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Following the Thanksgiving, the NHL is back in action. As usual, there is a long schedule on Friday, and we are going to see the betting trends for the four more interesting matchups.
The Boston Bruins are rejuvenated after the coaching change and will try to build a winning streak when they host the struggling Pittsburgh Penguins. The Minnesota Wings are the best defensive team in the league, and the Chicago Blackhawks will have a long day when they visit the Twin City. The Carolina Hurricanes will host the defending champion Florida Panthers in a battle between two of the top teams in the East, and finally, the Vancouver Canucks will try to add another win on their road trip when they stop in Buffalo.
Let’s take a deeper look at the NHL betting trends for these four games.
Pittsburgh Penguins vs Boston Bruins
The Pittsburgh Penguins are 15th in the Eastern Conference with an 8-12-4 record, including 3-6-2 on the road. They are coming off a 5-4 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins that ended their three-game losing streak. The Penguins are the worst defensive team in the league allowing 3.96 goals per game and are ranked 24th scoring 2.63. Sidney Crosby leads the team with 23 points so far in the season.
The Boston Bruins are eighth in the Eastern Conference with an 11-10-3 record, including 6-5-2 at home. They have won 3 of the last 4 games and are coming off a 6-3 win over the New York Islanders. The Bruins are second to last in the league scoring 2.38 goals per game and are ranked 19th allowing 3.13. David Pastrnak leads the team with 22 points so far in the season.
Pittsburgh Penguins vs Boston Bruins: NHL betting trends
The Bruins are 14-3 SU in their last 17 games against the Penguins and 2-4 SU in their last 6 games against teams from the Metropolitan Division. Boston has played under the total goal line in 9 of their last 13 games overall, 4 of their last 5 home games and 4 of their last 6 games against teams from the Eastern Conference while has gone over in 4 of their last 6 games against Pittsburgh. The Penguins are 2-6 SU in their last 8 games overall, 1-5 SU in their last 6 games against the Bruins and 1-7 SU in their last 8 games on the road. Pittsburgh has played under the total goal line in 4 of their last 5 games against teams from the Eastern Conference and 4 of their last 6 games against teams from the Atlantic Division while has gone over in 4 of their last 6 games overall.
Prediction and Conclusion
The Bruins had a difficult start to the season, which cost Jim Montgomery his job. Joe Sacco jumped in as an interim coach, and the Bruins have lost only one game since he took over. They have improved a lot on the defensive end but still have to be way more efficient on the offense as they are near the bottom of the league in that aspect. Scoring against the Penguins, who are dead last in the defensive rating, should not be a problem for the Bruins, so we go with them to add another victory at home.
Chicago Blackhawks vs Minnesota Wild
The Chicago Blackhawks are second to last in the Western Conference with an 8-12-2 record, including 2-6-3 on the road. They have lost 4 of the last 6 games and are coming off a 6-2 win over the Dallas Stars. Chicago is 27th in the league scoring 2.50 goals per game and is ranked 13th allowing 2.96. Connor Beddard leads the team with 16 points so far in the season.
The Minnesota Wild are second in the Western Conference with a 14-4-4 record, including 4-3-1 at home. They have won 3 of the last 5 games and are coming off a 1-0 win over the Buffalo Sabres. The Wild are the best defensive team in the league allowing 2.36 goals per game and are ranked 12th scoring 3.23. Kirill Kaprizov is the best player on the team with 35 total points, which ties him for second in the league.
Chicago Blackhawks vs Minnesota Wild: NHL betting trends
The Wild are 13-6 SU in their last 19 games overall, 6-0 SU in their last 6 home games against Chicago and 2-4 SU in their last 6 games against teams from the Western Conference. Minnesota has played under the total goal line in 6 of their last 7 games against Chicago, 4 of their last 5 home games and 5 of their last 6 games against teams from the Central Division. The Blackhawks are 3-6 SU in their last 9 games overall, 1-12 SU in their last 13 games against Minnesota, and 3-8 SU in their last 11 games against teams from the Central Division. Chicago has played under the total goal line in 9 of their last 10 games overall, their last 5 games on the road and 6 of their last 7 games against teams from the Western Conference.
