Ryan Hodges
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Thursday’s NHL slate is absolutely jam packed from dinner time until bed time coast to coast. Not only is it a large slate, but it is also an intriguing one. There are great nationally televised matchups, division-rivalry showdowns and strong inter-conference matchups. Regardless of your team, if you are a hockey fan then Thursday night will be a great bridge to end of the week. Get the most comfortable spot on the couch and your favorite beverage ready for great NHL action all night long!
If you are looking to combine some picks from these games, check out these 3 parlay picks that have +1052 odds at DraftKings Sportsbook.
Los Angeles Kings vs Chicago Blackhawks over 6.5 (+100)
Edmonton Oilers -1.5 (+145) over New Jersey Devils
Calgary Flames -1.5 (+140) over Nashville Predators
Parlay odds: +1052
Los Angeles Kings vs Chicago Blackhawks over 6.5 (+100)
High totals have been prominent for both the Kings and Blackhawks early on this season. Chicago’s over/under record is 7-3 and Los Angeles’ is 8-3-1. The Blackhawks’ home over/under record combined with the Kings’ road over under record is 10-2-1. Both teams are exactly .500. It doesn’t matter whether these teams win or lose, are at home or on the road, their totals are climbing early on this season.
The Kings have been a bit more volatile, as they have scored or allowed 4+ goals in each of their 12 games played. Their NHL 8th-ranked goal scoring and 28th-ranked goal prevention is a good recipe for a high total. Their game totals currently average 7.42 overall and 8.00 on the road. Blackhawks games have averaged exactly 6.5 overall this season as they have exceeded expectations out of the gate. The overs trends and volatility of these teams match well with average-at-best goaltending for the over 6.5 at plus money to be great value.
Be sure to check out our NHL previews
Edmonton Oilers -1.5 (+145) over New Jersey Devils
Following slow starts of the season for both the Oilers and Devils, they have found their strides in the past week. Between these teams, Edmonton is the more proven and overall deeper, more dangerous team. Almost any time there is a plus money spread for Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, it will be a good value. Draisaitl has 13 points in his last 5 games, McDavid leads the NHL in goals and points (followed by Draisaitl at #2 in both categories) and Evander Kane is coming off a hat trick. This Edmonton team has found its groove and that doesn’t bode well for the rest of the league.
Again, the Devils are playing great right now — but it may be a flash in the pan. If it turns out they are here to stay, then that’s good for them and good for hockey. But we know what the Oilers are and they are the overall more reliable pick between these hot teams. Edmonton has won 5 straight and 6 of its last 7 as part of of a 7-3-0 record with plenty of wins against good teams. In the Oilers’ last 7 games they have defeated Carolina, Pittsburgh, St. Louis, Chicago, Calgary and Nashville. They scored 6+ goals in 4 of those games. Until the Oilers slow down at all, they are a great play.
Be sure to check out our full New Jersey Devils vs Edmonton Oilers predictions
Calgary Flames -1.5 (+140) over Nashville Predators
The Predators just haven’t been able to get on a roll yet this season. Nashville’s only win in its last 8 games is a 6-2 defeat of a reeling Blues team. In the other 7 games during that span, the Predators are 0-6-1 being outscored an average of 4.43-1.86. They are 2-8 against the spread overall and 0-4 against the spread on the road. Even if the Preds were playing a bottom-tier team, they wouldn’t be a reliable play tonight. Nashville has its work cut out for it against Calgary.
The Flames are 5-3-0 entering this game. Granted, that win percentage in a small sample size isn’t very impressive. But their wins have been quality wins and their losses have not been blowouts. Calgary’s wins have come against Colorado, Edmonton, Vegas, Carolina and Pittsburgh. That’s a bit of a gauntlet of a schedule to start a season. The Flames have a couple of 1-goal losses to teams that are playing well and their worse 3-goal loss came to a rolling Sabres team. They are in solid form to start the season. A price of +140 to cover 1.5 against this struggling Predators team is a solid value.
Be sure to check out our full Nashville Predators vs Calgary Flames predictions
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