February 7th, 2020 | The Hockey Betting Podcast
The latest episode of The Hockey Betting Podcast has Brian Blessing and Cam Stewart taking a look at games for Friday, February 7, Saturday, February 8, and Sunday, February 9, 2020.
The jockeying for NHL Playoff positions continues with a compressed schedule that crams a large amount of games into a short amount of time. That is certainly the case for this weekend which looks like one of the best cards so far this season.
Listen to the latest edition of The Hockey Betting Podcast to get all of Brian and Cam’s picks.
Friday, February 7th 2020 NHL Schedule, Betting Odds and Free Picks
Anaheim Ducks at Toronto Maple Leafs -230, 6.5 (SNO)
On Wednesday’s (02/05/2020) episode of The Hockey Betting Podcast, Cam pointed out that the Toronto Maple Leafs are too soft and that will cause their demise come the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Leafs are two points out of the last wild card spot in the East and have lost two in a row. Puck lines may get action for Toronto due to the high price here. Toronto’s analytics geeks continue to fail at cracking the code for their abysmal NHL rankings of 25th for both goals allowed and penalty killing. Goaltender Frederik Andersen remains doubtful with a neck injury. Further worrisome is that the heavily-favoured Leafs have won only 13 out of 27 home games. Anaheim has paid in only 10 out of 29 away games, ranks 29th for goal scoring and is dead last for the power play. The guys are thinking over the total here. Cam likes Toronto but not the price.
Buffalo Sabres at New York Rangers -175. 6.5
On the last three episodes of The Hockey Betting Podcast the Sabres have been the top whipping boys of both Brian and Cam – with plenty of good reason. Buffalo’s latest debacle was a Thursday night 4-3 shootout home loss as -225 chalks to the lowly Detroit Red Wings. The guys called for a big money Detroit upset in that tilt. It was Buffalo’s fifth loss in six games. The Sabres five-game homestand has mercifully come to a close and perhaps the road will offer them refuge. The Rangers have won three of their last four games. Brian likes over the total and Cam agrees. Cam also likes the Rangers and says the price isn’t that bad considering how awful the Sabres are.
Detroit Red Wings at Columbus Blue Jackets -315. 5.5
Detroit is coming off that rare road win at Buffalo, but now face a tight and disciplined CBJ team that holds the seventh playoff spot in the East. The Blue Jackets have gone under the total in 20 of 28 home games and rank third best in the NHL for goals allowed. Coach John Tortorella’s Jackets are red-hot with eight wins in their last nine games. And eight of their last 10 have gone under the total. The price is way too high for the guys here, and they pass.
Minnesota Wild at Dallas Stars -170, 5 (NHL Network)
The Wild have quietly beaten the NHL odds in five of their last seven games to remain within four points of the final playoff spot in the West. This is a match-up of opposites. Dallas ranks 26th in the NHL for goal scoring but second for goals allowed. By contrast the Wild are 15th for goals scored but 29th for goals allowed and 30th for penalty killing. Cam likes Dallas in what he calls a “chalky” Friday night and likes over the total.
Saturday, February 8th 2020 NHL Schedule, Betting Odds and Free Picks
Ottawa Senators at Winnipeg Jets -175 (NHL Network, CBC, SN)
The Jets are in rapid descent with only three payouts in their last 10 games and a disturbing home record of 12-12-3. But the Sens have won only five out of 26 away games. Puck lines may be the preferred method for Jets backers based on the high price for this one. Cam will take a look at Ottawa due to price and has a theory that dogs often do well on Hockey Day in Canada.
Arizona Coyotes at Boston Bruins -200
Boston has over-taken the Capitals for top spot in the Eastern Conference and is riding a five-game winning streak. On Wednesday’s (02/05/2020) episode of The Hockey Betting Podcast, Brian expected the Coyotes to build upon the momentum of their February 4th win over Edmonton. But Arizona dropped the eighth match-up in their last 10 outings in a 5-3 home loss to Carolina. The slumping Coyotes can’t find enough reliable goal scoring and hold a slim two-point lead for the 2020 NHL Playoffs in the West. The guys pass on this one.
Nashville Predators at Edmonton Oilers -114 (SN360, CITY)
Nashville has won two in a row to climb within one point of the final post-season slot in the West. Edmonton boasts the NHL’s best power play and that could be a match-up advantage here against Nashville’s leaky defence and penalty killing unit. Cam likes the price on The Oil here as well as the over.
