NHL Betting Odds, Picks & Predictions: Tuesday (2/21)
The NHL season churns on as we enter the final quarter of the season. Tonight’s slate offers nine games, including a couple of intriguing matchups. The Red-hot Red Wings square off against the slumping Capitals, the Sabres host the Maple Leafs, and the Wild take on the Kings in a Western Conference clash.
Let’s dive into my top three plays on the ice tonight.
Trent’s Betting Record Since 1/21/2023
- Total: 10-12 (-2.60 Units)
- NHL: 8-10 (-2.47 Units)
Tuesday’s Best NHL Bets
Detroit Red Wings vs. Washington Capitals
The Eastern Conference playoff race continues to heat up, seeing just five points separate the top six Wild Card contenders. The Capitals have lost four straight games, moving them to fourth place in the Wild Card with 62 points. As for the Red Wings, they’ve rattled off five wins in their last six games, bringing their season back to life. Detroit comes into this one in sixth place with 60 points. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. ET from Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C.
With the way the Wings are playing, I just can’t pass up a plus-money payout with them. They’re getting contributions from everyone right now, but it’s especially been the captain, Dylan Larkin, who has really come on recently. The centerman, who can’t escape the constant questions regarding his contract negotiations, is showing the front office why he should be paid like a top player. Coming out of the All-Star break, where Larkin netted five goals over two All-Star games, he’s racked up 12 points (7G, 5A) over the subsequent six games. He’s riding a six-game point streak coming into tonight’s action.
Furthermore, Washington’s defense has abandoned them in their recent stretch of hockey. They’ve dropped four straight games, surrendering 17 goals over the span. Look for Detroit’s upward-trending offense to take advantage of the Caps’ recent misfortunes and edge out a road win. Let’s lock in the Red Wings moneyline here.
Bet: Detroit Red Wings Moneyline (+135 via DraftKings)
Anaheim Ducks vs. Tampa Bay Lightning
Anaheim makes the short trip over from Sunrise, where they blew two separate leads to the Florida Panthers yesterday. The Ducks jumped out to a 2-0 lead early and claimed a 3-2 lead late in the third period; however, the Panthers fought back and won the game 4-3 in overtime. It doesn’t get any easier tonight as Anaheim is tasked with taking on the Tampa Bay Lightning. This one gets underway at 7:00 p.m. ET from Amalie Arena.
The Ducks have been a profitable fade all season, so why not continue to hammer their opponent? Unfortunately, we have to lay quite a bit of juice with this play, but I’d say it’s my most confident of the three bets tonight. Let’s take the Bolts -1.5 on their home ice.
Anaheim will likely be running on fumes in this game. They spent the vast majority of yesterday’s game in their own zone, absolutely laboring to try and cling to the lead. Florida amassed 55 shots against them, and without John Gibson’s herculean efforts, that game would’ve gotten out of hand much earlier.
I expect this well-rested Tampa Bay team, returning home after a 2-1-1 west coast road trip, to come into this game fresh and mop the floor with the Ducks. The Lightning is currently in third in the Atlantic, trailing the Leafs by three points with two games in hand. This is a great opportunity to narrow the gap in the standings, and I think the Bolts will pounce on it. Give me Tampa -1.5 at home.
Bet: Tampa Bay Lightning -1.5 (-195 via DraftKings)
Philadelphia Flyers vs. Edmonton Oilers
The Flyers got back in the win column last night, squeezing by the Flames 4-3 at the Saddledome. As for the Oilers, they’ve dropped four straight games but have earned points in the last three. This cross-conference showdown is set for 9:00 p.m. ET from Rogers Pace in Alberta.
While Edmonton has sputtered recently, it’s worth noting that their offense has not been the issue. They’ve netted 15 goals over the four-game skid, pushing them back into the top spot in the league offensively (3.8 GPG). Furthermore, the Oilers still own the top-ranked power play unit in the NHL, cashing in on 31.3% of their man-advantage opportunities.
There’s a silver lining in the losing streak, and that’s that the offense continues to light up the scoreboard on a nightly basis. Considering they’re hosting a much inferior offensive team (27th, 2.7 GPG) on the second night of a back-to-back, Edmonton should have no issue getting back into the win column. Let’s back the Oilers on the puck line.
Bet: Edmonton Oilers -1.5 (-130 via DraftKings)
