NHL best bets today (Islanders have no bite without Sorokin)

Another night, another 3-0 sweep in the NHL.

Hot streaks don’t happen without some luck, and we certainly got some last night. The Panthers scored with 34 seconds left in the game to tie the Kings at 3-3 and cash in the OVER bet for us. Then, the Devils came back from a 2-0 deficit to tie the game and eventually beat the Stars in overtime.

Let’s hope Gamblor the Gambling God is on our side again tonight.

Let’s dive into my three best bets for tonight.

NHL best bets record-to-date

• 163-125-3 (+26.01 units)

NHL best bets today

• Kings/Lightning OVER 6 (-110)
• Canadiens/Senators UNDER 6.5 (-118)
• Golden Knights -110 vs. Islanders

Kings/Lightning OVER 6 (-110)

The Los Angeles Kings are on the second half of a back-to-back, which means they’ll likely play Jonathan Quick in net tonight. Based on that fact alone, expect plenty of goals tonight. Quick has absolutely stunk this year, sporting a goals against average of 3.34 and a save percentage of .884.

Things are going to be even worse for him tonight, facing a lightning team that’s scoring 3.9 goals over their last 10 games, the third best mark in the NHL over that stretch. With that being said, Tampa Bay hasn’t exactly been strong defensively, ranking 23rd in expected goals against over that same stretch.

I think this sets up for plenty of goals tonight, and I’ll jump on the total with it being set at six.

Canadiens/Senators UNDER 6.5 (-118)

Over their last 10 games, the Canadiens and Senators are scoring an averaged combined 5.08 goals per game. I don’t really understand why the total in this game is set at 6.5.

The Senators can’t hit the ocean from a boat lately, sporting a 7.08 shooting percentage during the same stretch, and now they face Sam Montembeault, who has a .918 save percentage in nine stats in January.

The Canadiens offensive woes aren’t solely due to their shooting abilities. For them, it’s just about a complete inefficiency in the offensive end. Their expected goals per game over their last 10 contests is 2.7, the fifth lowest in the NHL over that stretch.

Golden Knights -110 vs. Islanders

The Islanders are all defense and no offense. Or, should I say, all goaltending and no offense. Over their last 10 games, they’ve scored only 1.67 goals per game, by far the lowest mark in the NHL. Thankfully for them, they’ve allowed only 2.76 goals per game but they can thank Ilya Sorokin for that. Their expected goals against per game is 3.5.

But now, Sorokin is likely on the bench after a 23-save performance last night against the Red Wings. Semyon Varlamov will take his place, and while he’s a more than capable backup, he’s no Sorokin.

I absolutely can not trust them in a pick’em spot without Sorokin. I’ll take the Golden Knights, who are due to snap out of a three-game slump.