February 3rd, 2020 | The Hockey Betting Podcast
The latest edition of The Hockey Betting Podcast has Brian Blessing and Cam Stewart taking a look at games for Monday, February 3 and Tuesday, February 4, 2020.
There is a large lineup of games over the next two days with loads of opportunity. Both Cam and Brian see the next two nights as very challenging for handicappers. Brian is in a selective mood while Cam sees it the same way. But the guys have still found some strong plays. And as Brian says “This sport is the best to bet!”
The Hockey Betting Podcast is now produced three days per week on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Listen to the latest edition of The Hockey Betting Podcast to get all of Brian and Cam’s picks.
Monday, February 3, 2020 NHL Schedule and Betting Odds
Florida Panthers at Toronto Maple Leafs -167, 6.5 (TSN4)
The Toronto Maple Leafs barely got past the Ottawa Senators Saturday night 2-1 in overtime as -268 chalks. Those who bet the puck line to avoid the high price couldn’t have been pleased.
Cam correctly pointed out back on the Friday, January 31st, 2020 episode of The Hockey Betting Podcast that the Sens would be a handful in that tilt. The Leafs have now rallied to win three in a row in their push for the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Toronto holds the seventh playoff spot in the East while Florida has fallen two points out of the final post-season position despite winning six of their last seven.
This match-up boasts two of the highest scoring teams in the NHL. However, both teams are highly vulnerable on the back end and both rank near the bottom of the league for goals against and penalty killing. Brian calls this a “Monster Game” due to the all-important playoff points at stake.
Listen to today’s episode of The Hockey Betting Podcast for the pick in this one!
Dallas Stars -140, 6.5 at New York Rangers
On last Friday’s episode the guys called for the Stars to rebound from a 5-3 home loss to the Leafs, and they did with a 3-2 overtime win at New Jersey on Saturday. Dallas holds the fourth playoff spot in the West while the Broadway Blueshirts are nine points out in the East. The Stars struggle to light the lamp with a league rank of 27th for goals scored but are third for goals against. Brian calls Dallas a tough read while Cam sees a potential over and puck line play on the Stars.
Philadelphia Flyers -220, 6 at Detroit Red Wings (NBCSN)
The Flyers price with the NHL lines is high which means puck lines may be more preferable to some. Philadelphia is in a three-way tie for the final 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs spot in the East. Detroit has the worst record and goal differential in the NHL. The Flyers have won five of their last seven while the Red Wings have dropped five in a row. Will Gerard Gallant be hearing from Steve Yzerman soon?
Tuesday, February 4th, 2020 NHL Schedule and Betting Odds
Vancouver Canucks at Boston Bruins -186
Vancouver could be a live dog with bite as they are second in the West and are 7-2-1 in their last 10 games. Boston trails Washington by one point for top spot in the East and is also 7-2-1 in their last 10 games. The guys are impressed with Vancouver and think the Canucks can keep it going. Cam likes Boston but not the price so he passes.
Colorado Avalanche -136 at Buffalo Sabres
On the Wednesday, January 29th, 2020 episode of The Hockey Betting Podcast the guys stated their belief that the Buffalo Sabres had a golden opportunity to go on a run get back into the playoff race. But by the January 31st, 2020 episode, both Brian and Cam swear off the Sabres in total frustration with their lack of heart and poor results.
The Sabres have dropped three of their last four and rank in the bottom third of the league both offensively and defensively. The Avalanche are third in the West and are the highest goal scoring team in the league. Centre iceman Nathan MacKinnon has reached the 30-goal plateau.
Cam really likes the low price on the Avs. Brain thinks Jack Eichel is all that the out-manned Sabres have. Cam blasted Buffalo as “Eichel and a bunch of nobodies.” The guys like over the total in this one.
Vegas Golden Knights at Tampa Bay Lightning -175
Pete DeBoer’s Golden Knights have won two in a row on the road since the bye and hold the sixth playoff spot in West. But Tampa Bay is starting to re-gain the stride that took them to the Presidents Trophy in 2019. The Bolts have won four out of five to climb to fourth in the East, just six points behind the first place Capitals.
Brain says that if DeBoer is to turn around VGK, it will begin with faster play. He gives the new Vegas coach full marks for a 3-1-1 start to his tenure. Additionally, he points out it’s the Bolts first home game after a long road trip. However, Cam doesn’t like Vegas in this spot although at the same time he says the TBL price is too high.
Montreal Canadiens -167 at New Jersey Devils (TSN2 & RDS)
On last Friday’s episode of The Hockey Betting Podcast, Brian and Cam voice respect for Les Habitants good play of late, but also say they don’t have enough time to make the 2020 NHL Playoffs. They also point out how important Brendan Gallagher’s return is for the Habs.
