?NHL Tuesday best bets: Sabres, Flyers to snap losing skids?
Monday was a quiet night on the ice but a good one. The Islanders took care of business for us in Ottawa, while Tyler Toffoli piled up the shots at home to the Kings.
We'll look to build on a strong night with a couple plays for Tuesday's nine-game slate.
Over the last 10 games, the Canucks rank 26th in expected goal share at five-on-five. They're routinely getting outchanced, and their defense is quite a problem with and without the puck. They don't defend well - 26th in expected goals against per 60 over the past 10 - and they lack capable puck-movers to get them out of trouble and transition safely up ice.
The list of issues only continues from there. The goaltending is struggling mightily, with Thatcher Demko looking like a shell of his usual self. J.T. Miller is making highlights on a nightly basis for all the wrong reasons, the players look out of sync, management is publicly criticizing Bruce Boudreau, and there seems to be a lack of stability from top to bottom.
While the Sabres enter this game on a five-game losing streak, they're not playing too badly. In fact, Buffalo ranks ninth in expected goal share over the last 10 games. The Sabres are controlling much of the run of play, but they've been sunk by their 32nd-ranked goaltending.
Even without Mattias Samuelsson, whose absence makes life more difficult on the netminders, the Sabres won't continue getting .870 goaltending forever.
Perhaps some positive regression - coupled with a strong matchup for the Sabres' sixth-ranked scoring offense - will be enough to snap their skid.
Bet: Sabres (-120)
The Blue Jackets have been a complete disaster through the first chunk of the season. At full strength, they rank 29th in high-danger chance share and dead last in save percentage. It should be no surprise then they sit tied with the Ducks for last in wins (four) and points (nine).
Things appear likely to get even worse for the Blue Jackets. They have just been hit with a wave of injuries, and not just to run-of-the-mill players.
Star defenseman Zach Werenski, sniper Patrik Laine, playmaking winger Jakub Voracek, and highly touted rookie Kent Johnson are among the handful of players who have suffered injuries and/or been placed on IR over the last few days.
That's a lot of offense missing from a team that relies heavily on its big guns to create. With so much talent out of the lineup, it's fair to wonder how the Blue Jackets will put the puck past Carter Hart.
The 24-year-old owns a ridiculous .937 save percentage on the season and leads the league in goals saved above expectation (+15.6). For perspective, Connor Hellebuyck (+10.5) and Ilya Sorokin (+10.1) are the only other netminders above 10.
With a big edge in goal and the Blue Jackets missing so many key players, the Flyers have a strong chance of ending their three-game losing streak.
Bet: Flyers (-110)
Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. Be sure to follow him on Twitter @ToddCordell.
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Monday was a quiet night on the ice but a good one. The Islanders took care of business for us in Ottawa, while Tyler Toffoli piled up the shots at home to the Kings.
We'll look to build on a strong night with a couple plays for Tuesday's nine-game slate.
Canucks (+100) @ Sabres (-120)
The Canucks have won just four times through 16 games, and the numbers don't indicate things are destined to improve anytime soon.Over the last 10 games, the Canucks rank 26th in expected goal share at five-on-five. They're routinely getting outchanced, and their defense is quite a problem with and without the puck. They don't defend well - 26th in expected goals against per 60 over the past 10 - and they lack capable puck-movers to get them out of trouble and transition safely up ice.
The list of issues only continues from there. The goaltending is struggling mightily, with Thatcher Demko looking like a shell of his usual self. J.T. Miller is making highlights on a nightly basis for all the wrong reasons, the players look out of sync, management is publicly criticizing Bruce Boudreau, and there seems to be a lack of stability from top to bottom.
While the Sabres enter this game on a five-game losing streak, they're not playing too badly. In fact, Buffalo ranks ninth in expected goal share over the last 10 games. The Sabres are controlling much of the run of play, but they've been sunk by their 32nd-ranked goaltending.
Even without Mattias Samuelsson, whose absence makes life more difficult on the netminders, the Sabres won't continue getting .870 goaltending forever.
Perhaps some positive regression - coupled with a strong matchup for the Sabres' sixth-ranked scoring offense - will be enough to snap their skid.
Bet: Sabres (-120)
Flyers (-110) @ Blue Jackets (-115)
I don't think much of these Flyers - regular readers should be well aware - but I'll back any team if I feel the value is there, and I see value on Philadelphia.The Blue Jackets have been a complete disaster through the first chunk of the season. At full strength, they rank 29th in high-danger chance share and dead last in save percentage. It should be no surprise then they sit tied with the Ducks for last in wins (four) and points (nine).
Things appear likely to get even worse for the Blue Jackets. They have just been hit with a wave of injuries, and not just to run-of-the-mill players.
Star defenseman Zach Werenski, sniper Patrik Laine, playmaking winger Jakub Voracek, and highly touted rookie Kent Johnson are among the handful of players who have suffered injuries and/or been placed on IR over the last few days.
That's a lot of offense missing from a team that relies heavily on its big guns to create. With so much talent out of the lineup, it's fair to wonder how the Blue Jackets will put the puck past Carter Hart.
The 24-year-old owns a ridiculous .937 save percentage on the season and leads the league in goals saved above expectation (+15.6). For perspective, Connor Hellebuyck (+10.5) and Ilya Sorokin (+10.1) are the only other netminders above 10.
With a big edge in goal and the Blue Jackets missing so many key players, the Flyers have a strong chance of ending their three-game losing streak.
Bet: Flyers (-110)
Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. Be sure to follow him on Twitter @ToddCordell.
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