NHL Tuesday best bets: Singing the Blues in Ottawa
We have a mouth-watering slate to work with tonight, as 18 of the league's 32 sides are in action.
Let's waste no time and dive right into our best bets.
Stars (+220) @ Avalanche (-270)
The Colorado Avalanche and Dallas Stars played in a low-scoring affair just a few days ago. I expect more of the same in tonight's rematch.
Colorado receives credit for being an offensive powerhouse - understandably so - but the team's no slouch in the defensive zone. The Avalanche are quite adept at limiting shots and chances.
At five-on-five, Colorado ranks fourth in the NHL in scoring chances allowed per 60 minutes over the last 10 games. The franchise also ranks fourth in expected goals against, suggesting this is still a top-end team at limiting dangerous opportunities after weighing the shots and chances conceded.
While the Stars lag a little behind the Avalanche in those key defensive metrics, their numbers are impressive on their own. Dallas sits tied for sixth in scoring chances allowed at five-on-five while also slotting top-10 in expected goals against. The Stars don't give up a ton of quality.
The previous meeting between the two sides featured just four goals, which is nothing new. Games are generally very uneventful when this pair squares off.
Don't believe me? Eight straight contests have gone under the number dating back to 2019, with five combined goals serving as the high.
With the kind of firepower Colorado possesses - and the elite top line Dallas can ice - there's always potential for action. However, with the total at 6.5, there is room for this contest to feature plenty of offense and still go under the number.
Bet: Under 6.5 (-110)
Blues (-205) @ Senators (+170)
The Ottawa Senators are not a good squad at the best of times - and these most certainly are not the best of times.
Already dealing with the absences of two top-line forwards in Drake Batherson and Josh Norris, Ottawa will now also be without No. 1 defenseman Thomas Chabot. He plays nearly 27 minutes per game for the Sens, and at five-on-five, he's +11 for a team that is -8 in that game state. It's hard to put into words just how valuable he is.
I think Ottawa, which allows five-on-five shots at a higher rate than every side in the league, will have a tough time slowing down the St. Louis Blues without Chabot.
Scoring might be an issue without Norris and Batherson, too, especially if Ville Husso gets the nod in goal for St. Louis.
Husso has legitimately performed at a top-flight level this season. He owns a ridiculous .941 save percentage through 16 appearances, and he leads the NHL in goals saved above expected on a per-game basis.
The Blues appear to have clear edges up front, on defense, and in goal. St. Louis should be able to take care of business inside 60 minutes.
Bet: Blues in regulation (-135)
Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. Be sure to follow him on Twitter @ToddCordell.