Following a six-game slate last night, we’re back with a hefty nine-game slate tonight featuring just two teams on back-to-backs –– the Devils and Panthers. Aside from the Stars and Oilers, who are both very heavy favorites on the Moneyline, there should be some highly-competitive matchups on tap for tonight. Here are my favorite bets for today’s betting card on DraftKings Sportsbook.
2024-25 NHL Record: 9-5
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Vegas Golden Knights at Washington Capitals
VGK Golden Knights Moneyline (-135)
The Capitals last played on Saturday, so they’re operating with one more day of rest than the Golden Knights. But, I don’t necessarily care because Vegas is by far the superior squad in this matchup and should have minimal problems in securing a win tonight. Washington has only played one game thus far, a 3-5 loss to New Jersey, and might come out of the gate a bit unprepared considering Vegas has gotten off to a hot 3-0 start and will be aggressive from the first puck drop.
The Golden Knights might be the hottest team in hockey right now. They’ve scored 15 goals in three games and have shown zero signs of slowing down given their quality of depth. Last season, they ranked 11th in expected goal percentage (51.54%) and 10th in expected goals (176.72). These metrics should bode well for Vegas as Washington ranked ninth in expected goals against (176.72). On top of this, the Capitals also allowed a ton of high-danger chances last season, ranking sixth with 189 total. The Golden Knights generated the 10th-most high-danger chances (184), too, so there should be plenty of high-quality opportunities.
Former Golden Knight Logan Thompson is expected to start in net for Washington, and he has been a solid goaltender, posting a solid 2.67 GAA and .912 SV% in 103 appearances. There’s going to be the crowd that banks on a revenge game for Thompson but this Golden Knights offensive attack has been cookin’ and shouldn’t slow down tonight. Plus, Vegas has won four of the last five matchups versus Washington.
Vancouver Canucks at Tampa Bay Lightning
TB Lightning Over 3.5 Goals (+110)
It’s surprising that this line is plus odds given how poor Vancouver’s goaltending situation coupled with Tampa Bay’s offensive firepower. With Thatcher Demko on the shelf for the foreseeable future, the Canucks are forced to rotate between Kevin Lankinen and Arturs Silovs. Lankinen was somewhat serviceable as a backup for Nashville last season while Silovs is just 23 years old and has not looked great to start his career.
The Bolts just topped the Hurricanes, 4-1, in their season opener thanks to a hat-trick from Nikita Kucherov while the Canucks have dropped back-to-back games in overtime to the Flames and Flyers. The vibes are vibin’ for Tampa Bay and they are not for Vancouver. The Bolts have also won eight of the last 10 matchups against the Canucks and have cleared this line of 3.5 goals in seven of those games.
It is slightly concerning that Kucherov essentially did everything himself but that’s what he does best, and I’m willing to bet on Brayden Point and Jake Guentzel getting more involved in the stat-padding activities. By no means am I expecting the Bolts to blow out the Canucks, either, as the Canucks are still an offensive powerhouse and rank third in expected goal percentage through two games (63.14%). Tampa Bay should have zero issues scoring on either Lankinen or Silovs but the competitiveness and offensive success from Vancouver makes me feel even better that this line goes over in a high-scoring tilt.
Philadelphia Flyers at Edmonton Oilers
Jeff Skinner Over 0.5 Points (-105)
I know what you’re thinking. Why am I betting on 32-year-old Jeff Skinner to record a point in the year 2024? Well, because he shares a line with Connor McDavid and Zach Hyman, and has found some success against the Flyers throughout his career. Plus, Skinner has recorded a point in back-to-back games.
Edmonton is 0-3 and has generated just three goals in three games. The Oilers struggled against poor squads such as the Blackhawks and Flames, and it is hard to trust them, especially Skinner but I’m banking on them finishing their four-game homestand with a statement win with production from the top two lines. Both McDavid and Hyman have found success against Philadelphia in recent seasons, logging 14 and six points in the last six meetings, respectively. Even during his time with Buffalo, Skinner cleared this line in five of the last nine matchups versus the Flyers, and that was when he shared a line with significantly less talent.
The Flyers are usually defensively sound and may not allow many shot opportunities for the Oilers but that doesn’t mean much considering they allowed 3.15 goals per game last season and still deploy below-average goaltending in 24-year-old Samuel Ersson. Plus, believe it or not, the Oilers still rank fourth in expected goal percentage (60.05%) in three games. Skinner is going to shoot every chance he gets and already has totaled 12 shots on net this season. Sharing a line with such potent playmakers such as McDavid and Hyman makes me feel good that even if Skinner doesn’t net a goal, he’ll be involved in most of the scoring sequences tonight.
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All odds provided by DraftKings Sportsbook, lines and odds subject to change.
All views expressed are my own. I am an employee of DraftKings and am ineligible to play in public DFS or DKSB contests.
