NHL free picks: Flames vs. Maple Leafs, Lightning vs. Wild
Elias Lindholm of the Calgary Flames skates with the puck. (Photo by Vincent Ethier/Icon Sportswire)
January 16th, 2020
The red-hot Tampa Bay Lightning will look for another win against the struggling Minnesota Wild on national television Thursday night. Also on the docket is an intriguing matchup between the Calgary Flames and Toronto Maple Leafs, which offers a solid wager in the totals market.
Calgary Flames at Toronto Maple Leafs, 7 p.m. ET
| Team | Puck Line | Moneyline | Total |
|---|
Calgary Flames | +1.5 | +135 | O 6.5 |
Toronto Maple Leafs | -1.5 | -165 | U 6.5 |
Fans and bettors should expect goals aplenty when the puck drops at Scotiabank Arena.
Calgary’s offense has given a good account of itself on the road lately, with an average of 3.38 goals over its last eight games as the visitor. Center Elias Lindholm, who has averaged a goal a game over his last four, has better splits on the road than at home this year (22 points in 25 road games, compared to 14 points in 23 home games), so look for him to find the stat sheet. The Flames have exceeded the total in four straight games against teams with winning records.
Calgary’s offense has given a good account of itself on the road lately, with an average of 3.38 goals over its last eight games as the visitor. Center Elias Lindholm, who has averaged a goal a game over his last four, has better splits on the road than at home this year (22 points in 25 road games, compared to 14 points in 23 home games), so look for him to find the stat sheet. The Flames have exceeded the total in four straight games against teams with winning records.
Elias Lindholm on the power play! Flames lead again!#Flames pic.twitter.com/C1ahAo9nbw
— Hockey Daily 365 l NHL Highlights & News (@HockeyDaily365) January 12, 2020
Toronto’s lethal offense (tops in the league in goals per game, at 3.66), combined with a swiss-cheese defense that has surrendered 22 goals over the last four games, is an Over bettor’s best friend. The Over is 5-1 in the Maple Leafs’ last six home games, as well.
NHL free pick: Over
Tampa Bay Lightning at Minnesota Wild, 8 p.m. ET (NBCSN)
| Team | Puck Line | Moneyline | Total |
|---|
Calgary Flames | +1.5 | +135 | O 6.5 |
Toronto Maple Leafs | -1.5 | -165 | U 6.5 |
The Lightning has won 11 of its last 12 games, and it seems unlikely that a moribund Minnesota team will spring an upset Thursday night.
Tampa owns one of the league’s best offenses (third in goals per game, at 3.57) and will face a Wild defense that is third-worst in the NHL in goals allowed per game (3.37). The power play/penalty kill splits do not help Minnesota, either, as the Lightning are second in power play percentage (27.4%), while the Wild are 26th in penalty kill percentage (75.7%). Minnesota’s penalty-kill unit has trended poorly during their club’s recent 1-6 run, with just 17 kills of their last 26 penalties (65.4%).
Further trends paint an even grimmer picture for the Wild. It has dropped six of its last seven games as a home underdog, while Tampa is 41-11 in its last 52 games against teams with losing records.
Tampa owns one of the league’s best offenses (third in goals per game, at 3.57) and will face a Wild defense that is third-worst in the NHL in goals allowed per game (3.37). The power play/penalty kill splits do not help Minnesota, either, as the Lightning are second in power play percentage (27.4%), while the Wild are 26th in penalty kill percentage (75.7%). Minnesota’s penalty-kill unit has trended poorly during their club’s recent 1-6 run, with just 17 kills of their last 26 penalties (65.4%).
Further trends paint an even grimmer picture for the Wild. It has dropped six of its last seven games as a home underdog, while Tampa is 41-11 in its last 52 games against teams with losing records.
NHL free pick: Lightning -1.5
Thirteen games are on the NHL schedule today! Check out all the matchups at BetAmerica!
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