In the Crease – Week 24

VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert

6 minute read

Beantown Bonanza
The Boston Bruins are rolling, going unbeaten in regulation across the past 17 contests. They have won five of the past six games in the Eastern Conference, while posting a 6-0 record in each of the past six outings against teams with a losing overall record. They have pushed aside the opposition in 47 of the past 65 games at home. They're also an impressive 44-18 across the past 62 as a home favorite. The Panthers are on a five-game skid, and they are just 19-41 in the past 60 games as a road underdog. They have lost nine of the past 12 games on the road overall, too, while losing four straight against teams with a winning overall mark.

TD Garden has been a house of horrors for the Florida Panthers, as they have won just five times in the past 21 trips to the Bay State. They're also just 9-25 in the past 34 meetings in this series. In addition, the home team has connected in five of the past six, while the favorite has cashed in 28 of the past 41 meetings overall. 

Looking Ahead

Thursday, March 7

Columbus at Pittsburgh: The Blue Jackets head east on Interstate 70 (OK, they probably took the short flight) to meet the Penguins in the Steel City. Columbus has posted five wins in the past six road outings, while going 10-3 in the past 13 games against the Metropolitan Division. All of that is well and good, but they're just 4-18 in their past 22 against the Pens, while going 10-25 in the past 35 meetings overall. The home team has also cashed in 11 of the past 15 games overall. The Penguins have won six of the past eight against the Eastern Conference, and they're hitting at a .701 clip (116-50) across the past 166 games at home.

Calgary at Arizona: How many bettors and hockey fans envisioned that a Calgary-Arizona battle would be an important game in March with Western Conference playoff implications? The Flames have cashed in four of the past five games on the road, while going 7-3 in the past 10 games overall. Arizona is equally hot, cashing in six of the past seven games overall, while cashing in four of the past five against Western Conference clubs. Calgary has owned this series of late, winning 10 of the past 13 meetings overall, with five wins in the past six trips to the desert. The 'over' is also a frequent occurrence, hitting in five of the past six overall, and four straight meetings in Glendale.

Montreal at San Jose: The Canadiens have rolled to seven straight victories against the Pacific Division, and they're 6-1 in the past seven against Western Conference foes. The Sharks have hit in nine of their past 11 games as a home favorite, and they're 14-5 in the past 19 overall when favored. Theyh ave won 20 of their past 28 games overall, too. The Sharks have dominated this series, winning 11 straight home meetings and 17 of the past 22 meetings overall. The home team is also 14-5 in the past 19 meetings overall in the series.

Friday, March 8

Winnipeg at Carolina: The Jets roll into Raleigh looking to get untracked and cool off one of the hotter teams in the NHL. The Jets have connected in five of their past seven as an underdog, and they're 7-2 in the past nine against Metropolitan Division clubs. Winnipeg has owned this series of late, winning six of the past eight trips to Raleigh, while cashing in four of the past five. However, the favorite is also 6-0 in the past six meetings, with the 'under' hitting in each of the past six in Raleigh.

Montreal at Anaheim: The home team has cashed in eight straight meetings in this series, with Anaheim winning each of their past four home battle against the Canadiens. Montreal will be playing in their third game in four days, and they're 9-2 in the past 11 in the third game of a 3-in-4 situation. With less rest they seem to get stronger. The Habs are also 4-1 in the past five against teams with a losing record. The Ducks are 3-11 in the past 14 home games, and just 7-26 in the past 33 overall. They have also struggled with an 0-9 mark in the past nine against the Atlantic Division, and 3-13 in the past 16 against the Eastern Conference.

Saturday, March 9

Ottawa at Boston: The Bruins have won seven straight meetings in this rivalry since the start of the 2017-18 regular season, including each of the past three meetings at home. The 'over' has also cashed in each of the past three meetings in Boston during the same span. The spread in this one won't likely be as high as -400 when the Tampa Bay Lightning routed the Sens 5-1 last week, but you can expect a line of around -350. Boston has won the past three at home vs. Ottawa by a combined socre of 16-6, with no game closer than three goals, so those interested in puck line (-1 1/2) bets will want to pay close attention.

Toronto at Edmonton: The Oilers will be looking to avenge a 6-2 loss in Toronto on Feb. 27, and that is actually their last loss heading into play on Thursday. Mikko Koskinen has backstopped the Oil in 11 straight contests, as Edmonton continues to ride the Finn. The Leafs have won five straight meetings in this series, including each of the past two road games. Edmonton's last win in the series came on Feb. 11, 2016.

Vegas at Vancouver: This will be the eighth meeting between the Golden Knights and Canucks since Vegas came into the league. Vegas has won six of the previous seven in the series, and Vancouver has never beaten Vegas in regulation. In the previous three meetings in the Pacific Northwest, Vegas has won by a combined score of 14-9, hitting the 'over' in each of the three battles. Vegas has scored at least four goals in all three trips to Vancouver, and they're averaging 4.2 goals per game in seven meetings all-time vs. the Canucks.

Sunday, March 10

Vegas at Calgary: The home team has won six consecutive meetings in this series, and Calgary has scored seven goals in each of their past two meetings with the Golden Knights in the Saddledome. The 'over' has cashed in each of the three battles in Calgary, too. The past two battles in this series, both in Vegas, resulted in a total of five goals and two 'under' results. So will we get a ton of offense like usual in Calgary, or a low-scoring game like we saw in the past two battles at T-Mobile Arena?

VegasInsider Staff

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