NHL Tuesday best bets: A Panthers blowout on deck in San Jose
We started the week in disappointing fashion Monday night, going 1-2 with our best bets. Valeri Nichushkin hit the scoresheet for Colorado, but both shot props failed to come through.
We'll look to rebound with a pair of plays for Tuesday's card.
Devils (+110) @ Jets (-130)
The Devils are one of the highest-powered offensive teams in the league when healthy. Unfortunately for them, they're far from healthy right now.
Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier remain sidelined with injuries, which has taken a monumental bite out of the team's offense. Hughes hasn't played for two weeks, yet he still has sole possession of the league lead in primary assists, while Hischier is a Selke finalist coming off an 80-point campaign.
They formed a historically good power play over the first few weeks of the season, and the Devils are shallow down the middle at even strength without them.
Of the four games played without both top pivots in the lineup, three have gone under the number. As expected, the Devils are having a much tougher time scoring goals, but they remain a competent shot-suppression team.
On the flip side, the Jets have defended very well to start the year. In fact, only the Kings and Avalanche have done a better job of limiting expected goals at five-on-five.
Connor Hellebuyck hasn't performed all that well - which is a big reason why the Jets have still played in plenty of high-scoring games - but it's safe to assume he'll right the ship sooner rather than later.
A date with a Devils team featuring Michael McLeod (normally skating on the fourth line) and Dawson Mercer (just two points this season) as its top centers would be a good spot for Hellebuyck to do just that.
I see a 4-2 type of game here, and thus value on the under of 6.5.
Bet: Under 6.5 (-105)
Panthers (-280) @ Sharks (+230)
The Panthers are firing on all cylinders right now. They've gone 7-2-1 over the last 10 games, won four in a row, and are now getting a healthy Sam Bennett back in their lineup. Look out.
Nothing we've seen thus far gives us any reason to believe the Sharks will be able to handle themselves against Florida. San Jose is allowing nearly 40 shots per game and getting crushed at five-on-five every single night.
That's unlikely to change against a Panthers team that has controlled over 54% of the expected goals at five-on-five this season.
Mackenzie Blackwood will need to stand on his head for the Sharks to be competitive in this game. Even that might not be enough.
Blackwood stopped 40 shots against the Ducks last time out. The Sharks lost by three.
In recent weeks, he made 39 saves against the Capitals (.951 save percentage) and 33 saves against the Panthers (.943). Not only did the Sharks lose those games - they dropped them by multiple goals.
San Jose simply loses the shot and chance battles by such large margins each night that it often fails to keep games close, even when getting great goaltending.
That's a big reason why 12 of 13 losses this season have come by multiple goals.
I expect the Panthers to control this game from start to finish and cruise to a multi-goal victory.
Bet: Panthers -1.5 (-115)
Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @ToddCordell.