Betting news, trends, odds and predictions for from various handicappers and websites for Wednesday 2/13/19
NHL – TRENDS OF THE DAY
There are only two games scheduled in the National Hockey League on Wednesday, February 13. That includes a great Pacific Division battle between the Vancouver Canucks and the Anaheim Ducks. Another Pacific Division team will be in action as well when the Edmonton Oilers take on the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Featured Game
Vancouver Canucks (-105) vs. Anaheim Ducks (-115)
Vancouver is in fourth in the Pacific Division with 57 points (26-25-7), while the Ducks are in last with 51 points (21-26-9). The Canucks are 12-14-4 on the road this season while Anaheim is 10-8-8 at home. Vancouver is 4-4-2 in their last 10 games and the Ducks are 2-8-0 in their last 10.
Goaltending Matchup:
Jacob Markstrom will start for Vancouver. Markstrom is 21-15-3 this season with a 2.81 goals against average and a .910 save percentage. The Vancouver goaltender won his last start, allowing three goals on 47 shots. He is 4-3-3 in his last 10 starts.
The Ducks will counter with Chad Johnson. Johnson is 2-11-0 this season, including losing his last nine starts. His last victory came on December 9 in a 6-1 victory over the Canucks. Johnson has a 7.30 goals against average and a .879 save percentage.
Hot Trends:
The Vancouver Canucks are…
19-41 in their last 60 games on the road.
1-4 in their last five games.
16-37 in their last 53 games against Pacific Division teams.
The Anaheim Ducks are…
6-20 in their last 26 games.
2-8 in their last 10 against teams with a losing record.
22-9 in their last 31 games on a Wednesday.
Stat Pack:
Canucks:
Goals For: 2.84
Goals Against: 3.12
Power-Play: 16.1%
Penalty Killing: 79.8%
Ducks:
Goals For: 2.21
Goals Against: 3.21
Power-Play: 14.9%
Penalty Killing: 79.7%
Prediction
Anaheim has won four of the last five meetings between these two teams and the home team has won four of the last five meetings. The Ducks are really struggling right now, but this is a game that they should be able to win. Johnson has been abysmal this season, but he did earn a victory in his last start against this team. Look for the Ducks to squeak one out.
These two teams have gone under in seven of their last 10 games in Anaheim and 14 of their last 21 meetings overall. Anaheim is the lowest scoring team in the NHL, and Vancouver is 21st. A low scoring affair seems like a lock, even if both goaltenders have been slumping. Take the Anaheim Ducks, 3-2.
One Game to Watch
Edmonton Oilers (+165) vs. Pittsburgh Penguins (-185)
The Edmonton Oilers are in sixth in the Pacific with 53 points (24-26-5). They are 12-11-4 on the road this season and are 3-5-2 in their last 10 games. The Pittsburgh Penguins are tied for third in the Metropolitan Division with 65 points (29-20-7). Pittsburgh is 15-10-2 at home and are 4-5-1 in their last 10 games.
Why Edmonton Wins:
Matt Murray has lost two straight and three of their last four games. He has given up 14 goals in the span.
Why Pittsburgh Wins:
Penguins are 10-3 in their last 13 when playing on one day’s rest.
Penguins are 12-4 in their last 16 against teams with a losing record.
Oilers are 1-7 in their last eight games.
Oilers are 0-8 in their last eight games against teams with a winning record.
Penguins are 6-1 in the last seven in Pittsburgh.
Mikko Koskinen has lost five straight games, giving up 17 goals in that span.
What About the Total?
Go over, because…
Edmonton has gone over in four of their last five games.
Edmonton has gone over in nine straight against teams with a winning record.
Pittsburgh has gone over in seven of their last 10 against teams with a losing record on the road.
Murray has allowed 14 total goals in his last four starts.
Koskinen has allowed 17 total goals in his last five games.
Edmonton Oilers vs. Pittsburgh Penguins Odds
Pittsburgh is 29-27 straight up (SU) and has lost 13.4 units for moneyline bettors thus far. That early-season winning percentage is a slide from what the team recorded during the 2017-18 season (47-35). Through 56 regular season matches, 26 of its games have gone over the total, while 25 have gone under and just five have pushed. The team’s 15-12 SU at home this season.
The Penguins have converted on 23.4 percent of their power play opportunities this year, a figure that’s good enough for eighth-best in the NHL. On the other hand, their penalty kill is ranked 11th overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 81.9 percent of all penalties.
