While the NFL is nearing the midpoint of the season and baseball has the World Series in full swing, the National Hockey League has put together about a seventh of their regular season schedule so far. The Vegas Golden Knights are the big surprise so far, sitting with 16 points after just nine games, riding a five-game winning streak. The Dallas Stars are still middling around, trying to figure out how to play defense. The Nashville Predators aren’t yet showing that Stanley Cup form yet, sitting at 5-4-2 after a dozen games. The New York Rangers and the Montreal Canadiens are both stuck in the basement in their divisions in the East, a year after pushing deep into the Stanley Cup playoffs. Let’s look at this week’s best NHL betting matchups for you.
The Detroit Red Wings are still middling along, with a 5-6-1 record through 12 games. They don’t score much (2.5 goals per game, 25th in the NHL), and their power play is also 25th at 14.0%. However, their penalty kill is #11 at 83.0%. They beat the Florida Panthers, 3-2, on a road shootout on Saturday night, which could give them some confidence. Either way, I don’t see the Coyotes coming into Little Caesars Arena and getting their first win of the year against the Red Wings.
NHL Betting Pick: Detroit Red Wings
Top NHL Betting Matchups of the Week – October 30th Edition
Power Rankings! Who’s got it right? Who is way off? Who do you have in your top 5? #NHLNow pic.twitter.com/dGeUB8HYmo
— NHL Network (@NHLNetwork) October 28, 2017
Monday, October 30
Vegas at New York Islanders (7:00pm ET, ATTSN / MSG+)
The Vegas Golden Knights are taking the NHL by storm. Far from playing like the typical expansion team, they are third in the league in goals per game (3.8) and second in goals permitted per game (2.1). Their penalty kill is solid at 86.2% (6th in the NHL). They come into this game fresh off the momentum of a 7-0 shellacking of the Colorado Avalanche on Friday night. The New York Islanders picked up an impressive win of their own, pasting the Nashville Predators on Saturday night, 6-2, down in Music City. The Islanders score a lot (3.5 goals per game, good for 7th in the NHL), but their defense is a little porous, as their 3.1 goals permitted per game ranks #18 in the league). John Tavares has been hot for the Islanders, though, putting up a hat trick last Tuesday and then another on Saturday in that rout in Nashville. Until someone slows the Golden Knights down, though, I’m picking them to win in Gotham. NHL Betting Pick: Vegas Golden KnightsTuesday, December 31
Arizona at Detroit (7:30pm ET, FSAZ / FSDT)
The Arizona Coyotes are the ones playing like the expansion team, still waiting for their first victory in 11 tries. They have put just 26 goals in net thus far, while surrendering 48 tallies for a -22 differential — so they are averaging a -2 differential per night. Goalie Antti Raanta, acquired in the offseason to shore up the back end, hasn’t played much yet because of an injury rash. Bringing Raanta and center Derek Stepan from the New York Rangers in the offseason, along with defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson from Chicago — and new coach Rick Tocchet from the Penguins’ staff — has yet to pay off. There is a talented young core, with Clayton Keller leading a great rookie class. They are spending extended periods in the attack zone more often than last year, but they are still looking to break through.
The Detroit Red Wings are still middling along, with a 5-6-1 record through 12 games. They don’t score much (2.5 goals per game, 25th in the NHL), and their power play is also 25th at 14.0%. However, their penalty kill is #11 at 83.0%. They beat the Florida Panthers, 3-2, on a road shootout on Saturday night, which could give them some confidence. Either way, I don’t see the Coyotes coming into Little Caesars Arena and getting their first win of the year against the Red Wings.
NHL Betting Pick: Detroit Red Wings
