NHL Betting Guide: Tuesday 10/18/22
Sometimes, you just have to drink the juice in this sport.
Every NHL slate isn't going to have underdogs bursting with value like Monday's did with the Coyotes, who did end up beating the cardiac Maple Leafs.
We're drinking plenty of juice tonight, for it's cold, refreshing, and -- like these betting spots -- sweet.
Note: Lines are subject to change throughout the day after this article is published. All ratings are out of five stars. All NHL betting odds and totals come from FanDuel Sportsbook.
Anaheim Ducks at New Jersey Devils
Ducks +1.5 (-170) - 3 Stars
Everyone would acknowledge the Ducks are likely better than the Devils. New Jersey is the favorite here because of the situation.
Anaheim played Monday in New York, but it's not a bad trip on a back-to-back over the bridge. The Devils have the rest advantage, but I'm worried about their goaltending situation.
So far, the Devils have ceded 10 goals on 5.3 expected goals in two games. I'm always down for a bit of regression, but that big of a gap could be related to the netminder letting in several cheap ones. Vitek Vanecek did just that as he allowed five in his team debut.
With Anthony Stolarz (8.82 GSAA in 2021-22) in net for Anaheim, they should be able to do the talking with their offense in this one. Our model expects the surprise 'dogs to keep this game within a tally 70.5% of the time.
Even against 63.0% implied odds at this -170 number, there's plenty of value backing a close game in Newark.
Los Angeles Kings at Nashville Predators
Predators ML (-160) - 2 Stars
This next one is the same handicap, but a better team awaits at home.
Vezina contender Juuse Saros will face the Los Angeles Kings on the second leg of their back-to-back in Nashville. He was ninth in goals saved above expectation (12.6 GSAx) a year ago, but he's scuffled to begin this new campaign.
Perhaps, Los Angeles without a rest advantage is just what he needs to get going. Historically, rested favorites against underdogs who played the night before perform well, so this is the opposite of the previous bet. The goaltending makes a huge difference.
Don't worry about the Preds' offense in this one. The Kings have surrendered 18 goals in four games, and they're turning to backup Calvin Petersen with Jonathan Quick touring the crease during last night's shootout in Detroit.
Our model expects Nashville to win this game 64.7% of the time, so the 61.5% implied probability they do (per these odds) may not be high enough.
