NHL Best Bets (1/31/23): Can Canes Win Final Game Heading Into All-Star Break?
Welcome to the third to last slate before the all-star break weekend commences, as we have a small three-game slate to work with this evening. Last night saw a nice comeback by the Jets to score four unanswered with the empty-netter to hand the Blues a 4-2 defeat. I cannot stress enough that going into the last game before a long break for these teams there is a propensity for more weirdness to happen, so please wager carefully and accordingly. Tonight, we will see the Kings at Canes, the Capitals at Bluejackets, and the Senators at the Canadiens as well.
NHL Game Lines To Target
Carolina Hurricanes In-Regulation -120 Versus LA Kings/ Under Six Total Goals
The most dominant team in driving play or expected goals for percentage per 60 in the Carolina Hurricanes take on another team in the Kings that has been pretty good in the same category this season, but over the last ten, has not done so well in controlling play, at 21st, which is concerning going up against Carolina.
The Canes are coming off a big win against the Bruins last time out, which may give some concern for a letdown here, but the Canes do have another tilt on Wednesday in Buffalo as well, so I do not see them taking a night off here. They may get Slavin back in one of these games but have had no issues so far without him in the lineup. This is the last game of their six-game road trip for the Kings before their All-Star break starts after this one.
Additionally, Copley has been solid for the Kings in net this season, something which I would have expected to fall off but thus far has not. Still, many of his metrics are middling at best from what I see on Moneypuck.com today in terms of goals save above expected (GSAE) so I am more reluctant than most to jump on the wagon with Copley and say he has had a true renaissance yet. On the other side, Andersen has not allowed more than two goals in a start over the last five since returning from injury. Another angle I’d consider here with good odds would be the LA Kings under a team total of 3.5 or 2.5, depending on what odds you may find out there, but this would be a very small play.
Although I understand people backing an underdog here mathematically, and from a scheduling perspective in the Kings, I prefer simply taking the better team to grind this out in regulation at slight minus-money and would play this to -130. I’d also make a small play on the under-six total which was at -110 this morning, as I think both teams can slow down each other enough, in short, to keep this a lower-scoring game.
Washington Capitals Puck line -1.5 at +125 at Columbus or In-Regulation
Although at times the Bluejackets have shown some fight, knocking off the Oilers recently and keeping it close at Calgary on the Alberta road trip, I think the last two after that really show what this team is as they went down 5-2 at Vancouver and 3-1 at Seattle. Now they come home for the last game before the break to face the Capitals, who find themselves clinging to the first wild card spot in the standings while sitting four points back of the Rangers in the third and final metro division spot. It is very fair to say the Capitals have everything to play for here while the Jackets simply do not, except maybe to take a loss in the Connor Bedard draft lottery sweepstakes campaign.
I’m simply more than willing to take a smaller wager on the Capitals to revert to their mean and Columbus to do the same in this one at the plus money.
Best of luck tonight and enjoy the All-Star break!
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