The Buffalo Sabres are still one of the top surprises of the young 2019-20 NHL season, with 19 points in 12 games to lead the Atlantic Division. The Metropolitan Division is still coing according to form, as Washington leads the way with 19 points in 13 games, although the New York Islanders have won seven in a row and are just three points back of the Capitals for second place, with two games in hand.
In the Western Conference, the Edmonton Oilers lead the Pacific Division, with 17 points in 12 games, but Colorado remains the hottest team in the conference, winners of seven of their last ten and leading the Central Division with 17 points in 11 games. We have a couple of primo sports betting picks from the ice for you to consider in our hockey preview of the week.
Top NHL Betting Picks of the Week – October 28th Edition
Philadelphia Flyers vs Pittsburgh Penguins
- When: Tuesday, October 29, 7:00 pm ET
- Live Stream: ESPN+
The Philadelphia Flyers head to Pittsburgh having won three of four — but they saw a three-game winning streak end on Sunday with a 5-3 loss to the Islanders in New York City. They had scored 17 goals in their three-game winning streak over Vegas, Chicago and Columbus, but against the Islanders, Philadelphia jumped out to a 1-0 lead only to see five different Islanders score.
Goalie Carter Hart permitted all five goals on 14 shots before giving way to Brian Elliott during the second period. Jakub Voracek, Travis Konecny and Claude Giroux all scored for Philadelphia, but they will need better defense to stop the Penguins.
Pittsburgh is finding out, like much of the league, that playing the Dallas Stars is a great way to turn things around. The Penguins had dropped three in a row (to Vegas, Florida and Tampa Bay) before heading to Dallas on Saturday and delivering a 3-0 win.
The game was a scoreless tie heading into the third period, and the Stars had outshot Pittsburgh 22-11, but then Dominik Kahun and Bryan Rust got their first goals of the season in the third to lead the Penguins to a win. Pittsburgh’s defense showed some needed improvement and should have what it takes to stop the Flyers.
Final NHL Betting Prediction: Pittsburgh 3, Philadelphia 2
Edmonton Oilers at Columbus Blue Jackets
- When: Wednesday, October 30, 7:30 pm ET
- Live Stream: NHL.tv
Edmonton has dropped three of four but still lead the Pacific Division, even after dropping a 6-2 home game to Florida on Sunday. In that streak, Edmonton was shut out by Toronto and Minnesota before beating Washington and then succumbing to the Panthers.
In that Sunday setback, a period of two minutes in the second period was the difference, as Florida scored three goals to open that second frame to pull away. Edmonton is now 8-3-1 and needs to turn around their defense if they want to keep contending in the West.
Columbus will have an edge when it comes to rest as they last played Saturday, while Edmonton plays in Detroit on Tuesday night before heading onto Columbus the next night. Columbus has split their last four games, losing to the Islanders before beating the Maple Leafs and the Hurricanes — and then losing in 7-4 fashion to the Flyers.
In that loss, Columbus gave up five goals to the Flyers in the third period, in a span of nine minutes.
Joonas Korpisalo stopped 39 shots for the Blue Jackets, but it was not nearly enough to stop the onslaught that Philadelphia brought in the third period. Columbus will have to regroup after that loss — but will have a tired group of Oilers across the puck from them.
Final NHL Betting Prediction: Columbus 4, Edmonton 2
