The 2021-22 NHL season is now a month into the season with most teams already playing nine or even 10 games. Thursday, November 4th, has nine games scheduled and there are more than enough exciting matchups with the full slate of games. Many hockey fans are looking to bet on the games and knowing the right matchups and mismatches are pivotal to a successful night, leaving some games as the best to place wagers on.
Under 5.5 New York Islanders Vs. Montreal Canadiens
| Islanders stat line | 2.43 goals per game | 2.43 goals against per game |
| Canadiens stat line | 2.00 goals per game | 3.09 goals agasint per game |
The Canadiens defense struggled early on in the season but has rapidly improved in recent games, allowing two goals or fewer in three of the last four games. Likewise, the Islanders have been led by their defensive unit to start the season allowing them to eliminate even the best forward units in the NHL.
In the upcoming game, the Canadiens will look to limit to eliminate the Islanders forwards in the defensive zone with Jeff Petry, Brett Kulak, and the backend of the defensive unit playing the passing lane and forcing the Islanders forwards to play along the boards and settle for tough shots on the net. In addition, Jake Allen, who is off to a great start this season as the starting goaltender for the Canadiens, is going to continue playing well in the net and eliminate most if not all shots on goal.
The Islanders, on the other hand, will eliminate the Canadiens in the neutral and defensive zone alike with Adam Pelech and Ryan Pulock cutting off angles to the net while also disrupting shots to the net. Likewise, the Islanders backend of the defensive unit, led by Scott Mayfield and Noah Dobson will eliminate the Canadiens forwards in the defensive zone with the backcheck while goaltender Ilya Sorokin has another strong performance in goal, forcing the Canadiens to shoot low on him in the game to find the back of the net.
The Under will cover with both defensive units controlling the game.
Tampa Bay Lightning (+110) Vs. Toronto Maple Leafs
| Lightning stat line | 3.22 goals per game | 3.22 goals against per game |
| Maple Leafs’ stat line | 2.50 goals per game | 2.90 goals against per game |
The Maple Leafs have made a statement with back-to-back wins and look to continue their winning ways in the current homestand. The problem is that they face a Lightning team that has not only found their footing in the past few games but can eliminate how the Maple Leafs like to play on both ends of the ice. The Lightning will control the center of the defensive zone and force the Maple Leafs to settle for shots from the outside, eliminating the centering passes that Auston Matthews, Nick Ritchie, and Wayne Simmonds love to find the back of the net with. Meanwhile, Andrei Vasilevskiy will receive a lot of top-shelf shots from the Maple Leafs but make plenty of glove saves to take away second-chance scoring opportunities with one of the best glove saves in the game.
On the offensive side of the ice, the Lightning will look to continue to find scoring opportunities on the odd-man rush, taking advantage of Brayden Point and Alex Killorn’s speed against slower the Maple Leafs’ defensemen. Additionally, the Lightning will find plenty of scoring chances in the offensive zone with great puck-movement from Point, Steven Stamkos, and the rest of the forward unit to find easy shots near the net and from the point from Victor Hedman and Mikhail Sergachev, overwhelming the Maple Leafs.
The Lightning will win the game and pull off the upset on the road.
Philadelphia Flyers (+125) Vs. Pittsburgh Penguins
| Flyers stat line | 3.50 goals per game | 2.50 goals against per game |
| Penguins stat line | 3.25 goals per game | 3.00 goals against per game |
The Flyers continue their road trip with a matchup against their in-state rival in the Penguins. Normally, the Penguins would be the smart bet as they have a talented roster and are poised to finish near the top of the Metropolitan Division. However, the Penguins are dealing with many of their star players out for the upcoming game, including Sidney Crosby and Bryan Rust, and the Flyers look to take advantage.
The Flyers will eliminate the Penguins offense that will be without two of their top scorers with Justin Braun and Ivan Provorov leading the revamped defensive unit and limiting the Penguins’ speed in the neutral zone. In addition, Carter Hart, who is having a bounce-back season as the Flyers goaltender, will continue to play well in the net and blank the limited shots from the Penguins forwards throughout the game. Offensively, the Flyers look to run up the score with Joel Farabee, Cam Atkinson, and the deep forward unit finding open passing lanes in the offensive zone and firing top-shelf shots on Penguins goaltender Tristan Jarry to find the back of the net.
The Flyers should win the game and provide great odds in the process as road Underdogs.
Calgary Flames (-140) Vs. Dallas Stars
| Flames stat line | 3.44 goals per game | 2.00 goals against per game |
| Stars stat line | 1.89 goals per game | 2.78 goals against per game |
The Flames are coming off a tough loss to the Nashville Predators and now face a Stars team that is tough to play against. That being said, the Flames are one of the best teams in the NHL this year and look to return to their winning ways with a statement victory. The Flames will constantly find the back of the net with strong passes in the offensive zone by Elias Lindholm and Andrew Mangiapane while Johnny Gaudreau in particular, creates in the neutral zone with his speed skating against the Stars defensemen.
On the other end of the ice, the Flames will look to limit the Stars puck movement with Noah Hanifin, Rasmus Andersson, and the Flames defensive unit playing disciplined defense and forcing the Stars to make plays along the boards and behind the net. More importantly, the Flames can play aggressively knowing that goaltender Jacob Markstrom, who is having an incredible season, can bail them out with great saves in the crease.
The Flames will win this game with a decisive victory.
Over 5.5 – San Jose Sharks Vs. St. Louis Blues
| Sharks stat line | 3.00 goals per game | 2.44 goals against per game |
| Blues stat line | 4.14 goals per game | 2.14 goals against per game |
The Sharks and Blues are both off to strong starts and look poised to reach the playoffs. In this game, the two teams look to pile on the goals in a high-scoring game with both offenses exploiting weaknesses in the opposing defenses.
The Blues forwards look to pile on the goals with David Perron, Ryan O’Reilly, and Brayden Schenn centering passes throughout the game and finding scoring chances near the net. Moreover, the Blues will allow defensemen Justin Faulk and Torey Krug to find open shots and skaters near the net from the point against a Sharks defense that likes to play near the face-off circles, further opening up the Sharks defense.
The Sharks meanwhile should also find the back of the net with Timo Meier, Tomas Hertl, and Logan Couture finding space on the wing and crashing the net while Brent Burns finds the back of the net from the point. Additionally, with the Blues playing the second game of a back-to-back, they will turn to backup goaltender Ville Husso who struggles with secondary scoring chances and shots through traffic, allowing the Sharks to take advantage, especially with the scoring defensemen that the Sharks possess in Burns and Erik Karlsson.
The Over will cover with both offenses stepping up in the game.
You must log in to post a comment.