Averaging 27.7 saves per game with a .916 save percentage, Casey DeSmith (13-18-5) has been the primary option in goal for Pittsburgh this year. If Pittsburgh decides to rest him, however, the team may roll with Matt Murray (16-11-11 record, .914 save percentage, 2.89 goals against average).
Over on the other bench, Edmonton is 24-31 straight up (SU) and has lost 7.9 units for moneyline bettors this year. A total of 26 of its games have gone over the total, while 25 have gone under the total and just four have pushed. As the away team , the Oilers are 12-15 SU.
The Oilers have scored on 22.8 percent of their power play chances this season, a figure that’s good enough for eighth-best in the league. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 30th overall and it’s successfully killed off 75.3 percent of all opponent power plays.
Cam Talbot (3.36 goals against average and .893 save percentage) has been the primary option in goal for Edmonton. Talbot is averaging 25.6 saves per game and owns a 10-21-3 record.
Edmonton Oilers vs. Pittsburgh Penguins Free Picks
Pick: SU Winner – Penguins, O/U – Over
Notes
Betting Notes
The Penguins are 1-2 in games decided by a shootout this season while the Oilers are 3-0 in shootouts.
Four of Pittsburgh’s last five outings gone under the total.
Six of Edmonton’s last ten games have been decided by two goals or more. The team is 2-4 in those games.
This game features two of the more aggressive defenses in the league. Edmonton skaters have accounted for the league’s second-most hits per game (27.1) and the Pens have tallied the second-most (29.1).
Vancouver Canucks at Anaheim Ducks Odds
Vancouver is 25-32 straight up (SU) and has earned 3.5 units for moneyline bettors this season. Through 57 regular season outings, 27 of its games have gone under the total, while 26 have gone over and just four have pushed. As the road team this season, the Nucks are 12-18 SU.
Vancouver has converted on just 16.1 percent of its power play opportunities this season, a mark that’s ranked 27th in the NHL. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 18th in the league, and it has successfully killed off 79.8 percent of all penalties.
The Nucks, as a collective unit, have been penalized 3.8 times per game overall during the 2018-19 season, and 2.4 per game over its last five road outings. The team has been forced to defend opponent power plays just 7.6 minutes per game over their last five outings.
Sporting a .910 save percentage and 28.8 saves per game, Jacob Markstrom (21-21-6) has been the top option in goal for Vancouver this year. If Vancouver decides to rest him, however, the team could turn to Anders Nilsson (3-9-1 record, .895 save percentage, 3.09 goals against average).
Elias Pettersson and Bo Horvat will both be relied on to facilitate things for the visiting Canucks. Pettersson has 51 points on 25 goals and 26 assists, and has recorded two or more points in 12 different games. Horvat has 20 goals and 24 assists to his creditand has logged a point in 32 games.
Anaheim is 21-35 straight up (SU) and has lost 12.4 units for moneyline bettors this year. 33 of its matches have gone under the total, while 20 have gone over and just three have pushed. It’s 10-16 SU at home this season.
The Ducks have converted on just 14.9 percent of their power play chances this year, a mark that’s ranked 29th in the NHL. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 18th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 79.7 percent of all opponent power plays.
The Ducks have been penalized 3.8 times per game this season, and 1.8 per game over their last five home outings. The team has been forced to defend opponent power plays just 6.1 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
John Gibson (28.5 saves per game) has been the top choice in goal for the Ducks. Gibson has 18 wins, 28 losses, and eight OT losses and has recorded a .914 save percentage and 2.93 goals against average this year.
The home team will be led on offense by Ryan Getzlaf (11 goals, 25 assists).
Vancouver Canucks vs. Anaheim Ducks Free Picks
Free NHL Tip: SU Winner – Ducks, O/U – Under
Notes
Betting Notes
Two of Vancouver’s last ten games have gone to a shootout. The team is 1-1 in those games and 2-3 overall in shootouts this season.
For both of these clubs, the over has hit in three of their past five matchups.
Anaheim has averaged 2.3 goals per game overall this year, but is averaging 1.1 goals per matchup over its seven-game losing skid.
Over Anaheim’s last ten outings, nine of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 1-8 in those games).
Vancouver skaters created 21.3 hits per game last season, while the Ducks accounted for 24.2 hits per matchup.