Daily NHL Odds and Betting Trends – 03/18/21


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.
Blackhawks vs Lightning | OddsShark Matchup Report
Opening NHL Odds: Lightning -263 Favorites
Chicago and Tampa Bay will meet for the sixth time this season after an exciting three-game series earlier this month at the United Center. The Lightning took two of those three matchups – two of which went to extra time – and they have won four of the first five meetings this year. Tampa Bay is just 2-2 in its last four games overall though, with the OVER on a 6-1 run. The Blackhawks will finish up a six-game road trip at Amalie Arena and have dropped four of five, with the OVER on a 5-0-1 run in their last six. Chicago has gone 7-7-3 away from home in 2021.
Blue Jackets vs Hurricanes | OddsShark Matchup Report
Opening NHL Odds: Hurricanes -175 Favorites
Carolina will try to bounce back from its first loss in nine games in the first of four straight versus Columbus. The Hurricanes will kick off the four-game home-and-home series at home after splitting a pair against the Red Wings, including a 4-2 loss as -235 road favorites Tuesday to end their season-high eight-game winning streak. The Blue Jackets have lost four of their last five games and nine of 12, and they have also dropped two of the three meetings this season. However, Columbus won the previous four meetings, with the UNDER on a 13-3-1 series run.
Flyers vs Islanders | OddsShark Matchup Report
Opening NHL Odds: Islanders -125 Favorites
Like Carolina, New York will look to rebound from a loss following a season-high nine-game winning streak in the first of three against Philadelphia. The Islanders are coming off a 3-1 loss to the Capitals as -115 road favorites on Tuesday, with the UNDER on a 3-0 run. They also got some bad news when it was determined captain Anders Lee will have to undergo season-ending ACL surgery. The Flyers have lost two of three and four of six, with the OVER cashing in four straight and seven of eight. Philadelphia has beaten New York twice this year and won four of the past five meetings. All four wins for the Flyers were decided by exactly one goal.
Penguins vs Devils | OddsShark Matchup Report
Opening NHL Odds: Penguins -208 Favorites
Pittsburgh is yet another team that saw a season-long winning streak halted in its last game and hopes to get back on track in the opener of a three-game series at New Jersey. The Penguins won six in a row before falling 2-1 to the Bruins in a pick’em home matchup Tuesday, with the UNDER on a 3-0 run. Surprisingly, this will be their first meeting with the Devils in 2021, playing the first two at home before visiting the Prudential Center in the finale on Sunday. New Jersey has lost three of the past four meetings and four of five overall, with the UNDER on a 3-0 run.
Stars vs Red Wings | OddsShark Matchup Report
Opening NHL Odds: Stars -188 Favorites
Dallas will try to once again start a positive run in the first of two games at Detroit. The Stars have not won consecutive games since starting the season at 4-0, and they are coming off a tough 4-3 loss to the Lightning in a shootout as +140 home underdogs Tuesday. The OVER is on a 5-1 run in the last six games for Dallas. The Red Wings lost the first two meetings with the Stars on the road earlier this year, but they have won two of three overall, with the OVER on a 4-1 run in their past five. The OVER is on a 6-2-1 series run in the previous nine meetings too.
Wild vs Avalanche | OddsShark Matchup Report
Opening NHL Odds: Avalanche -150 Favorites
Two of the top teams in the West Division will square off when Minnesota visits Colorado for the first of two games. The Wild are riding a five-game winning streak following a three-game sweep of the Coyotes, outscoring them 11-1, with the UNDER going 3-0. Meanwhile, the Avalanche have won four straight after routing the Ducks 8-4 as -280 home favorites on Tuesday. The OVER cashed easily in that game to end a 4-0 UNDER run for Colorado. These teams have been evenly matched recently, with them splitting the past eight meetings.
Coyotes vs Ducks | OddsShark Matchup Report
Opening NHL Odds: Coyotes -138 Favorites
Arizona will look to end a four-game skid in the opener of a two-game road series at Anaheim. The Coyotes were just swept in three games by the Wild, with the UNDER moving to 5-0 in their last five. Arizona has won the past three meetings this season, but all of them were played at home. The Ducks have also dropped four in a row overall, and they have seen the OVER go 5-1 in their previous six, giving up an average of more than five goals per game during that stretch. The OVER is also on a 5-1-1 run in the last seven games between these teams.
Also on today’s NHL schedule: Predators vs Panthers, Bruins vs Sabres and Jets vs Oilers.
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