Montreal is eight points out of a playoff spot despite winning six of their last nine games. The dreadful Devils are 15th in the East and have the second-worst goal differential in the NHL. New Jersey has dropped five of their last six.
Listen to today’s episode of The Hockey Betting Podcast for the winner of this one!
Dallas Stars at New York Islanders -129
Barry Trotz and the Isles are sixth in the East and are 15-7-4 on home ice with the NHL’s fourth-best goals against mark. However, New York has cooled off with six losses in their last eight games.
Cam really likes the Islanders after their heartbreaking loss to Vancouver. He also thinks the current Dallas road trip will catch up with the Stars here. The guys both like under the total.
Los Angeles Kings at Washington Capitals -315
Once again, the puck line may loom as an option for a Caps team that is a prohibitive favourite and top seed in the East. LA has won only eight out of 29 away games on the season and is in free fall with eight losses in their last ten games. The Kings rank dead last for goal scoring which doesn’t match up well against the loaded Caps. Washington has won five of their last seven and ranks fourth in the NHL for goal scoring.
The price is too high for the guys here and they will pass.
Florida Panthers at Columbus Blue Jackets -110
John Tortorella is loved for his acerbic wit and brutal honesty. Sometimes lost in the noise is that he can also flat-out coach. Torts has his Blue Jackets in the six-spot for the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs sparked by a back end that ranks third for goals against. CBJ is red hot with seven wins in their last eight games. This is a match-up of pure opposites with the Panthers ranked as the top goal scoring team in the league.
Cam likes C-Bus if Florida wins at Toronto on Monday. He also sees the Jackets as a hidden value.
Anaheim Ducks at Ottawa Senators (RDS2) -117
Two of the worst go at it in this one. Ottawa is a respectable 12-9-5 at home while the Ducks have won only nine of 27 away games. The guys like over the total if it is 5.5 and Cam likes the Sens here as well. He flatly states that Anaheim is “horrible.”
Carolina Hurricanes at St. Louis Blues -137
The defending Stanley Cup champion Blues dropped three of four on their recent post-NHL All-Star Break road trip but are still first in the West. The Note is also a lethal 17-4-4 on home ice. Carolina holds the final playoff spot in the East and ranks fourth for goals against. St. Louis is also tight on the back end ranking eighth for goals allowed.
They guys are thinking over the total here based on the scoring potential of both teams.
Chicago Blackhawks at Minnesota Wild -148 (NBCSN)
Minnesota may be a questionable favourite as the 12th place team in the Western Conference that ranks 26th for goals against. The re-building Blackhawks are just three points out of the final spot in the West for the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs with seven wins in their last 10 games.
Brian likes the Chicago goaltending tandem of Robin Lehner and Corey Crawford here, and Cam sees Minnesota as overpriced. Chicago is the way to go according to both.
Nashville Predators at Winnipeg Jets -113 (TSN3)
Nashville used to be the standard of the league for defence, but that is no longer the case as they rank an embarrassing 27th for goals against and 30th for penalty killing. As a result, the Preds are four points out of the last Western Conference playoff spot. Winnipeg is just one point ahead of the Preds with seven losses in their last 10 games. The Jets snapped a five-game losing streak on Saturday with a 5-2 payout against St. Louis.
Cam and Brian call this match-up a “coin flip.”
San Jose Sharks at Calgary Flames -165
Back on the Friday, January 31st episode of The Hockey Betting Podcast, Brian and Cam ravde about how the Battle of Alberta has lived up to its billing. That was certainly the case in the two games between Calgary and the Edmonton Oilers last week. When the goalies tangle, you know it’s for real!
However, the Flames were smoked at home by The Oil 8-3 Saturday night and have dropped three of their last four. As a result, Calgary is now seventh in the West. San Jose has won only three of their last 10 and has the third-worst goal differential in the NHL while residing in the 13th spot in the West.
Listen to today’s episode of The Hockey Betting Podcast for Cam’s pick!
Edmonton Oilers at Arizona Coyotes -125 (SN1 & ESPN+)
Connor McDavid continues to spark Edmonton to the top of the league for power play efficiency. The Oilers have climbed to fifth in the West after going 7-1-2 in their last 10 games. It’s time to press the panic button in the Desert. Arizona has dropped eight of their last nine as the league’s 23rd ranked offence has become a drag.
Cam has lost confidence in Arizona due to their recent slump. He sees Edmonton as the better team and likes both The Oil and over the total.
Make sure to listen to The Hockey Betting Podcast to get all of the picks and insight from Brian and Cam.
