Better Hockey Bets on Saturday

Saturday hockey betting action advice

By Angelo Montilla

Here are a few NHL betting options to consider, with odds courtesy of BetOnline.com.

Columbus Blue Jackets (-125) vs. New York Rangers (+113)

The run is over for the Columbus Blue Jackets, who saw their impressive 16-game winning streak come to an end. The club will try to start a brand new streak on Saturday night when they host the New York Rangers in a Metropolitan Division showdown.

The Blue Jackets head into Saturday’s match as -125 favorites playing on home ice, where the club has posted a 15-3-1 record at Nationwide Arena this season. The Rangers are hoping to gain ground on the Metropolitan Division-leading Blue Jackets. New York, which is 7-3-0 in its last 10 games, head into Columbus as intriguing +113 underdogs.

Both of these clubs are among the league leaders in goals per game. The Rangers are second, averaging 3.39 followed by the Blue Jackets in third at 3.35. Needless to say, this game has the makings of a high-scoring affair.

Are you considering an over/under wager? BetOnline has set the total goals projection at 5.5 — a mark these two clubs will easily surpass.

Looking at the head-to-head battle over the last 10 games, the Rangers own a commanding 8-2-0 record over that span. But this is a different Blue Jackets team and the Rangers will find out the hard way on Saturday night.

Pick: Columbus Blue Jackets (-125) and the Over (5.5)

Winnipeg Jets (-110) vs. Buffalo Sabres (+100)

The Jets will look to win their third straight game — and more importantly try to inch closer to a playoff spot — when the club travels to Buffalo on Saturday to face the Sabres.

The Jets are gaining traction in the Western Conference, winning six of their last 10 games. Because of that, they head to Buffalo as -110 favorites. The Sabres look as if they’re heading to another lottery pick as the club has gone 3-4-3 in its last 10. The Sabres, who are 7-8-3 on home ice this season, are +100 underdogs heading into action on Saturday night.

The Sabres will have their hands full with the Jets’ high-powered offense, particularly Patrik Laine, who has 21 goals in his rookie season and is riding a three-game scoring streak heading into action on Saturday night. It’s not just Laine scoring either as the Jets rank 10th overall in goals for with 111 tallies at the mid-point of the NHL season.

The Jets and Sabres don’t meet too often, but Winnipeg holds the advantage of the last 10 games, winning six times over that span.

The totals goals projection for this tilt is set at 5.5. Expect a high-scoring game between these cross-conference rivals.

Pick: Winnipeg Jets (-110) and the Over (5.5)

San Jose Sharks (-204) vs. Detroit Red Wings (+175)

It hasn’t been a pleasant new year for the San Jose Sharks, who have lost three straight games. The Sharks will look to get back on track on home ice on Saturday night when they host the Detroit Red Wings at SAP Center.

The Sharks, who still remain at the top of the Pacific Division standings, enter Saturday’s contest as -204 favorites on home ice, where they’ve posted a 13-5-1 record this season. The Red Wings’ 25-year consecutive playoff streak is at stake as the club sits well out of post-season position. The Wings, 4-5-1 in their last 10 games, continue their West Coast trip in San Jose as +175 underdogs.

The Wings may want to keep close tabs on star defenseman Brent Burns, who leads the Sharks in scoring with 37 points in 39 games played. Burns has had success against Detroit in the past, netting four goals and 17 points in 36 career games.

The head-to-head matchup over the last 10 games has been close, but the Sharks hold the advantage by winning six times over that stretch.

If you’re betting the point spread, the Sharks are 1.5 favorites — a line bettors should jump on. San Jose may be in a mini-slump but expect that to end on Saturday night.

Pick: San Jose Sharks (-204) and cover -1.5

Category : Betting Picks

Tag : hockey betting , nhl odds

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