With the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup restart campaign rolling right along, it’s time to find out who’s on the ice on Wednesday night and which teams are offering the best value in their respective matchups. With a half-dozen mid-week matchups on tap, I’ve identified the three pairing I believe are offering the most value, along with their NHL odds. Now, let’s get started.
NHL Odds & Picks – Games Highlights, Top Picks, Previews
Tampa Bay (44-21-6) vs. Boston (44-15-12)
Tampa Bay got past Washington 3-2 in a shootout on Monday and have the league’s most potent offense in putting up a stellar 3.5 goals per game. Boston was on the wrong end of a humbling 4-1 smackdown loss against Philadelphia on Sunday, but the Bruins have the league’s top-ranked defense in limiting the opposition to just 2.4 goals per game. More importantly, the Lightning have dominated this rivalry by winning five of the last six meetings and eight of the last 10 meetings overall, including a 5-3 road win the last time they met in May.
Tampa Bay has gone a consistent 7-3 in their last 10 games as an underdog, 4-1 in their last 5 playoff games as an underdog and 10-2 in the last dozen meetings against Boston. Conversely, the Bruins are 7-2 in their last 9 vs. Eastern Conference and 20-8 in their last 28 games overall, but the bad news is that they’re also 0-4 in their last 4 playoff games as a favorite.
Tampa Bay looked rock-solid against a very good Washington capitals team while Boston got blitzed by a Philadelphia squad that has been putting goals on the board much like the Lightning. Tampa Bay finds a way to get it done, though Boston won’t go down without a fight.
- Pick: Tampa Bay 3 Boston 2
- When: Wednesday, August 5, 2020 at 4:00 PM ET
- Where: Scotiabank Arena, Toronto, ON
- TV: NBCSN
- Money Lines: Tampa Bay -105 / Boston -115
- Total: 5.5
Colorado (43-20-8) vs. Dallas (37-25-8)
Colorado comes into this clash off an impressive 2-1 win over the defending champion St. Louis Blues on Sunday while Dallas collapsed late against Vegas on Monday to suffer a crushing 5-3 defeat. Colorado ranks inside the top six in both scoring (3.4 gpg, 4th) and goals allowed (2.7 gpg, 6th). Conversely, Dallas ranks a stupendous second in defense (2.5 gpg), but an awful 26th in scoring (2.6 gpg)
More importantly, the Avalanche are playing well right now, having won seven of their last 10 while Dallas has dropped seven straight dating back to the pre-coronavirus season. With the Stars going a winless 0-4 in their last 4 games as an underdog and Colorado going 12-2 in their last 14 after allowing two goals or less in their previous game, I say back the Avs to get it done!
- Pick: Colorado 4 Dallas 2
- When: Wednesday, August 5, 2020 at 6:30 PM ET
- Where: Rogers Place, Edmonton, AL
- Money Lines: Colorado -140 / Dallas +120
- Total: 5.5
Pittsburgh (41-23-7) vs. Montreal (32-32-9)
Montreal took Game of this series 3-2 in overtime on Saturday, but the Penguins bounced back nicely to take Game 2 by the score of 3-1 on Monday. More importantly, the Pens are ranked 10th in scoring (3.2 gpg) to Montreal’s 19th (2.9 gpg) while also ranking 12th in goals allowed (2.8 gpg) to Montreal’s 19th (3.1 gpg). Pittsburgh has dominated y winning nine of the last 13 meetings while the Canadiens have gone an uninspiring 3-7 in their last 10 games against a team with a winning record. Keep it simple and back Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin to lead the way to victory!
- Pick: Penguins 4 Canadiens 2
- When: Wednesday, August 5, 2020 at 8:00 PM ET
- Where: Scotiabank Arena, Toronto, ON
- Money Lines: Pittsburgh -170 / Montreal +145
- Total: 5.5
