, his track record suggests he will bounce back, and the fact that the Knights allowed just 25 shots on net in each of his last two starts suggests he'll get plenty of help from his teammates.
I have far less faith in Los Angeles netminder Jonathan Quick, who is 2-1-2 with a 3.54 GAA and a save percentage of .885. The Kings rank 30th in the league in high-danger chances per 60 minutes at even strength, so they could be in trouble against a high-powered Knights team. Vegas ranks third in the NHL in high-danger chances generated and leads the league in expected goals for with 2.96 xGF/60.
The Knights are loaded with skill, toughness, and depth, both up front and on the blueline, and they dominate possession, ranking first in the league in Fenwick rating in 5v5 hockey. The Kings rank just 27th in the league in the same category.
L.A. has also been terrible on the road going back to last season, posting a 15-38 record in their previous 53 away games. While the Knights are 19-7 in their previous 26 contests at home. We're leaning towards Vegas on the puck line.
PREDICTION: Vegas -1.5 (+106)
Top NHL Consensus for Today
Want to know who today's biggest NHL betting and consensus bets are right now? Check out our top NHL consensus picks.
Thursday's picks: 0-3 (-3.0 units)
Season record to date: 17-34-2 (-18.24 units)
NHL Betting Card for February 5
- Tampa Bay -1.5 (-140)
- Under 5.5 (-110)
- Vegas -1.5 (+106)
NHL Parlays
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Use our NHL parlay calculator to create your own parlays and see their potential payouts.
Where Can I Bet on the NHL?
You can bet on NHL odds at every online and casino sportsbook, including NHL moneylines, puck lines, Over/Under totals, and a ton of NHL prop odds. Head over to our best-suggested sportsbooks for the top spots to bet on NHL odds in your area.
