Welcome to our St. Patrick’s Day edition of NHL betting picks, we have a lot of games on early today so make sure to tune into the action.
First, we are looking at an over bet in Las Vegas, but the real value play of the day lies with Frank Vatrano of the Anaheim Ducks to get back on the scoreboard at some nice NHL betting odds at +160.
Finally, we are backing the Carolina Hurricanes to start swiftly in Canada with a moneyline bet in the first period.
Let’s take a look at the NHL odds available for today at the top-rated sportsbooks.
NHL Top Pick: Frank Vatrano Anytime Goalscorer (+160) at BetOnline (visit our BetOnline Review)
New Jersey Devils vs. Vegas Golden Knights
Sunday, March 17, 2024 – 03:30 PM ET at T-Mobile Arena
Poor Defence Should See Goals Scored
The New Jersey Devils allow the 6th most amount of goals this season, allowing 3.46 per game. The Vegas Golden Knights have a better defense but still allow 3.0 goals per game. Both these teams score a combined 6.47 goals per game, and are both inside the top 15 goalscorers thus far this season.
We are liking the total to go over in this game as there’s a lot on the line for both teams. With the regular season coming towards the end the Devils need to go on a hot streak if they want a chance of sneaking into the playoffs.
As for the Golden Knights, they are just about hanging onto the final playoff spot in the Western Conference.
The Pick
Both teams come into this game with a high percentage to the total 6.5 line going over on the day with the New Jersey leading the Eastern Conference with a 34-33 over 6.5 record, whilst the Golden Knights have gone 28-38 to the over 6.5 total line, which is the 7th best in the Western Conference.
We are more than happy to play the 6.0 line at a push in this matchup for -120 NHL betting odds. These two teams should have plenty of opportunities to get on the scoreboard in this one, and with both needing a win we believe we see goals in a game our computer is predicting to finish 4-3 to the Golden Knights.
NHL Pick: Over 6 (-120) at BetOnline
Anaheim Ducks vs. St. Louis Blues
Sunday, March 17, 2024 – 07:00 PM ET at Enterprise Center
Seven Scoreless Games
Although the Anaheim Ducks are ranked 3rd last in the Western Conference, we are looking to target their top goalscorer Frank Vatrano to get back on the scoreboard for the first time in seven games.
Vatrano has put up 29 goals thus far this season for the Ducks, which is 11 more than the next best Adam Henrique (who recently was traded to the Edmonton Oilers). That leaves us with the next-best scorer Troy Terry with 17 goals.
Vatrano is the go-to guy when it comes to scoring for Anaheim and having not scored for seven games, we believe tonight he has a chance to do so.
The Pick
The St Louis Blues are not a bad team, much better than Anaheim right now, but Vatrano won’t mind that as he will continue to take his usual high volume of shots, one of them will bounce in eventually.
Vatrano has had 4/0/2/6/6/0/5 shots in each game since he has failed to score, but don’t be surprised if he scores in this one at +160 NHL betting odds. We like the value a lot on this play given the matchup, and would happily bet it down to as low as +150.
NHL Pick: Frank Vatrano Anytime Goalscorer (+160) at BetOnline
Ottawa Senators vs. Carolina Hurricanes
Sunday, March 17, 2024 – 06:00 PM ET at Canadian Tire Centre
Ottawa’s Luck to Run Out
The Carolina Hurricanes come into this road game having gone 8-2 in their previous ten NHL games, which isn’t bad when we look at their opponents’ recent record.
The Ottawa Senators are 3-7 in their previous ten games but their three wins all came in their previous three games. They failed to win any of them in regulation, beating the Penguins and islanders in overtime and Columbus on penalties. If you want to go one step further they’re 4-7 in their last 11 games, winning zero of those four games in regulation.
We believe their overtime luck might run out this St Patrick’s Day as the Carolina Hurricanes are in town to ruin the parade. Carolina is in the middle of a playoff race, sitting 4th in the Eastern Conference. The Senators are 2nd last in the conference.
The Pick
We are looking for a quick start in the first period from the Carolina Hurricanes in this road game as their -110 ML odds to win the first period is a strong betting proposition. Carolina has the 9th-best moneyline record in the first period, and while the Senators aren’t too far behind in 13th, there is a considerable difference between the two teams.
Interestingly the Hurricanes are 0-3 in the 1P in their previous three games against the Senators. We do love to oppose a trend, let’s go Hurricanes 1P at -110 NHL betting odds to wrap up this St Patrick’s Day.
NHL Pick: Hurricanes First-Period ML (-110) at BetOnline
*The line and/or odds on picks in this article might have moved since the content was commissioned. For updated line movements, visit BMR’s free betting odds product.
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