NHL Tuesday betting preview: Leafs stay hot in California

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It's been a fantastic start to the week, as we followed up a 2-0 Sunday with a big night Monday.

We finished 2-1 with our official plays while also hitting on Leon Draisaitl to score two or more goals at +700 and our trend of the night at +150. If you tailed on those, you raked.

Let's stay on the gravy train.

GOATs and scapegoats

Was there ever any doubt about Draisaitl being crowned Monday's GOAT following his four-goal effort against the Nashville Predators?

Filip Forsberg assumes the role of scapegoat for managing just one shot on goal. We took him over 2.5 shots, which proved to be our only loss of the night.

Tuesday bets

New York Rangers' team total over 2.5 (-130)

The Rangers' playoff hopes took a big hit over the weekend, as they lost a pair of games against the Philadelphia Flyers. New York's goaltending has waned, but the offense hasn't dried up. The Rangers have scored at least three goals in 10 of their last 12 games as they get set to host a St. Louis Blues team that's allowed three or more goals in nine consecutive away contests against Eastern Conference teams. Trust the Rangers' offense in a bounce-back spot at Madison Square Garden.

Tampa Bay Lightning (-120)

It's incredible what a mini-losing skid can do to a team's perception. The Lightning lost four in a row, as well as captain Steven Stamkos to injury, and everyone seems to be down on a club that had been dominating over the last two months. They've proven to be a streaky team, winning 11 in a row at home before their small losing skid. They got back on track with a win Saturday and now host a Boston Bruins team they've won five in a row against in Florida. Give me the Bolts at a discounted price, please.

Minnesota Wild (-130)

If you're a firm believer in a team bouncing back from a miserable display, then this might not be the bet for you. The Predators were humiliated on home ice Monday, but they have the opportunity to quickly put that behind them when they visit the Wild. The issue is Nashville is on a 3-7 run on the road when playing on no rest and is 0-2 this season in away games when playing at home the night before. The Wild are hot, winning five of their last seven, and could climb ahead of the Predators in the playoff race with a win. This is a huge game for the Wild, and it could represent a bounce-back effort of their own after they lost to the Washington Capitals on Sunday night.

Best bet

Toronto Maple Leafs -1.5 (+150)

Is this the same Leafs team that lost to the Zamboni driver? It sure doesn't look that way, as Toronto has won three in a row since that harrowing night and is arguably playing its best hockey of the season. The Leafs have won nine of their last 10 road games against Western Conference teams, and all nine of those wins were by at least two goals. The San Jose Sharks are on a mini two-game winning streak on home ice but had lost four in a row before that at the SAP Center, all by two or more goals.

Trend of the night

The Edmonton Oilers are 6-1 this season in the second leg of back-to-backs and 5-1 on no rest when playing on the road. They visit the Dallas Stars after winning in Nashville on Monday, and if you believe in the outstanding hockey the Oilers are playing at the moment, then they're well worth a flier at +150.

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.