NHL Predictions and Picks: Can Ottawa Help its Goalie by Scoring Tonight?

Article By

Chris Wassel

Last Updated: Oct 18, 2022

Share On Your Network

Url copied!

NHL Predictions and Picks: Can Ottawa Help its Goalie by Scoring Tonight?

The NHL fires back with eight more games on Tuesday night. Ontario sports betting players should not be in a state of mourning over last night's Toronto Maple Leaf loss.

Last season, Toronto lost two games in the same inexplicable way to Ottawa and San Jose. Then they ran off their highest franchise point total.

Yes, the playoff ending was the same but do not jump off the cliff yet.

All that Monday Hockey

With so much hockey on Monday, the thought was, what about Tuesday? There is a medium slate of eight contests. So let's get your ready for your NHL betting.

Some lines keep swinging because of scheduling. Look at the teams either on the front-end or back-end of back-to-backs.

OK, it is time to get moving.

Boston Bruins at Ottawa Senators

The Boston Bruins went on a run where they won eight out of 10 games last year on the second game of a back-to-back. Expect that to be tested tonight, even against a Senators team that has been underwhelming so far.

Even facing Anton Forsberg, Boston might not have an easy time on Tuesday. Forsberg has been great in goal, but 0-2 despite a solid .924 save percentage. The Senators just cannot score goals for him. That will have to change in a hurry. Boston gave up three goals at home to Florida last night and could be a bit exhausted after chasing the Panthers around.

That is why the line has swung Ottawa’s way. The Senators stand as a 1.79 favorite; even that number could shorten in the coming hours. Their win-in-regulation number is a far more enticing 2.13. Forsberg has not seen overtime yet this season, so there is hope.

Canadian Sports Bettors should look more at a game with a reasonable moneyline like this. Sadly the Puckline (-1.5 goals) is at 2.93 but relying on Ottawa to win by two or more goals seems problematic. The values here seem like a challenge, unlike other spots on the Canadian ledger of things. Betting can always be an adventure.

Player props will be somewhere to look around and see where the value lies. Alex DeBrincat at 2.55 for an anytime goal is right within reach. Brady Tkachuk at 3.10 is also a prudent small-money wager. These are players that average more than four shots per game. The goals are bound to come eventually.

Buffalo Sabres at Edmonton Oilers

With four Canadian teams in action tonight, it was tough to pick just two. Do not fret. We saved a baffling one just for the readers. That is the Edmonton Oilers. The Oilers have had one of the best power plays in the NHL over the past several seasons. However, their team defense and goaltending can infuriate anyone over their inconsistency.

Buffalo can be a hazardous team to play against. Edmonton is a 1.39 favourite, and the Over is tilted to a hard seven. What do we mean by “hard seven”? This does not seem to budge.

The question is, how does that translate for goals tonight? It appears Stuart Skinner will get the start for Edmonton. Some have clamored for him to start all week long. Honestly, he may be the best goaltender the Oilers have. Wait, we said may? He was 6-6 last year in limited time and stopped all 31 shots in what has been mop-up duty.

The entertainment factor, again, is not a guarantee here. Edmonton can score goals in bunches but will Buffalo? That is the big question. There is a risk in taking the Oilers’ puckline at 1.98 on Sports Interaction. It seems like BetMGM is hovering around 2.05 for now. A Victor Olofsson anytime goal pays out at 3.90. It’s a long shot, but the Buffalo sniper looks good on the man advantage.

For the Oilers, tossing a small amount of money on Leon Draisaitl (8.50) and Connor McDavid (9.00) to score the first goal may even be advantageous. They have accounted for seven of their goals in some form.