NHL Hockey Best Bets for March 11, 2016
Only five games on tonight’s NHL board but two are epic matchups and two have serious playoff implications. Here are our best bets:
PITTSBURGH PENGUINS AT COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS:
Very important game for the Penguins who are treading water (5-5-0 L10) and are hanging on to the final wild card spot in the Eastern Conference. Actually, they’re going back in forth with Detroit for the final wild card spot. Currently the Red Wings hold the top wild card position with 77 points, the Penguins are right behind with 76 points. The bigger problem is that there is a pack of teams that are within striking distance of Detroit and Pittsburgh and would love one of the two wild card spots. Philadelphia and Carolina are 3 points back. New Jersey is five points back. Montreal and Ottawa are 6 points back. The Flyers are the most immediate concern since they’re the only one of the bunch playing exceptionally well at the moment (7-2-1 L10). Worth noting that Pittsburgh has games against Carolina at home and Philadelphia on the road coming up in the next week.
Everyone knows Columbus’ story by now but the important thing is that it’s obvious that John Tortorella won’t let his team quit on the season. The Jackets have won five of their last eight and are coming off an impressive 5-3 home win over Detroit. Columbus isn’t going anywhere due to their shabby start to the season butthey can still pick off a few of the teams above them in the standings. The Blue Jackets will get starting goalie Sergei Bobrovsky back tonight–he was activated off the injured reserve list yesterday. The most important statistical component to this game could be each team’s performance when stepping up or down in class. The Penguins have been excellent against opponents with losing records going 17-10 this season and 9-1 in the second half. Columbus has struggled when stepping up in class–12-20 against teams over .500 year to day and 2-6 in the second half.
BET PITTSBURGH PENGUINS -145 OVER COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS
PHILADELPHIA FLYERS AT TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING:
Two of the hottest teams in the NHL go at it and there are plenty of playoff implications. The Tampa Bay Lightning are tied with Florida for second place in the Atlantic Division one point back of the improbable Boston Bruins. Tampa has been playing great hockey (8-1-1 L10) but so has Boston (6-2-2 L10). Philadelphia is trying to run down Pittsburgh for the last wild card spot in the Eastern Conference and is playing very well (7-2-1 L10). This is the second half of a home and home series–the Flyers beat Tampa Bay at home 4-2 on Monday night. The Flyers have been idle since then while the Lightning lost to the Bruins on Tuesday. Tampa Bay is the better team but not sure that the line reflects how well Philadelphia has been playing of late. Lightning have had their way with Philadelphia at home winning four straight but at this price I’d rather have the Flyers.
BET PHILADELPHIA FLYERS +155 OVER TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING
ANAHEIM DUCKS AT ST. LOUIS BLUES:
The first of two heavyweight matchups on Friday. St. Louis is currently in third place in the Central Division with 87 points, 1 point behind co-leaders Chicago and Dallas. Since the Blackhawks and Stars play each other tonight they’ve got the challenge to keep pace but also the opportunity to pick up ground. Anaheim is the best story in hockey this year. The Ducks started 1-9-1 and almost got head coach Bruce Boudreau fired. They kept plugging away and over the past two months have been the best team in the NHL. They recently saw their 11 game winning streak end but they’re still 8-1-1 in their last 10 games. They’re one point off of the Pacific Division lead and have a three point advantage over third place San Jose. They’re also five points back of Chicago and Dallas in the Western Conference standings–the fact that they even have a look at the best overall record in the conference after their pitiful start is astounding.
The Ducks are still struggling to score goals (#24 in goals scored per game) but are excellent in every other statistical category. They’re tied for the #1 goals against per game, have the best penalty kill in the NHL and the #3 power play. The Blues beat rival Chicago last time out while the Ducks lost 3-0 to Colorado. Anaheim is the better team at this point–in fact, they’re likely the best team in the conference at this point–and can’t imagine they’re in a good mood after being shut out by the Avalanche. Ducks have won 6 of the last 8 head to head but the teams have split the last four in St. Louis. Just have a hard time going against the Ducks at this juncture.
BET ANAHEIM DUCKS +105 OVER ST. LOUIS BLUES
CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS AT DALLAS STARS:
In terms of the standings, this is the biggest game of the night. While I’m of the opinion that our previous matchup between Anaheim and St. Louis is really the biggest matchup this battle is very significant. The Blackhawks and Stars are tied for the #1 spot in both the Central Division and the Western Conference. Neither team is playing great hockey at the moment (Chicago 5-3-2 L10, Dallas 3-5-2 L10). Dallas has won two of the three meetings this year while Chicago holds an 8-5 edge over the past three seasons including a 5-2 advantage in Dallas
Dallas will be without forward Patrick Sharp and defenseman John Klingberg tonight and tomorrow night against St. Louis. The Blackhawks have Jonathan Toews listed as ‘probable’, defenseman Christian Ehrhoff and forward Marian Hossa as ‘questionable’. The most recent information suggests that Hossa will play tonight. Media reports suggest that Toews didn’t skate earlier today but will play tonight despite his injured hip. Ehrhoff’s status is unknown–he took a hard hit from Ryan Reaves in Wednesday’s game against St. Louis.
Personally, I haven’t been sold on Dallas all season. The Blackhawks have more balance, better defense and a championship pedigree. Dallas in a brutal back-to-back with St. Louis tomorrow night. There’s a good chance the Stars will be in third place after this weekend is over.
BET CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS -115 OVER DALLAS STARS