Every team played on Tuesday night during the NHL’s ‘Frozen Frenzy’ and only two teams played last night, so we have zero rest advantages to worry about. We’re back with a nine-game slate tonight that will hopefully feature some highly competitive matchups. That said, here are my favorite bets for tonight’s betting card on DraftKings Sportsbook.
2024-25 NHL Record: 16-10
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St. Louis Blues at Toronto Maple Leafs
William Nylander Anytime Goalscorer (+135)
Given his odds set at -130, we all know Auston Matthews is likely going to score on Jordan Binnington tonight but Nylander is plus odds and has a strong history against Binnington. Nylander plays on the second line alongside Bobby McCann and Max Domi but that hasn’t slowed him down as he has scored five goals through the first seven games of the season. He’s also found plenty of success against St. Louis, netting seven goals in six meetings and three straight times when Binnington was starting.
This should be a high-scoring game but you never really know what you’re getting with the Maple Leafs, so beware. These two teams have totaled at least six goals in six of the last seven meetings, so they’re no strangers to high-scoring affairs when facing each other. The Maple Leafs and Blues rank 12th (50.82%) and 14th (50.33%) in expected goal percentage, so the offenses are creating chances. Plus, the Blues have allowed the sixth-most shots per game (30.6), giving Nylander ample opportunities to score. All that really matters is that Binnington has struggled to start the season, allowing 3.04 goals per game and posting a .891 save percentage. He has also allowed 4.28 goals per game and posted a save percentage of .872 in seven career games against Toronto.
Dallas Stars at Boston Bruins
Under 5.5 Total Goals (-105)
This is a low line and I’d normally stay away from betting on something like this but this is a matchup between two teams who love to play sound defense. Plus, the goaltending should be strong as both Casey DeSmith and Jeremy Swayman are expected to start. Across the last 10 meetings between Dallas and Boston, this total has gone under seven times.
Neither of these teams allow goals often with Dallas ranking third in goals allowed per game (1.86), primarily thanks to very strong goaltending from Jake Oettinger. But, DeSmith has been very good in two starts, allowing just 1.53 goals per game and posting the same save percentage (.941) as Oettinger. Boston has struggled a bit more this season, allowing 3.43 goals per game but Swayman has still been solid with a .911 save percentage and should be able to limit Dallas’ offensive attack, which hasn’t been producing much given its talent. The Bruins and Stars rank 31st (42.9%) and 23rd (47.05%) in expected goal percentage, as well. Each team fields trustworthy goaltending, prides itself on physical defense and lacks the offensive consistency needed for high-scoring games thus far.
Colorado Avalanche at Utah Hockey Club
COL Avalanche 3-Way Moneyline (+105)
After a very rough start to the season, the Avalanche find themselves on a three-game winning streak heading into Utah to take on a rising squad that is currently three points ahead of them in the division standings. Colorado should be determined to secure two points in a critical division matchup, and besides, it’s going to be hard to stop both Cale Makar and Nathan MacKinnon, who have single-handedly carried games and rank first (14) and third (12) in points, respectively.
This is likely going to be a high-scoring game, as most of Colorado’s games will be with its poor goaltending situation. It should be Justus Annunen and Karel Vejmelka in between the pipes tonight, too, with how rough both Alexandar Georgiev and Connor Ingram have looked to start the season. Both Annunen and Vejmelka have solid stats on paper this season but they are certainly going to let some easy goals in and I’m banking on Colorado’s talent to lead the way. Colorado has all the tools to light up the scoreboard tonight. It ranks third in expected goal percentage (58.65%) and sixth in high-danger chances (19) while Utah allows 3.43 goals per game and ranks third in high-danger chances allowed (24). Combine Colorado’s potent offense with Utah’s weaknesses and we have ourselves a mismatch, folks.
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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.
