NHL picks: Lightning vs. Panthers, Oilers vs. Canadiens (Feb. 11)

It’s a crowded NHL slate this Thursday night, but we managed to zero in on our two best bets for the evening.

First, we preview an all-Florida matchup between the Tampa Bay Lightning and Florida Panthers. Then we dive into an all-Canada clash between the Edmonton Oilers and Montreal Canadiens.

Tampa Bay Lightning (9-1-1) at Florida Panthers (7-1-2), 7:00 p.m. ET

The Lightning should secure their seventh straight victory when they visit the Panthers in Sunrise, FL on Thursday night.

Tampa has taken four games from the Nashville Predators and two from the Detroit Red Wings during their win streak, and only one of those tilts was decided by one goal. Center Steven Stamkos has been on fire in this stretch, registering five goals and three assists.

Florida is an uneven 4-3 straight-up over their last seven contests, averaging a modest 2.57 goals per game in that span. They’ve really struggled with this division opponent of late, as the Lightning have beaten them straight-up in nine of their last 10 meetings.

Take Tampa to win by a comfortable margin here.

NHL Free Pick: Lightning -1.5 goals (+150)

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Edmonton Oilers (8-7-0) at Montréal Canadiens (8-3-2), 7:00 p.m. ET

The Montréal Canadiens’ offense – though still ranked No. 1 in the NHL (3.85 goals per game) – has cooled off a bit since a torrid start to the season, mustering just six goals over its last three games. But a “firewagon hockey” clash is bound to break out at the Bell Centre on Thursday evening as the Edmonton Oilers come to town.

The Oilers boast the NHL’s seventh-highest scoring offense (3.47 goals per game), but are just 25th in goals allowed per game (also 3.47). Montréal’s leading goal-getter – right wing Tyler Toffoli (nine) – seems poised to find the scoresheet again after being blanked for three straight tilts.

Edmonton, of course, is led by the indomitable Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. They’re first and second in the Art Ross race, respectively, with McDavid leading 27 points to 25.

Neither McDavid nor Draisaitl managed to tally in point in their most recent game, a 3-2 win against the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday, but their being blanked for a second straight night would be like lightning striking twice in the same spot.

Trend bettors should note that the Over has cashed in five straight games in the second half of a back-to-back for the Canadiens. The Over is also 4-0-1 in the Oilers’ last five games against teams with winning records.

In the last 16 meetings in Montreal between these two clubs, the Over is 11-4-1.

NHL Free Pick: Over 6.5 goals (+108)