Top NHL Betting Picks of the Week – February 19th

In the National Hockey League, the defending champion Pittsburgh Penguins have shot to the top of the Metropolitan Division, winning five in a row and eight of their last 10 to pass Washington with 74 points. The Capitals are a point behind now (but have three games in hand). The Philadelphia Flyers have also had a hot run, losing just twice in regulation in their last 10. However, the top three teams in the East are all in the Atlantic Division, with Tampa Bay clinging to a three-point lead over Boston (who has three games in hand) and a four-point lead over Toronto, who has won eight of 10. In the West, we still have Winnipeg leading the Central Division and currently on a three-game winning streak, and we have Vegas leading the Pacific Division and the conference with 82 points, winners of three in a row and seven of their last 10. Take a look at our NHL betting previews for the best hockey matchups for the coming week.

Top NHL Betting Picks of the Week – February 19th

NHL Power Rankings: Golden Knights rise to No. 1; Pens threaten crowded top five https://t.co/MjVUUtb7bn pic.twitter.com/E2LQwmwlPI

— SportsRadio 740 (@SportsRadio_740) February 19, 2018

Tuesday, February 20

Boston at Edmonton (9:00pm ET, NESN / RSNW)

The Boston Bruins have come out of nowhere to rank #1 in the National Hockey League in goals permitted per game at 2.4, which is the top reason for their vault up the Eastern Conference standings. They’ve had a solid offense all season long (and for several seasons now), and their 3.3 goals scored per game ranks fifth in the NHL. They started their Pacific Northwest road trip with a big stumble, getting shelled 6-1 in Vancouver. However, they move on to Calgary and then Edmonton on Monday and Tuesday. They’ll visit an Edmonton team that is in the bottom four in the league in goals permitted (3.3), power play percentage (14.6%) and penalty kill (71.8%). They only score 2.8 goals per game, so they’d better have their wheels on when the speedy Bruins come to town. They lost to a dreadful Arizona team on Saturday, 1-0 but then turned around and dealt Colorado a 4-2 defeat on Sunday. I still like Boston to take care of business against one of the lower teams in the West. NHL Betting Prediction: Boston 3, Edmonton 1

Wednesday, February 21

Calgary at Vegas (10:30pm ET, AT&TSN)

The Calgary Flames are right on the bubble in terms of competing for a wild card in the Western Conference playoffs, but they took a big hit on Saturday, losing 6-3 at home to a surging Florida Panthers team. They host the high-flying Boston Bruins on Monday before heading down to Vegas to take on the Golden Knights. They don’t score very often (2.8 goals per game, 20th overall), and while their defense is average (2.8 goals permitted, 15th overall), that’s not enough against a Vegas team that still is dominating competition most nights. The Golden Knights doubled up Montreal on Saturday night, 6-3, thanks to a pair of goals from Reilly Smith. They will host Anaheim on Monday before the Flames show up two day later. They’re still scoring at a prolific clip (3.4 goals per game, second overall) but their consistency on defense has been the real story, as they are still in the top 10 at 2.7 goals permitted per game. Given the problems that Calgary has scoring, both at even strength and on the power play, I don’t see them storming past the Golden Knights. NHL Betting Prediction: Vegas 4, Calgary 2

Friday, February 23

Pittsburgh at Carolina (7:30pm ET, AT&TSN / FSS)

You don’t want to take a minor penalty against the Pittsburgh Penguins, because their 26.5% power play conversion rate is tops in the NHL. They score 3.2 goals per game right now (seventh overall) and while their defense is a little porous at 2.9 goals permitted per game), their offense has been carrying them as of late. We saw that on Saturday as they took down another surging team in the East, beating Toronto, 5-3. They then beat Columbus, 5-2, and now have the week off until they visit Carolina Friday night. The Hurricanes took an ugly home loss on Friday, falling to the New York Islanders, 3-0, and then lost in overtime to New Jersey on Sunday, 3-2. They also have the week off, giving them some time to think about the arrival of the Penguins. The Hurricanes shook up their roster a week ago, sending forwards Josh Jooris and Marcus Kruger to the minors. They’re only scoring 2.7 goals per game (26th overall), but they’re giving up 3.0 goals per game (18th overall). That isn’t the best recipe for success against the Pens. NHL Betting Prediction: Pittsburgh 4, Carolina 1