The Flames commence their post-break schedule with an away game against the Bruins at TD Garden in Boston. Calgary finds itself in a less-than-ideal position, sitting at .500 and outside the playoff picture, requiring significant improvement. Despite a recent narrow 1-0 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks, snapping a four-game losing streak, the Flames have struggled offensively, managing only seven goals in their last four games while conceding 16 goals in the past five matches. In contrast, the Bruins have been in formidable form, evidenced by their recent 6-2 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers, marking their seventh win in the last eight games and accumulating 19 out of a possible 24 points in their last 12 outings. Although Boston suffered a narrow 3-2 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes in their most recent home game, they boast an impressive 5-1-0 record in their last six home games. Furthermore, the Bruins have historically performed well against Calgary, winning five of their last seven encounters, including a 3-1 victory at TD Garden in November 2022.
Boston Win
The Dallas Stars travel to western New York to face the Buffalo Sabres at KeyBank Center. Prior to the all-star break, the Stars displayed impressive offensive performances. Their latest game saw them secure a 5-4 overtime victory against the Washington Capitals, easily surpassing the over line of 6.5 goals. Notably, the over bet has been successful in three consecutive games and in five out of the last six for the Stars. However, their defensive efforts have been less convincing, with their goaltenders allowing three or more goals in five of their last six games, resulting in an average of 3.5 goals conceded per game over this span.
In contrast, the Buffalo Sabres have been inconcistent. Prior to the break, they traveled to California, where they achieved a 2-1-0 record, scoring 12 goals while conceding nine. During this period, the over bet was successful in two out of three games. However, their performance at home has been more solid defensively, as they allowed only four goals in their last four home games, with goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen playing a key role with two shutouts. Despite this, there remains uncertainty about which version of the Sabres will show up, leading to speculation about whether they will perform well or poorly. Additionally, the Stars have previously demonstrated their offensive prowess against Buffalo, notably securing a dominant 10-4 victory in their last season encounter on March 9 and scoring 14 goals in their last two visits to Buffalo.
Over 6.5
Colorado is recognized as one of the highest-scoring teams in the league but also faces challenges in preventing goals. Conversely, New Jersey has struggled with consistency in goalkeeping, a trend that is not anticipated to change in this matchup. In their previous encounter this season, these teams collectively scored nine goals, suggesting a similar outcome for this game.
Colorado is set to play their second consecutive game and is likely to start Justus Annunen in goal. Annunen has only appeared in one game this season, conceding four goals and showing signs of vulnerability. On the other hand, Vitek Vanecek is expected to start for the Devils, boasting unimpressive statistics with a 3.24 goals-against average and an .886 save percentage. Given the uncertainty surrounding both goaltenders' performances, it is plausible that scoring opportunities will arise for both teams, increasing the likelihood of goals being scored. Despite the potential absence of Jack Hughes, New Jersey possesses sufficient offensive talent to capitalize on scoring chances. Additionally, Colorado's top line is expected to have significant ice time, typically resulting in increased scoring opportunities for the team.
Over 6.5
This marks the beginning of the unofficial second half of the season for both teams involved. The Edmonton Oilers are eager to maintain their momentum following a 16-game winning streak before the break. Remarkably, during this period, the Oilers have transformed into one of the top defensive teams in the league, conceding no more than two goals in their last 14 games. Their penalty killing has also seen significant improvement, currently ranking fifth in the NHL with an 83.0% success rate. However, given that this is the first game back from the all-star break, it is expected that both teams may start off a bit sluggishly and take time to regain their rhythm. Consequently, the initial periods of the game could be characterized by sloppiness.
The Oilers will face off against the defending Stanley Cup champions, the Vegas Golden Knights, who are similarly known for their strong defensive play, allowing only 2.74 goals per game. Over their last 14 games, the under has proven to be a dependable bet, with a record of 10-4. Aidan Hill is anticipated to start in goal for the Golden Knights, boasting impressive statistics this season with a 1.94 goals-against average and a .936 save percentage. Therefore, Tuesday's matchup in Vegas is likely to be a low-scoring contest. As such, betting on the under appears to be a favorable option.
Under 6.6
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