NHL Tuesday betting preview: 4 totals to target
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If you're anything like me, you were glued to the screen Monday to follow the chaos that was the NHL's trade deadline.
As the 3 p.m. ET deadline passed, you were jacked up on hockey and ready to bet on some games - only to come to the crippling realization that the NHL had just one game scheduled for Monday night. Letdown.
Congratulations on making it through. As a reward, we have 13 games on Tuesday's schedule to satisfy all our hockey and betting desires.
GOATs and scapegoats
How about Tyler Toffoli registering three points in just his second game with the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday? He helped spark a nine-goal outburst on home ice, as his team absolutely dismantled the Boston Bruins. That was a fun ticket to cash at +125.
You know what wasn't fun? Betting on the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday. Not only did I pick them to win the game, but I hammered them live in the second period and again at intermission.
If you don't know how that played out, you've been living under a rock.
Tuesday bets
Vancouver Canucks/Montreal Canadiens under 6
Jacob Markstrom is a significant loss for Vancouver but probably not as big as some are making it out to be. Thatcher Demko is a very promising young goalie, and he's had an excellent season thus far. I have no doubt he's ready to take the reins in Markstrom's absence starting tonight in Montreal. The Canadiens should get another typically excellent showing from Carey Price, especially against his hometown team, as goals should be hard to come by at Bell Centre. The Canucks have lost six straight in Montreal and nine of their last 10 games there, being shutout in five. The Habs are 10-2 to the under this season at home to Western Conference teams.
Toronto Maple Leafs/Tampa Bay Lightning under 6.5
The Lightning have been playing the best hockey in the NHL for some time. All that firepower up front has overshadowed how unbelievably strong they are on the back end and in net. Tampa Bay has won 11 straight at home, allowing just 20 goals over that span. The Maple Leafs will be aiming to put in another bounce-back performance defensively after Saturday's disaster, while it's hard to see them beating Andrei Vasilevskiy too often. Betting the under in a Toronto game can bring cruel and unusual punishment, but this game should be a lot tighter defensively than at first glance.
Chicago Blackhawks/St. Louis Blues over 6
The Blues broke out of their offensive rut over the weekend, scoring nine goals over two road games following a bit of a dry spell on home ice. They return to St. Louis tonight to take on the Blackhawks, who have allowed at least three goals in six of their last seven contests on the road. The last five meetings between these teams in St. Louis have gone over, averaging eight goals per game. Given the recent play of both sides, this one should sail over the number.
Best bet
Dallas Stars/Carolina Hurricanes over 5.5
Alex Nedeljkovic will get the nod for the Hurricanes tonight in the absence of Petr Mrazek and James Reimer, having been called up from the AHL's Charlotte Checkers, and he's actually a very capable netminder. A second-round pick in 2014, he led the Checkers to the Calder Cup title and was named the league's top goaltender in 2018-19. This year, he was named to the All-Star Game. This play isn't based on him starting the game but rather the two teams involved.
The Stars have found a nice rhythm offensively, scoring at least three goals in each of their last seven away games. Somewhat uncharacteristically, however, they've been struggling to keep pucks out at the other end, allowing at least three goals in five of their last eight on the road. The Hurricanes have played to five straight overs at home and will likely need to generate some offense in this one given the injuries and new faces on the blue line. This total is simply too low at 5.5.
Trend of the night
The Florida Panthers have scored at least three goals in 10 of 11 games away to Western Conference teams this season.
They've also scored at least four goals in eight of those 11 contests and will look to improve on that mark tonight in Phoenix against the Arizona Coyotes. You can get Florida's team total over 2.5 at -140 or over 3.5 at +180. The Coyotes have been playing much better hockey of late though, especially on the back end, so tread carefully.
Alex Moretto is a sports betting writer for theScore. A journalism graduate from Guelph-Humber University, he has worked in sports media for over a decade. He will bet on anything from the Super Bowl to amateur soccer, is too impatient for futures, and will never trust a kicker. Find him on Twitter @alexjmoretto.