Daily NHL Odds and Betting Trends – 04/04/19
by OddsShark (@OddsShark) – Sponsored Post
Here’s a look at the NHL odds and betting trends for the full slate of games on today’s schedule. All NHL betting lines are as listed at sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com.
Red Wings at Penguins | OddsShark Matchup Report
Opening NHL Odds: Penguins -185 Favorites
The top three teams in the Metropolitan Division have lost their last games, and the Penguins only have two left now to try to make up two points on the New York Islanders in the standings for second place and home ice in the first round. Pittsburgh dropped the first game of a home-and-home series with Detroit 4-1 as a -200 road favorite on Tuesday, with the UNDER cashing in the team’s third straight game and improving to 13-2-1 in its last 16. The Red Wings have been outstanding spoilers of late, riding a six-game winning streak as underdogs.
Senators at Sabres | OddsShark Matchup Report
Opening NHL Odds: Sabres -165 Favorites
The Sabres are playing their worst hockey of the year with a season-high eight-game losing streak, although they may be helping themselves in the “Lose for Hughes” sweepstakes. What started out as a promising campaign has turned sour lately, as they have also dropped 15 of 16, with likely No. 1 overall pick Jack Hughes becoming even more of a possibility if they can find a way to win the draft lottery for the second consecutive year. The Senators traded away their first-round pick, so they are just concentrating on winning games right now, going 6-4 in their last 10 games despite closing as underdogs each time during that stretch.
Canadiens at Capitals | OddsShark Matchup Report
Opening NHL Odds: Capitals -163 Favorites
The Capitals can clinch the Metro title with a victory while the Canadiens are looking to stay alive for a Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference. Montreal has dropped five of the past seven meetings with Washington, and this will be the team’s first trip to Capital One Arena this season. The Canadiens and Capitals have split two games this year at the Bell Centre, with the OVER on a 3-0 run in the series.
Lightning at Maple Leafs | OddsShark Matchup Report
Opening NHL Odds: Maple Leafs -107 Favorites
Tampa Bay is coming off a 4-2 loss at Montreal as a +110 road underdog on Tuesday, preventing the team from the possibility of finishing with the most regular-season wins in NHL history. The Lightning can still tie the 1996 Detroit Red Wings for the mark by winning their last two games, although this team has a much bigger goals of staying healthy and winning the Stanley Cup. Toronto has similar goals but even less to play for in this spot at home, locked into a first-round matchup with the Boston Bruins for the second straight year.
Islanders at Panthers | OddsShark Matchup Report
Opening NHL Odds: Islanders -123 Favorites
The Islanders can lock up second place in the Metro over the Penguins simply by winning their last two games, starting with this road matchup. They saw their two-game winning streak end with a 2-1 loss to the Maple Leafs in a pick’em game on Monday and finish up the regular season by visiting the defending Stanley Cup champion Capitals on Saturday. The Panthers have no pressure on them and are certainly playing that way, winning three games in a row, including the last two as underdogs, with the OVER on a 7-1 run in their last eight.
Devils at Hurricanes | OddsShark Matchup Report
Opening NHL Odds: Hurricanes -250 Favorites
The Hurricanes are back in the top Wild Card spot in the East thanks to a 4-1 win over the Maple Leafs as -120 home favorites on Tuesday and a loss by the Blue Jackets, who previously sat there. Another victory for Carolina here combined with a loss by Montreal would clinch a playoff spot, and the UNDER has cashed in five of the team’s last six games. The Devils defeated the New York Rangers 4-2 in a pick’em matchup on Monday for their first win in three games, and the total also went OVER to halt a 4-0 UNDER run.
Bruins at Wild | OddsShark Matchup Report
Opening NHL Odds: Wild -114 Favorites
The only thing the Bruins have to play for here is pulling even with the Calgary Flames for the second-most points in the NHL. Boston has already locked up second place in the Atlantic Division and home ice versus Toronto. Meanwhile, the Wild were recently eliminated from playoff contention despite winning two of their last three games, routing the Winnipeg Jets 5-1 as -135 home favorites on Tuesday, with the OVER cashing to end a 3-0 UNDER run.
Flyers at Blues | OddsShark Matchup Report
Opening NHL Odds: Blues -200 Favorites
The Blues blew a great chance to move ahead of the Nashville Predators for second place in the Central Division, only picking up one point in a 4-3 shootout loss to the Chicago Blackhawks as -155 road favorites on Wednesday. The Flyers have already been eliminated from postseason contention, and they are playing like it with three straight losses and five in their last six games, with the OVER cashing in three of four following a 4-1 UNDER run.
Canucks at Predators | OddsShark Matchup Report
Opening NHL Odds: Predators -225 Favorites
Nashville can clinch at least second place in the Central with a win and loss by St. Louis, so this is a critical game for the defending division champs. The Predators also have a shot to overtake the Jets for first with a victory and loss by them to the Avalanche on the road. Vancouver has surprisingly won three games in a row, closing as an underdog in the last two, with the UNDER cashing in all three along with 17 of 21 dating back to February 16.
Sharks at Oilers | OddsShark Matchup Report
Opening NHL Odds: Sharks -143 Favorites
No playoff team has played worse than the Sharks lately, losing nine of their last 10 games following a 4-2 defeat to the Canucks as -175 road favorites on Tuesday. They have surrendered four goals or more eight times during that stretch, so their goaltending and defense is a huge question mark heading into the postseason. The Oilers have struggled recently as well, dropping four straight games to see their playoff chances disappear. Edmonton has also lost three in a row to San Jose and six of seven in the series, with the OVER cashing in eight straight games between the teams dating back to 2017.
Jets at Avalanche | OddsShark Matchup Report
Opening NHL Odds: Avalanche -119 Favorites
This is the game of the day in the West, as the Avalanche look to clinch a playoff spot by earning at least one point in this matchup with the Jets. Colorado has been one of the hottest teams in the league, picking up a point in nine consecutive games with a 7-0-2 record. But Winnipeg has a lot to play for too because a loss and win by Nashville would cause the teams to switch first and second places in the Central. The Jets have lost the past two meetings with the Avalanche by a combined score of 11-2, with both of them coming in mid-February.
Coyotes at Golden Knights | OddsShark Matchup Report
Opening NHL Odds: Golden Knights -182 Favorites
Arizona needs a loss by Colorado and a victory at Vegas to stay alive in the playoff hunt. A loss by the Coyotes would eliminate them, and the status of goaltender Darcy Kuemper is still up in the air after he was struck in the face by the go-ahead goal in a 3-1 loss to the Los Angeles Kings as -220 home favorites on Tuesday. The Golden Knights are hoping to close out the regular season strong in their home finale, and they are also hopeful for the return of goalie Marc-Andre Fleury after he has missed the last nine games with the team going 4-3-2.
Check out OddsShark on Twitter and Instagram or head to YouTube for analysis on this week’s top games. As well, the OddsShark Computer serves up daily NHL picks for bettors.