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Two games in the NHL Thursday offer appealing wagering opportunities to consider.
Below you will find overlays from tonight’s games in Boston and Seattle available at PointsBet.
For those unfamiliar with the term “overlay,” it simply refers to odds that are higher than an outcome’s true probability.
For example, if an outcome has a 50% chance of happening, the correlating odds would be +100.
If the odds offered on that specific event are +150, or an implied probability of 40%, then the price would represent an overlay.
DETROIT RED WINGS at BOSTON BRUINS (Bruins -1.5, -281 ML, OU 5.5)
By no means am I suggesting the Detroit Red Wings are as talented as the Boston Bruins from top to bottom, but Boston should not be favored this heavily over any team given the way they have played this season.
The Bruins have taken on some of the better teams in the National Hockey League to this point (Florida x2, Carolina, Philadelphia), however they are struggling to put pucks in the back of the net.
Boston currently sits tied for 29th in goals scored this season (17 goals), illustrating just how massive the offensive struggles have been.
Beyond the top line of Brad Marchand – Patrice Bergeron – David Pastrnak, the Bruins do not have much firepower (aside from Taylor Hall).
While Detroit has had issues keeping the puck out of their own net (tied for third worst in goals allowed in the NHL), they have shown glimpses of hope, earning points in two of three games against Washington, Florida, and Toronto recently.
Boston is the more likely winner of tonight’s game; however, Detroit is more than capable of making this a tight battle.
Detroit’s +1.5-puck line odds of -105 (implied probability of 51.2%) represent an overlay in tonight’s game.
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BUFFALO SABRES at SEATTLE KRAKEN (Kraken -1.5, -196 ML, OU 5.5)
It remains to be seen what the conclusion of the Jack Eichel saga will mean for the Buffalo Sabres as a team, but the fact of the matter is this: the Sabres have played solid hockey this season without Eichel in the lineup.
Tonight’s contest against the expansion Kraken in Seattle is another winnable game for a Buffalo team that has received quality goaltending from their journeymen keepers (Dustin Tokarski and Craig Anderson), giving them a puncher’s chance in each game they have played.
Seattle appears to be settling into their first season, going 2-2 in their last four games following a 1-5 start.
Goaltender Philipp Grubauer has been more consistent between the pipes for the Kraken recently, something that will need to be more the norm than the anomaly if they are to have any real success.
Although Seattle appears to have one of the livelier fanbases present for their home games, there is no reason the odds should be so heavily tilted in their favor on Thursday night.
Based on my projections, Buffalo defeats Seattle in Seattle 55.1% of the time, a percentage that translates to odds of -123.
Considering Buffalo’s current moneyline odds sit at +170 (implied probability of 37%), it becomes clear why this play is one worth making.
THE PLAYS
Detroit Red Wings at Boston Bruins – Red Wings +1.5 (-105)
Buffalo Sabres at Seattle Kraken – Sabres ML (+170)
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