In the Crease – Week 24

VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert

6 minute read

Two For Florida
The Ottawa Senators picked their second consecutive road win in Florida on Tuesday, topping the Tampa Bay Lightning and earning moneyline bettors +275. That win came the night after the topped the Florida Panthers +190 on Monday night in Sunrise. In fact, their past three road games, all victories, have netted underdog bettors a cool total of +665, and they're 4-1 over their past five road games to fetch a total of +780. Remember that and maybe take a chance on the Sens when they head to Ohio's capital city on Saturday to battle the Blue Jackets.

Hit the Century Mark
The defending Western Conference champion Nashville Predators have been on a mission. They are an impressive 11-0-1 across the past 12 outings, racking up their 99th and 100th points in a potential playoff preview against the Winnipeg Jets on Tuesday, 3-1. They have been even better on the road than at home, too, picking up at least one point in 12 consecutive away from home since losing in regulation in Vegas on Jan. 2. The Predators are 9-0-2-1 during the impressive road stretch. They look to continue the success in very winnable games at Arizona on Thursday, at Colorado on Friday and at Buffalo on Monday.


Looking Ahead

Wednesday, March 14
The Vegas Golden Knights have been amazing this season, posting a 45-19-3 record, including 24-7-1 at T-Mobile Arena, resembling anything but an expansion club. They welcome the New Jersey Devils to town looking to sweep the season series after winning 3-2 in Newark on March 4 to kick off their recent five-game road trip. After some high-scoring totals earlier in the season, defense is reigning supreme. The 'under' was a perfect 5-0 on their road trip, and the under has hit in seven of the past eight games overall. The under has hit frequently for the Devils lately, too, going 9-1-1 over the past 11 outings, including the first meeting with the Golden Knights.

The Ducks are starting to round into form, going 11-4 across their past 15 games at home. They're also 5-0 in the past five home games against a team with a road winning percentage under .400. Most of Anaheim's success lately has come in cross-conference affairs, however, as they're just 1-5 in the past six against Western Conference clubs. The Canucks aren't very good against anyone lately, though. They're just 16-36 across the past 52, 6-23 in their past 29 against Pacific Division opponents. They're also 2-5 in their past seven against the Ducks, while the under is 6-1-1 in the past eight trips to Anaheim. The under is 12-3-3 in the past 18 in this series.

Thursday, March 15
The Maple Leafs head down the QEW and across the Peace Bridge looking to finally get it right in Buffalo. The Sabres dealt te Maple Leafs a 5-3 loss in the most recent meeting last Monday, and the Sabres have won three of the past four matchups overall in this series. Toronto will be playing in the second straight night, too, and they're 3-0-1 across their past four in the second game of a back-to-back set. Each of those games have been on the road, so the Maple Leafs do not get worn out or appear to be frustrated in such situations. The Sabres have been respectable enough lately, going a respectable 5-3-0-1 across the past nine. In the NBA, teams out of contention are often accused of, or openly partake in, tanking. In the NHL, younger teams out of contention keep plugging away and are not easy outs.

Speaking of teams not tanking, the Arizona Coyotes have been impressive over the past five weeks. They're 11-3-1-1 across their past 16 games, as the Coyotes finish up strong and refuse to tank. They have had outstanding goaltending recently, as Antti Raanta was rolling right along until an injury in early March. Darcy Kuemper, acquired from the Kings at the trade deadline, has been impressive being thrust into the No. 1 job, and even Adin Hill was solid on Tuesday. The third-stringer made a start on Tuesday against L.A., picking up his first NHL win. The Predators will be heavily favored on the road in this one, but the Coyotes are no longer a pushover.

Friday, March 16
The Sharks look to snuff out the Flames in Calgary on a light night in the NHL. San Jose has been a thorn in the side of Calgary so far, winning a pair of 3-2 decisions on Dec. 14 in Alberta, and Dec. 28 in the Bay Area. The 'under' is 5-1-2 in the past eight meetings in this series. Calgary is just 2-3 in their past five home games against San Jose, and four of those outings have resulted in one-goal games. The Flames welcomed All-Star Mike Smith back into the crease on Sunday against the Islanders and he looked a little rusty. He was much better on Tuesday, blanking the Oilers as he rounds back into form.

Saturday, March 17
It's an Original Six battle Saturday night when the Canadiens visit the Maple Leafs on the corner of Lakeshore Blvd. West and Bay Street.  The Maple Leafs won each of the first two meetings this season, both in Montreal, and that ended an ugly losing streak. The Habs entered the 2017-18 season on a 14-game winning streak against the Buds, and Toronto has been dismal on home ice against them. The Leafs are 0-4-1-2 in their past seven attempts against the Canadiens on Air Canada Centre ice, last topping Montreal on home ice back on Jan. 18, 2014.

The Sharks travel to meet the Canucks on Saturday night, and they're hoping it goes better than their last trip to the Pacific Northwest. The Canucks won 4-3 in overtime on Dec. 15, as Jacob Markstrom and the home team bested Martin Jones and the visitors. It was a rare win for Vancouver at home, as they had lost 13 in a row on home ice against San Jose, including the postseason. Before that mid-December win the last time the Canucks beat the Sharks in Vancouver was Jan. 21, 2012 behind an impressive effort by Roberto Luongo in the crease. 

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