Daily NHL Odds and Betting Trends – 01/14/21
by OddsShark (@OddsShark) – Sponsored Post
Here’s a look at the NHL odds and betting trends for the games on today’s schedule.
All NHL betting lines below are as listed at sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com.
Bruins vs Devils | OddsShark Matchup Report
Opening NHL Odds: Bruins -164 Favorites
The Bruins begin their season without a couple key defensemen but have the luxury of playing their first game against the lowly Devils as solid road favorites. Boston lost Torey Krug and Zdeno Chara this offseason, making many wonder if the team’s window to win the Stanley Cup again has closed for the time being. Fortunately for the Bruins, they have won four of the past five meetings and eight of the last 10 dating back to March 4, 2017. In fact, Boston has lost to New Jersey just six times in the previous 28 between them going all the way back to 2011.
Capitals vs Sabres | OddsShark Matchup Report
Opening NHL Odds: Capitals -167 Favorites
The new-look Capitals are looking to regain their Stanley Cup form from three seasons ago as they visit the Sabres as solid road chalk. Washington recently signed Chara to bolster its defense and provide some more support in front of young goaltender Ilya Samsonov, who will get a lot more playing time with Braden Holtby now in Vancouver. Meanwhile, Buffalo has tried to build around young star Jack Eichel, and now is the time the team must start winning. The Sabres have won two of the past three meetings with the Capitals, who had won seven of the previous eight in the series along with 11 of 13 in what was once a one-sided matchup.
Islanders vs Rangers | OddsShark Matchup Report
Opening NHL Odds: Pick’em -111 Odds
Much like the Sabres, the time is now for the Rangers to take the next step and win back the Big Apple from the Islanders in this All-New York battle. The Rangers stumbled at the end of the 2020 regular season, dropping five of seven before getting swept in the preliminary round of the playoffs by the Carolina Hurricanes. They are starting life without future Hall of Fame goalie Henrik Lundqvist too, which may not be easy initially. The Islanders have enjoyed more success in the postseason recently than the Rangers, but not really in this rivalry. The Rangers have won four of the past five meetings and five of seven since an eight-game series skid.
Flames vs Jets | OddsShark Matchup Report
Opening NHL Odds: Pick’em -111 Odds
Two intriguing West Division teams will battle in Winnipeg when the Jets host the Flames. Winnipeg will need to score more goals this year in front of netminder Connor Hellebuyck in order to compete among many offensive-minded teams. Hellebuyck is the reigning Vezina Trophy winner, and the Jets ranked in the bottom half of the league in scoring with 3.00 goals per game last season. Calgary was surprisingly worse offensively (2.91) but addressed its need for better goaltending in signing Jacob Markstrom away from Vancouver. The Flames have won three of the past four meetings though, with the UNDER on a 6-1 run in the last seven.
Blue Jackets vs Predators | OddsShark Matchup Report
Opening NHL Odds: Predators -145 Favorites
Despite being relatively close in proximity to each other, the Blue Jackets and Predators might start a new rivalry here in the Central Division after playing in different conferences previously. Columbus has won two of the past three meetings after losing five in a row to Nashville, but the bigger story has been how much the scoreboard has lit up whenever these teams have met on the ice lately. The OVER has cashed in the last four games between them and seven of eight, with exactly seven goals scored five times during that stretch, including each of the last three.
Sharks vs Coyotes | OddsShark Matchup Report
Opening NHL Odds: Coyotes -127 Favorites
The Sharks will try to move on from a disappointing campaign when they visit the Coyotes in a West Division matchup. San Jose was one of three Western Conference teams that missed the playoffs last year along with the Los Angeles Kings and Anaheim Ducks, only one year removed from finishing second in the Pacific Division and making it to the conference finals. These teams know each other well from their time in the Pacific, with Arizona winning four of the past six meetings, including the last two by a combined score of 9-5. The previous four games between the teams at Gila River Arena have also all gone OVER the total, averaging eight goals.
Canucks vs Oilers | OddsShark Matchup Report
Opening NHL Odds: Pick’em -111 Odds
The Canucks and Oilers face off again for the second time in as many nights as the first two teams to play a back-to-back situation this year. Last season, Vancouver lost seven of 12 times when playing the second game of a back-to-back, including three straight to close out the postseason. Edmonton thrived in the same situation, winning six of its last seven, and veteran goaltender Mike Smith figures to get the call here after Mikko Koskinen gave up all five goals in Wednesday’s 5-3 loss. Likewise, look for 25-year-old Thatcher Demko to get the nod in net for Vancouver with Holtby (28 saves) earning the win in his debut for the team in the opener.
Ducks vs Golden Knights | OddsShark Matchup Report
Opening NHL Odds: Golden Knights -238 Favorites
The Golden Knights face a familiar foe in their season opener, as they have owned the Ducks previously in the Pacific Division. Vegas has won 10 of the 12 all-time meetings in this series with Anaheim, with the OVER cashing in the past four following a 6-0 UNDER run. The Golden Knights are one of the favorites to win their first Stanley Cup and have made the playoffs in each of their first three years of existence, advancing to the Western Conference Final twice. The Ducks have headed in the opposite direction and went 13-18-4 on the road last season.
Also on today’s NHL schedule: Hurricanes vs Red Wings, Wild vs Kings.
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