NHL Pick: Buffalo vs. Tampa Bay Over 6.5 (-130) at BetOnline (visit our BetOnline Review)
We are kicking off today’s 10-game NHL slate with a matchup between the Buffalo Sabres and the Tampa Bay Lightning with goals expected in Florida. Elsewhere, the Oilers are heading to Pittsburgh as two strong offensive teams come head to head having both gone 1-4 in their previous five games.
Buffalo Sabres vs. Tampa Bay Lightning
Thursday, February 23, 2023 – 07:00 PM EST at Amalie Arena
Sabres Can Still Make Playoffs
The Buffalo Sabres are entering this contest tonight having seen a ton of goals in their recent games with their previous five outings having had 9/7/10/6/9 goals in their previous five games.
Buffalo is sitting in sixth position in the Atlantic division, currently just four points away from a playoff spot which is currently held by the Florida Panthers, although the Sabres have a big advantage having played five games less than the Panthers.
Lightning Strong on Home Ice
Tampa Bay enter this game having gone 9-1 over their previous 10 home games, only losing 4-3 to the San Jose Sharks in overtime. They have scored 4+ goals in eight of those ten games.
Tampa Bay is red-hot in front of the net right now and banged in 11 goals in their previous two home games. Currently third in the Atlantic Division, the Lightning's playoff spot is almost guaranteed unless something drastic was to happen as they have a 13-point advantage over the playoff drop zone.
The Pick
Combined both these teams have been averaging 7.2 goals per game this season and the previous five games between these two teams have had a big average of 7.1 goals. The Sabres and Lightning have both been two of the best teams to cash the over 6.5 goals this season with the Sabres ranking second and the Lightning third in the Eastern Conference.
Both these teams have elite offenses and weak defenses, even with Tampa Bay boasting one of the best goaltenders in the league in Andrei Vasilevskiy, we still like the over here. Especially with the Sabres likely starting goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen who has allowed 3.55 goals per game this season and has allowed 5.8 on average in his previous two games against Tampa Bay. Lay the NHL odds on the over 6.5 goals in this NHL matchup.
Sunshine State residents can bet on tonight's game at any of these Florida betting sites.
NHL Pick: Over 6.5 (-130) at BetOnline
Edmonton Oilers vs. Pittsburgh Penguins
Thursday, February 23, 2023 – 07:00 PM EST at PPG Paints Arena
Oilers Getting Better
The Edmonton Oilers might have lost 4 of their previous 5 and only gone 4-6 over their previous ten but they have scored a point in 9 of their last 10 NHL matchups having lost five of those six games after regulation.
The Oilers are starting to look more like a complete team these days that isn’t relying so heavily on the deadly duo of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, both the league’s top two points scorers. With that said, they are still the two best players on this roster by a long shot and will need both fully fit if they wish to make a Stanley Cup run.
Surprisingly the Oilers could still win the Western Conference as they only trail first place by three points.
Pittsburgh Sinking Fast
Despite having an offense that scored 3.20 goals per game, the Pittsburgh Penguins have been trending downwards in recent games, losing 9 of their previous 15 games, they have only won three of their previous six victories in regulation.
The Penguins have played the joint least amount of games in the Metropolitan Division, which is the only reason they might still make the playoffs, although it won’t be easy as there are just 7 points separating 12th and 7th in the Eastern Conference, with the Penguins currently wedged in 9th. Let’s be honest, this team aint going far into the playoffs this season.
The Pick
The Oilers rank as the number-one team on the powerplay this season hitting at 31.7% while the Penguins have been abysmal defensively in recent games allowing 4.20 goals per game in their previous five outings.
The previous four games between these two teams have had 6+ goals (three of the four hitting 7+ goals). Although we like the over 6.5 at -120, the better NHL pick is to take both teams to see 3+ goals at +110. It’s almost guaranteed both these teams will score at least twice; we have the Oilers precited to win this one 5-3, possibly even 6-4.
NHL Pick: Both Teams to Score Over 2.5 (+110) at the Top-Rated Sportsbooks
*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.