Toronto Maple Leafs -125 at Montreal Canadiens (NHL Network, CBC)
Nothing speaks NHL Tradition like a Hockey Night in Canada match-up of the Leafs and Habs. Montreal has won seven of their last 10 to pull within six points of the final 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs spot in the East.
Listen to The Hockey Betting Podcast for in-depth analysis from Brian and Cam on this Original Six Classic rivalry showdown!
New York Islanders at Tampa Bay Lightning -205
Tampa Bay has kicked into high gear with a five-game winning streak and a home record of 17-7-2. New York has won three of their last four. The Lightning did not push themselves in the first half of the season but have the look of a top contender now. Brian thinks the Islanders could be a dog with bite in this spot. He also sees NYI as dangerous in the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Cam says the TBL price is way too high.
Pittsburgh Penguins at Florida Panthers -118
Two of the hottest teams in the league meet here with each having posted seven wins their last 10 games. Despite that, the Panthers trail Philadelphia by one point for the final playoff spot in the East.
The guys warn that the Panthers back end is terrible and makes the team a “train wreck.” Cam says that Florida’s signing of over-rated goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky could be the worst transaction of the NHL season. He likes Pittsburgh here.
Los Angeles Kings at New Jersey Devils -148
Insomniacs should tune into this match-up between two low scoring teams. LA has won only two of their last 10 and has just eight wins in 31 road tilts this season. The Kings have gone over the total in only one of their last six. Cam calls New Jersey the “weirdest team in the league” this year, and it’s hard to argue with that. He also likes the Devils due to recent play and the price.
Philadelphia Flyers at Washington Capitals -195
Washington’s 6-4 mark in their last 10 games has put them a point behind Boston for top seed in the East. On Wednesday’s (02/05/2020) episode of The Hockey Betting Podcast, the guys correctly called for Thursday’s 5-0 Flyer home loss to New Jersey as whopping -223 chalks. Coach Alain Vigneault’s Flyers hold a precarious one point lead in the East for the final 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs spot. Brian sees a strong Flyers effort and high scoring game. Cam says this could be a dangerous game for the Caps, and he may take a shot on Philadelphia.
Colorado Avalanche -143 at Columbus Blue Jackets
On Wednesday’s episode (02/05/2020) Brian said he has bet Colorado to win the Stanley Cup. Nathan MacKinnon leads the NHL’s highest scoring team with 30 goals. Brian likes this as a quality match-up and thinks that the Avs are too expensive. Cam believes Colorado could be in a letdown spot here and says that C-Bus is consistently undervalued by the oddsmakers.
Dallas Stars at St. Louis Blues -148
The Stars rank 26th in the NHL for goal scoring and that may be a road block to their post season hopes. St. Louis is singing the Blues with six losses in their last eight games. However, the Blues are still top seed in the West with a seven-point lead over Vancouver. Cam says “what do you do” in this match-up? He doesn’t like the Blues price and thinks Dallas is a quality dog.
Calgary Flames at Vancouver Canucks -121 (CBC)
The Flames have been snuffed out in their last three games, as well as five of their last six, and are just one point ahead of Nashville for the West’s final playoff spot. Calgary’s lack of offence is catching up to them at the worst possible time. The Canucks return to home ice off a brutal five-game road trip and have also dropped three in a row.
Listen to the Hockey Betting Podcast for the guy’s full analysis of this critical Western Conference showdown.
Carolina Hurricanes at Vegas Golden Knights -148
On Wednesday’s (02/05/2020) episode of The Hockey Betting Podcast, Brian called for the Golden Knights to flop at Florida thinking that their minds would be on the flight back to Sin City. Instead Vegas destroyed the Panthers 7-2 for their third win in four games. This is the first Vegas home game since January 11 and the T-Mobile Arena debut of Peter DeBoer as Golden Knights coach. Brian is thinking that Carolina is a strong contrarian dog pick and Cam is in line. Brain sees this price going up due to local fan betting money which adds to the Hurricanes value here.
Sunday, February 9, 2020 NHL Key Games
Boston Bruins at Detroit Red Wings (NBC)
Boston can name the score here and that may cause gravitation to the puck line instead of having to lay the heavy lumber against the Dead Wings. Detroit has gotten the cash in only eight out of 28 games on home ice.
Colorado Avalanche at Minnesota Wild (NBCSN)
The Avs wrap up a five-game road swing in this one and are playing the dreaded third game in four nights.
Make sure to listen to The Hockey Betting Podcast to get all of the picks and insight from Brian and Cam.
