NHL weekend preview: Can Oilers stay hot in Winnipeg?
What a week it's been for best bets. We've put together three consecutive 2-0 nights, which we'll look to build on as we head into the weekend.
Let's get right to the plays.
Predators (+145) @ Hurricanes (-175)
Feb. 18, 7 p.m. EST
The Nashville Predators and Carolina Hurricanes have seen a lot of each other over the last year and change. Thanks to division realignment a season ago, they've actually gone head-to-head nine times.
Of those nine meetings, guess how many featured more than six goals? I'll give you a hint - the answer rhymes with hero. That's right, all nine contests would've at least pushed with a total of six.
I expect the streak to extend to 10 for a few reasons.
Juuse Saros owns a .924 save percentage this season and has saved 18 more goals than expected through 41 games. That's the fourth-highest total in the NHL.
Saros' counterpart has performed just as well, if not better. Frederik Andersen has rebounded in the best way imaginable during his first season in Carolina. His save percentage sits at .928, and only Igor Shesterkin (+26.5) - the odds-on Vezina favorite - has fared better (+24.9) in terms of goals saved above expectation.
The goaltending should be great, and I have faith in both defenses helping their guy out as well. The Predators have been one of the league's best at limiting high-danger chances. The Hurricanes are competent as well, with Jaccob Slavin and Brett Pesce chewing up big minutes.
With the makeup of each team, and both entering this game having lost at least two in a row, I just don't see this turning into a shootout.
Bet: Under 6 (-105)
Oilers (-120) @ Jets (+100)
Feb. 19, 4 p.m. EST
Life is good under new head coach Jay Woodcroft. The Edmonton Oilers have won all four games since he became bench boss and their underlying numbers suggest those results were no fluke.
The Oilers have outshot opponents 112-85 (56.85%) at five-on-five, controlled more than 59% of the expected goals, and beaten teams into the ground on the scoreboard (14-3).
Their superstars have busted out of their slumps (relatively speaking) while the support players have contributed at both ends of the rink.
That's why the Oilers have been scoring at will, and that's why they have allowed fewer shots and chances per minute than every team in the NHL over the last four games. Small sample size, I know, but this is a much different team than we saw under Dave Tippett.
The Winnipeg Jets have spun their wheels for a while now. The offense is inconsistent, they routinely get outplayed, and Connor Hellebuyck is only just coming out of a bad slump.
I see a lot of edges for this red-hot Oilers team and expect their success to continue this weekend.
Bet: Oilers (-120)
Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. Be sure to follow him on Twitter @ToddCordell.