NHL weekend betting preview: The 9 best value bets

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Thursday picked up a butter knife and drove it through my back. We somehow finished 1-2 but the fact that it wasn't 3-0 was sickening.

We lost an under 6.5 bet on a game that was scoreless with five minutes left in the second period, and we lost a side bet when the other team scored to tie the contest with 0.1 seconds left.

I nearly swore off betting for a month, but I'm no quitter. Let's get it back this weekend.

GOATs and scapegoats

Nick Ritchie registered his first two points with the Boston Bruins, scoring a goal and picking up an assist in a 4-3 win over the Dallas Stars to help us cash the over. He's the lone GOAT on a night that was full of scapegoats.

We can go any number of ways with our Thursday night villain, so I'll let you decide. Is it Curtis McElhinney, for letting in four goals on six shots in a span of eight minutes in the third period? Is it Mikael Granlund, for tying the game with 0.1 seconds left and then scoring in overtime, too? Or is it David Rittich, for losing his balance in the crease and failing to hug the post? They're all the worst.

Friday notes

The Minnesota Wild are playing good hockey, having won four straight away games as they visit the Columbus Blue Jackets on Friday night. The Wild are on a 4-2 run on the road versus Eastern Conference teams and have a respectable record on no rest this season. The Blue Jackets have been crippled by injuries and their results reflect that. They've lost four of five at home, barely beating an Ottawa Senators team who traded everyone, and they're on a 3-7 run at home to Western Conference teams.

The Wild have been good on the road, but the New York Rangers have been great. They've won nine straight away from MSG, including six of their last seven road games on no rest. The Philadelphia Flyers have been incredibly consistent on home ice, but the Rangers offer too much value in this spot to pass up.

The other contest that catches my eye is the Carolina Hurricanes hosting the Colorado Avalanche. The Hurricanes were the much better team in their 4-1 loss to the Dallas Stars on Tuesday, but they ran into a hot Anton Khudobin, who made 40 saves. I expect a similar effort from Carolina here and a bounce-back effort from Alex Nedeljkovic as the Canes put an end to the Avalanche’s six-game road winning streak.

Friday bets

• Minnesota Wild (+110)
• New York Rangers (+145)
• Carolina Hurricanes (-115)

Saturday notes

The New York Islanders have slumped their way into the wild-card race and need to figure things out in a hurry. They host the Boston Bruins on Saturday, who have won nine straight away games over the Islanders, and 12 of their last 13. The Isles have scored two or fewer goals in each of their last six home games against the Bruins.

The Chicago Blackhawks impressed on Thursday, winning in Tampa, and they've now won seven straight games away to Eastern Conference teams. They'll look to make it eight in a row Saturday against a Florida Panthers team that's lost five in a row on home ice, nine of its last 13 overall, and is coming off a demoralizing loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Speaking of the Leafs, they'll be looking to improve on a 2-6 run at home to Western Conference teams when they host the Vancouver Canucks, who are on an 8-1 run to the over away to Eastern Conference teams. Coming off a pair of huge wins, this might be a letdown spot for the Leafs, and a bounce-back one for the Canucks after losing Thursday in Ottawa. There's too much value with Vancouver to pass up.

The Hurricanes also offer value as short road 'dogs. They're visiting the Montreal Canadiens in the second leg of a back-to-back, but they're an impressive 7-2 on the road this season on no rest. They're also 3-0 on the road when playing at home the night before, and the Canadiens are on a 2-7 run on home ice when their opponent's playing on no rest. Injuries have taken their toll on the Canadiens, who are in a bit of a tailspin at the moment.

Saturday bets

• Boston Bruins (-125)
• Chicago Blackhawks (+130)
• Vancouver Canucks (+170)
• Carolina Hurricanes (+105)

Sunday notes

The Rangers and Flyers complete a home-and-home Sunday at Madison Square Garden, where the surging Rangers actually haven't been impressive of late. New York is just 4-5 in its last nine on home ice, while Philadelphia has won three in a row at MSG and six of its last eight.

The Blue Jackets host the Canucks, who are playing the night before in Toronto. Columbus has won five straight at home when it's had at least a day's rest and its opponent is playing the second leg of a back-to-back.

Sunday bets

• Philadelphia Flyers (play anywhere from +110 or higher)
• Columbus Blue Jackets (play anywhere from -130 or lower)

Alex Moretto is a sports betting writer for theScore. A journalism graduate from Guelph-Humber University, he has worked in sports media for over a decade. He will bet on anything from the Super Bowl to amateur soccer, is too impatient for futures, and will never trust a kicker. Find him on Twitter @alexjmoretto.