We’re back at it again on Saturday with more NHL picks. We have a slate of games to pick from here, but there are those that stand out amongst the others. There are those games that provide us an opportunity to win unlike the rest. Let’s hit it, brother!
Buffalo Sabres vs. New Jersey Devils
Saturday, February 20, 2021 – 12:30 PM EDT at Prudential Center
This is a matchup of two teams headed in completely opposite directions.
The New Jersey Devils didn’t get off to the hottest start in the world this season. But after a two week pause to start their February, I believe they have righted the ship. They came back with nice wins on the road against the rival New York Rangers and the Boston Bruins. What has been impressive about New Jersey is their offensive prowess. They are firing shots like crazy and when you do that, more of them are simply likely to end up in the back of the net. The Devils are hot right now, having won four in a row dating back to January 31, and look to keep it going at home on a Saturday afternoon.
The Sabres are entering freefall territory here. They have dropped four in a row and if we’re in the trust tree here, they haven’t looked particularly good in any of those games. The Sabres stayed competitive earlier in the year by playing stout team defense, but that hasn’t been the case of late. They have surrendered at least three goals in each of their last five games. Plus there is the locker room issue to discuss. Head Coach Ralph Krueger has used the word “fragile” multiple times to describe his players. He also said they don’t believe in themselves. I don’t know how great of a motivational tactic that is with this, or any, rebuilding group, to say publicly.
This comes down to New Jersey being the better, and hotter team. The Sabres aren’t awful, and have some talent, but they aren’t playing like it. Combined with their Head Coach’s comments, the early start on the road, and the short price, I’m going with the Devils on the betting sites.
NHL Pick: Devils (-134) at Bovada (visit our Bovada Review)
Calgary Flames vs. Edmonton Oilers
Saturday, February 20, 2021 - 10:00 PM EDT at Rogers Place
This Battle of Alberta matchup is as good a spot play as we’ve had in a while this season, and I won’t miss the chance to capitalize on it.
Edmonton is hot. No two ways around that one, my friends. They have won four of five contests, eight of ten overall, and have some nice wins against these Flames, the Jets, and Canadiens in there. The impressive thing has been their defense and the play in net of veteran goaltender Mike Smith, who has turned back the clock yet again. However, we are likely going to see Mikko Koskinen in net tonight, who has been far less than stellar this season.
Calgary has been in a bit of a funk. They had those incredibly hard-fought games against Winnipeg, then went 2-2 in a four game set with the Vancouver Canucks, before losing to Edmonton yesterday. Now they have to come right back and deal with Oilers, this time on the road. Calgary may not have as much top end talent as the Oilers do, but I believe the Flames to be the better team, top to bottom.
There is one spot in particular in which I like Calgary as considerably better than Edmonton and that is between the pipes. Jacob Markstrom is markedly better than the aging Mike Smith or the ineffective Koskinen has been this year. Now factoring that with him being pulled from his previous start against the Canucks and I think we see a motivated and focused Markstrom tonight. Combining Edmonton’s unsustainably hot play and Calgary’s unusually inconsistent play, all the ingredients are here for the Flames to pull this thing out.
NHL Pick: Flames(+115) at Bovada
*The picks reflect the lines at the moment the writer made the plays, the odds at the beginning of this article show the live line movement. Since the lines might vary, don’t forget to refer back to our live odds.
The post Daily NHL Picks: Moneylines, Pucklines, and Totals appeared first on Picks.
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