Prediction and Conclusion
The Chicago Blackhawks are coming off their biggest win of the season, dominating the Dallas Stars at home. Now, they are going against another defensively oriented team from the top of the West. The Wild are in great form, with Kirill Kaprizov showing his full talent. The Wild have played much better on the road than at home so far in the season, and given the fact that they defeated the Blackhawks the last six times they hosted them, with Minnesota winning this one.
Florida Panthers vs Carolina Hurricanes
The Florida Panthers are fifth in the Eastern Conference with a 13-9-1 record, including 6-4-0 on the road. They are coming off a 5-1 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs that ended their four-game losing streak. The Panthers are sixth in the league scoring 3.43 goals per game and are ranked 26th allowing 3.35. Sam Reinhart leads the team with 32 points so far in the season.
The Carolina Hurricanes are on top of the Eastern Conference with a 16-5-1 record, including 9-1-0 at home. They have split the last four games and are coming off a 4-3 win over the New York Rangers. Carolina is second in the league scoring 4 goals per game and third allowing 2.59. Martin Necas leads the league with 37 points so far in the season and is tied for third place with 25 assists.
Florida Panthers vs Carolina Hurricanes: NHL betting trends
The Hurricanes are 14-4 SU in their last 18 games overall, 9-0 SU in their last 9 home games and 9-2 SU in their last 11 games against teams from the Eastern Conference. Carolina has played under the total goal line in 8 of their last 11 games against the Panthers, their last 6 home games against them and 7 of their last 8 games against teams from the Atlantic Division. The Panthers are 1-4 SU in their last 5 games overall, 10-4 SU in their last 14 games against Carolina, 7-3 SU in their last 10 games against teams from the Eastern Conference and 7-3 SU in their last 10 games against teams from the Metropolitan Division. Florida has played over the total goal line in 13 of their last 20 games overall and 4 of their last 5 games on the road.
Prediction and Conclusion
The Florida Panthers are the defending champions, but the Carolina Hurricanes look like the best team this season. The Hurricanes are almost perfect at home, losing only one of 10 games on home ice. The Panthers are having a difficult week and week, and this visit comes at a bad time for them. The Hurricanes will definitely go all-in against the Panthers and will prove their form with another win.
Vancouver Canucks vs Buffalo Sabres
The Vancouver Canucks are eighth in the Western Conference with an 11-7-3 record, including 8-2-0 at home. They have lost 3 of the last 5 games and are coming off a 5-4 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins. Vancouver is 13th in the league scoring 3.19 goals per game and is ranked 22nd allowing 3.14. Quinn Hughes leads the team with 23 points so far in the season.
The Buffalo Sabres are ninth in the Eastern Conference with an 11-10-1 record, including 6-6-0 at home. They are coming off a 1-0 loss to the Minnesota Wild which ended their three-game winning streak. The Sabres are 15th in the league scoring 3.09 goals per game and are ranked one spot higher allowing 3 goals per game. Alex Tuch leads the team with 21 points so far in the season.
Vancouver Canucks vs Buffalo Sabres: NHL betting trends
The Sabres are 7-3 SU in their last 10 games overall, 7-1 SU in their last 8 games against teams from the Western Conference and 6-2 SU in their last 8 games played on Friday. Buffalo has played under the total goal line in 4 of their last 5 games against Vancovuer and 5 of their last 6 games against teams from the Pacific Division and over in 6 of their last 7 games against Vancouver. The Canucks are 10-5 SU in their last 15 games against Buffalo, 8-1 SU in their last 9 games on the road and 7-1 SU in their last 8 games against teams from the Atlantic Division. Vancouver has played over the total goal line in 4 of their last 5 games overall, 6 of their last 7 games when visiting Buffalo and 6 of their last 8 games against teams from the Eastern Conference.
Prediction and Conclusion
The Canucks are continuing their East Coast road trip with a stop in Buffalo. Despite the loss in Pittsburgh, they are still one of the best road teams in the league. The Sabres are playing their best hockey of the season, and their aggressive playing style makes them a difficult opponent for everyone. These two have gone over the total goal line most of the times they have played in recent history, but given their recent form, this will be a tight one that will stay under 6.5 goals in total.
