NHL Best Bets for Today (3 Moneyline Bets for Sunday, April 3)
Just because it's the weekend, doesn't mean I'm slowing down with my NHL picks. It's not the best slate of the season, but there are still some good betting opportunities.
I'm sweating out the UNDER 7 in this afternoon's Panthers/Sabres game as I'm writing this article, so hopefully I'll be 1-0 on the day heading into the picks I'm about to lay out in this article.
All odds listed below are via WynnBET Sportsbook.
Islanders vs. Devils Prediction and Pick
These two teams are similar in a lot of statistical categories, which makes the Devils an intriguing play as +130 home underdogs. The two teams rank 15th and 16th in expected goals per 60 minutes, and 18th and 19th in expected goals against per 60 minutes.
With that being said, the Devils hold a significant advantage in the advanced analytic called CORSI%. ranking 13th in that stat compared to the Islanders, who are near the bottom of the table at 28th.
Those numbers alone makes New Jersey the bet to make as +130 underdogs in its home arena.
Pick: Devils +130
Golden Knights vs. Canucks Prediction and Pick
There are few teams I've bet against more times this season than the Vegas Golden Knights, but I'm begrudgingly backing them tonight against the Canucks in the pivotal Pacific Division matchup.
Bad play in their own end has plagued the Golden Knights all season, but they've begun to pick things up on defense in recent weeks. Over their past 25 games, they rank 10th in expected goals against per 60 minutes, and 14th in high danger scoring chances against. They're also seventh in expected goals per 60 minutes over the same stretch, so after being overvalued all season, the pendulum has swung too far in the other direction and now I think they're actually being undervalued.
Over the same stretch of games, Vancouver ranks 30th in high danger scoring chances and 28th in high danger scoring chances against. There's no way that this game should be a pick'em.
Pick: Golden Knights -110
Stars vs. Kraken Prediction and Pick
As fun as it is to bet on underdogs, sometimes it's good to not overthink a game and just lay the juice on the favorite.
The Stars are better in virtually every category, and should have no issue disposing of the Kraken tonight. Over their last 25 games, the Stars are third in high danger scoring chances while the Kraken are listed all the way down at 27th.
I could continue to list advanced analytics to support my pick, but you don't need to look much further than the simple stats of shooting percentage and save percentage to see why you should fade Seattle tonight. Over its last 25 games, the Kraken rank 31st and 29th in those two stats respectively.
It's hard to win games when you can't score or stop the other team from doing so.
Pick: Stars -160
You can track Iain's bets on Betstamp here.