With the NHL set to get its restart tournament underway this coming Saturday, August 1, it’s time to find out which teams are on the ice tonight and which teams are offering the best value in their respective matchups. Philadelphia will square off against longtime rival Pittsburgh in a meeting of two of the title hopefuls in the Eastern Conference while Montreal and Toronto meet in an all-Canada affair and Calgary and Edmonton throw down in another meeting of North of the Border franchises. Now, let’s find out where the best betting value lies in all three matchups, along with their NHL odds.
NHL Odds & Picks for July 28th Matches
Pittsburgh at Philadelphia at 4:00 PM ET
Philadelphia was one game up on Pittsburgh in the standings before the hiatus and should be bringing a solid effort in this scrimmage matchup as they’d like nothing better than to make a statement against the perennially-powerful Penguins. Sidney Crosby could make his return to the ice in this affair after missing most of the scrimmage season, but I don’t think it’s going to matter. Pittsburgh ranks an encouraging 10th in scoring (3.2 gpg) and 12th in goals allowed (2.8 gpg), but Philly has been even better at both ends of the ice in ranking an identical seventh in scoring (3.3 gpg) and goals allowed (2.8 gpg). Pittsburgh took two of three in the regular season, but these two have split their last 10 meetings evenly. I say Philly gets a small measure of revenge in this one.
- Pick: Philadelphia 3 Pittsburgh 2
- When: Tuesday, Jul 28 at 4:00 PM ET
- Pittsburgh Penguins Vs Philadelphia Flyers Live: NBCSN, NHL.TV, NBCSP+, ATTSN-PT
- Money Lines: Penguins win -135 / Flyers win +115
Toronto at Montreal at 8:00 PM ET
Toronto is up five wins on Montreal in the standings and the Canadiens wouldn’t even be in the postseason if the regular season actually finished as normal. The Maple Leafs have one of the most explosive offense in all of hockey in ranking third in scoring (3.4 gpg). Yes, they rank an unassuming 26th in goals allowed (3.2 gpg), but the Canadiens are mediocre at both ends of the ice in ranking an identical 19th in scoring (2.9 gpg) and goals allowed (3.1 gpg). Ironically, Montreal has won four straight in this rivalry after the Leafs took the previous six meetings. Toronto gets the win to hit the restart tournament with a boost of confidence. The favorite in this rivalry is a bankroll-boosting 19-7 in the last 26 meetings.
- Pick: Maple Leafs 3 Canadiens 2
- When: Tuesday, Jul 28 at 8:00 PM ET
- Toronto Maple Leafs Vs Montreal Canadiens Live: NHL Network, SN1, TVAS
- Money Lines: Maple Leafs win -160 / Canadiens win +135
Edmonton at Calgary at 10:30 PM ET
Edmonton is in fifth in the Western Conference standings wile Calgary is eighth in the conference, but only one game separates the two title hopefuls. The Oilers rank an identical 15th in scoring (3.1 gpg) and goals allowed (3.0 gpg) while the Flames rank 20th in scoring (2.9 gpg) and 17th in goals allowed (3.1 gpg). Still, Calgary won three straight in this rivalry before the hiatus before Edmonton bounced back in their last meeting to get the win – by putting a mind-boggling eight goals on the board. Sure, this might be a mostly meaningless matchup, but something tells me Edmonton wants to deliver a message to their conference counterparts should they meet in the upcoming restart tournament. The Oilers get the win to improve on their uninspiring 3-7 mark in the last 10 meetings.
- Pick: Edmonton 4 Calgary 3
- When: Tuesday, Jul 28 at 10:30 PM ET
- Edmonton Oilers Vs Calgary Flames Live: NHL Network, NHL.TV, SN
- Money Lines: Oilers win -110 / Flames win -110
