In the Crease – Week 22

VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert

7 minute read

Detroit Lock City
The Detroit Red Wings have won two in a row, but they have mostly been spinning their wheels lately. However, while they're 5-5-2 across the past 12 games overall, nine of those outings have resulted in one-goal games. That's huge if you're into betting puck lines. However, Detroit has been a lock recently for total bettors. The 'under' is 8-0 in the past eight contests, and the under is 15-3 in the past 18 games, and 22-6 across the past 28 battles. The streak might continue in Wednesday's outing in St. Louis, as the under is 8-2 in the past 10 meetings. The under is also 7-0 in the past seven for St. Louis against Eastern Conference teams, and 18-7 in the past 25 home games. The Blues are playing in their fourth game in six days, and the under is 11-5 in their past 16 in the fourth game of a 4-in-6 situation, so keep that in mind Wednesday.

Jekyll and Hyde
The New Jersey Devils are a hard team to figure out lately. They are the only team to spoil the fun for the Philadelphia Flyers over the past 11 games, winning 5-4 in a shootout on Feb. 13, and that victory kicked off a four-game winning streak which included a home-and-home sweep of the Carolina Hurricanes and a 4-3 win on the road against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Like Detroit above, five of the past eight for New Jersey have resulted in one-goal outcomes. Speaking of Jekyll and Hyde, the 'over' cashed in five in a row from Feb. 10-17, but the 'under' is now 4-0-1 across the past five battles. That includes a 3-2 'under' result in a win on the road against the Pittsburgh Penguins last time out on Tuesday night.


Looking Ahead

Wednesday, February 28
The Colorado Avalanche and Calgary Flames are battling for playoff positioning in the Western Conference and/or they're trying to stay in the playoff mix. The last time these teams hooked up it was a 5-1 beatdown by the Flames in Calgary on Saturday night, so the Avalanche will be looking for a little payback at home. Calgary has posted a 4-0 record over their past four against Central Division teams, and they're 9-4 in their past 13 games away from home. For Colorado, they have won 13 of the past 16 at home, but they're 5-17 in the past 22 home games against a team with a winning road record, and they're 1-4 in the past five overall against teams with a winning overall mark. The Flames have won five in a row in this series, and 12 of their past 17 visits to the Mile High City.

Thursday, March 1
The Pittsburgh Penguins and Boston Bruins were two busy teams adding key components at the NHL trade deadline, trying to get better for what they hope will be a stretch run. The key add for the Pens was Derick Brassard from the Ottawa Senators, while the B's welcomed scorer Rick Nash to the fold. These teams could be on a collision course in the playoffs, and if the first two meetings are any indication, it might be a very entertaining series. The Bruins topped the Penguins 4-3 on Nov. 24 in Beantown, and the Pens returned the favor 6-5 in overtime in the Steel City back on Jan. 7. The home team has won six meetings in a row since the B's were able to win on Pittsburgh's ice back on Dec. 18, 2015, the last visitor to cash in this series.

The Los Angeles Kings swept a home-and-home series against the Vegas Golden Knights Monday-Tuesday, giving them four valuable points as they sniff around for a playoff spot. They're battling several teams just to get into the playoff mix, but things are certainly looking up. L.A. is 5-2 over their past seven games, and they're 4-2 over the past six at Staples Center while averaging 3.5 goals per game during the span. These teams used to meet frequently when the Blue Jackets were in the Western Conference, but now they square off just twice per season. The first meeting resulted in a 6-4 win by the Kings in Columbus, which was a rarity. The previous five meetings were all one-goal games.

Friday, March 2
It's a busy slate for a Friday, and the Canadiens and Islanders do battle in the second end of a home-and-home after meeting Wednesday in Montreal. The Islanders entered play just 2-5 over their past seven overall, and 1-5 in their past six against Atlantic Division teams. The Habs entered just 7-20 in their past 27 overall, while going 1-4 in their past five against Eastern Conference clubs and 1-5 in their past six against Metropolitan Division clubs. With those types of numbers it's no wonder why both of these teams were sellers at the trade deadline. Montreal has won 10 of the past 14 against New York heading into Wednesday's game.

The Predators invade the Pacific Northwest looking to take care of the Canucks and keep their lead in the Western Conference. It went about as good as possible the last time the Predators were in town, topping the Canucks 7-1 back on Dec. 13. They were returning the favor after suffering a 5-3 setback on home ice in the previous meeting on Nov. 30. It's odd that the home team has dropped both meetings this series, as the home team was 5-0 in the previous five meetings in the series entering the season.

Saturday, March 3
The Toronto Maple Leafs and Washington Capitals square off outside at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md., and all eyes will be on the nationally-televised outdoor game. These teams met in an epic seven-game playoff series as the Leafs turned some heads and served notice to the rest of the NHL that they're on their way back. The Caps haven't gone away, as they're still a force to be reckoned with in the Eastern Conference.

The Leafs and Caps have split the first two meetings. Toronto won 2-0 against Washington in the first battle on Oct. 17 in D.C., and the Caps took a 4-2 decision on Nov. 25. The Caps have been faltering lately, as they have failed to win back-to-back games since sweeping a home-and-home against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Feb. 6-9. So of course they would pound the Jackets on Monday in Columbus, right? Nope. They were blasted 5-1. Washington's unpredictability lately has become comical.

This is just the third-ever NHL Outdoor Game for the Leafs. They won 3-2 in a shootout at Michigan Stadium in the Winter Classic on Jan. 1, 2014, and they won 5-4 in overtime against the Red Wings at BMO Field in Toronto in the Centennial Classic on Jan. 1, 2017. Something's gotta give, too, as the Capitals are also 2-0 all-time in their outdoor games. They won on the road against the Pittsburgh Penguins at Heinz Field back on Jan. 1, 2011, and they pushed aside the Chicago Blackhawks 3-2 in regulation at Nationals Park in D.C. on Jan. 1, 2015 in the Winter Classic.

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