Check out tonight’s NHL picks and predictions as I share my best bets for Thursday, November 7.
With a massive slate on deck, I decided there was no better time than now to cook up a few best bets for my fellow NHL readers.
Tonight, I’ve singled out two NHL games that have caught my eye and can make us a few extra dollars.
- Flames (+160) vs Bruins (-192)
- Avalanche (+120) vs Jets (-142)
Below, check out the preview and predictions for each pick.
NHL Best Bets, Picks, Predictions — Thursday, November 7
The team logos in the table below represent each of the matchups that our NHL betting staff is targeting from today’s slate of games. Click on the team logos for any of the matchups below to navigate to a specific bet discussed in this article.
The odds don’t suggest it, but this game is as close to a coin flip as you’ll get.
The Calgary Flames have already felt the waves of emotions this season, after starting the season 5-0-1, losing four in a row, to now winning two out of their last three.
We’re less than a month in, and we seem to know the trajectory of Calgary’s season. A whole lot of highs and lows.
Calgary’s opponents, the Boston Bruins, are feeling the same type of emotions as their counterparts. Though in Boston, there are usually a myriad of high expectations placed on its cherished Bruins.
After falling 4-2 in the second round of the playoffs to the now-defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers, the Bruins are 6-7-1 this season with a goal differential of -12. It’s a bit of uncharted territory for a team that usually prides itself on defense and goaltending.
Defensively, the B’s have been fine, especially in the past week, where they’ve posted a 12th-best 2.11 xGA/60, but ever since getting goalie Jeremy Swayman back, he’s been a liability. Along with his disappointing .894 SV%, he’s playing to a -0.2 goals saved above expected (GSAx).
Calgary can take advantage of that. Over the past week, the Flames have played to a solid 53.11 xGF%, and their star players are playing at a high level. Rasmus Andersson is taking a step toward becoming a scoring defenseman, while Connor Zary and Anthony Mantha have become huge parts of this offense.
This game can go either way, but I love the value Calgary poses. At +160, I’ll put 0.5 units on it and hope the Flames make me a prosperous man.
Pick: Flames ML (+160)
I was not a believer in the Winnipeg Jets this season. At all.
But alas, my mind games worked, gave them some bulletin board material, and now they’re atop the NHL standings with a 12-1 record (just let me have this).
I wasn’t prepared for the Scott Arniel era in Winnipeg. However, this just seems like a usual trend for this franchise. Tear it up in the regular season, only to embarrass itself in the playoffs.
Nonetheless, with a record like that in front of the home fans, it’s only natural that the Jets should be listed as favorites.
But value is the name of the game, and I like to press my luck.
It came out that Alexandar Georgiev is getting the start for the Colorado Avalanche, and if you haven’t looked at his stats, Georgiev stinks.
No matter how good Colorado is upfront, throw it out the window. Every loss that Georgiev has started has resulted in a loss by more than one goal. Not only that, he’s worst in the league with a -10.2 GSAx and a dreadful .822 SV%.
I don’t know what Jared Bednar is thinking by starting him against the hottest team in the NHL. Even in the past week, Winnipeg is playing to a fourth-best expected goals rate with a 65.6 xGF%.
We know the weight that Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar and Mikko Rantanen bring, but Colorado will be without its leading goal scorer, Ross Colton, for the foreseeable future.
Let’s take a shot here. Winnipeg’s at home and the Jets faithful is always a rowdy bunch, whether they fill the arena or not. I’m backing the Jets to win in a landslide.
