NHL Picks: We're Off After the Trade Deadline

Schedule Breakdown

Here is the number of hockey games by night. 

• Monday - 6
• Tuesday – 10
• Wednesday – 3
• Thursday – 11

The schedule starts to yo-yo out to something a little more normal. Even with other sports events happening, the NHL typically does this anyway. Condensed schedules are for some teams, while others get a little break. 

Then, expect a few fewer back-to-backs this week. Those are expected this weekend. This is also a time for some upsets and near upsets. Watch how Montreal and Arizona nearly came back on Sunday night as illustrations. Both Vegas and New Jersey were greater than -300 favorites. 

• San Jose (Monday, Tuesday)
• Buffalo (Monday, Tuesday)
• Calgary (Monday, Tuesday)
• Minnesota (Tuesday, Wednesday)
• Anaheim (Tuesday, Wednesday)

Also, look out for injuries this week. More than 130 NHL players are out of action because of various maladies. Specific teams, like Tampa Bay, could be significantly impacted, especially if Victor Hedman is out long-term. A few of their other players are banged up as well. Pay attention to the surroundings.

Early Week May Tell Us A Few Things

The schedule lets us spotlight a team like the Buffalo Sabres. Buffalo gets bettors hooked because of performances like Saturday against Tampa Bay. This is a younger team that has many growing pains. So with the exhilaration comes considerable frustration. With talent to spare, all Buffalo (and most teams) need is slightly above-average goaltending. Buffalo has three goaltenders, though. There lies a dilemma.

The Sabres entertain Edmonton and Dallas this week but play on Long Island on Tuesday. It is that back-to-back which draws in people.  Watching young stars like Tage Thompson, Connor McDavid, and Leon Draisaitl will be quite the spectacle. 

Remember, on Tuesday, there is a top-five battle between the Toronto Maple Leafs and New Jersey Devils. The Devils want revenge for the ending of their streak a few months back. 

There is an adjustment period for New Jersey and Timo Meier. That was evident in the last road trip, where the team defense struggled for the Devils. It is our marquis matchup of the week for a reason. Two of these “stacked” teams facing each other constantly is a must-bet.

Don't Sleep On Wednesday And Thursday

Wednesday blesses us with a solid contest between Minnesota and Winnipeg. Making heads or tails of what the Wild did at the deadline is still hard. Did they get much better or worse? That answer appears to be no. Winnipeg, though, has to stop the bleeding a little. They have fallen into the bubble.

After the usual “tank wars,” Thursday hits with quite the punch. Dallas battles Buffalo. The Islanders take on the Penguins as New York fends off several teams with games in hand. Edmonton goes to Boston to take on the league-best Bruins. Can Tampa Bay begin to bounce back at home against Vegas? Lastly, Los Angeles and Colorado get reacquainted. Even with their injuries, the Avalanche still can win the West.

We remembered Thursday also offers some matchups between teams in the thick of the playoff race. Also, after Tampa Bay had their lunch handed to them by Pittsburgh on Sunday, they played again on Thursday. No one is saying to bet the farm on Tampa, but placing a wager to ride the Lightning is not bad. 

Finally, Buffalo is the only team to play three games in four nights this week. Again, they can overcome that obstacle. Their problem boils down to consistent goaltending among their goalies. The Sabres can look great one night and get blown out the next. Are they indeed a playoff team or a pretender? We should start to find out this week.

Some Quick Points To Consider

• An Oilers, Jets, and Stars parlay pays out at +340 tonight.
• Los Angeles connecting on the Over (+100) and the Puckline (+150) is worth a look against Washington.
• Toronto-New Jersey is the big game of the week.
• Minnesota and Winnipeg could be low-scoring on Wednesday. See where the Under winds up.
• Watch that New York and Pittsburgh game Thursday. Can the Islanders continue their mastery over the Penguins?

Good luck, and once again, thanks for reading! We will carry some more plays on social media as conditions warrant.

Thanks to BetMGM for the early-week lines and TSN for the convenient schedule.