Top NHL Betting Picks of the Week – November 6th Edition

The hottest teams in the National Hockey League right now are the New York Islanders, who have won five in a row to shoot to the top of the Metropolitan Division standings with 17 points, and the Calgary Flames, who have ridden a four-game winning streak to take the lead in the Pacific with 19 points. Teams trending downward include the Chicago Blackhawks, who won six of their first 10 but have lost five in a row, and the Carolina Hurricanes, who have lost four in a row to slide down to the middle of the Metropolitan standings. We’ve picked three NHL betting matchups for you to consider on the ice for the week ahead.

Top NHL Betting Picks of the Week – November 6th Edition

The Caps are one of only three teams in the NHL that have not won two consecutive games.

As they continue to slide in the rankings, just how concerned should you be?https://t.co/aY6cp3Bvq3 pic.twitter.com/RXsUGDx92N — NBC Sports Capitals (@NBCSCapitals) November 5, 2018

Tuesday, November 6

Montreal at N.Y. Rangers (7:00pm ET)

The Montreal Canadiens are sliding back down to earth right now, in third place in the Atlantic Division. They lost to Dallas last week and then lost to Tampa Bay, 4-1, on Saturday night. They are right in the middle of the league as far as goals scored (3.1, 14th overall) and in goals permitted (2.8, 13th overall). Their power play and penalty kill are both below average, which is why they’re leaking losses right now. They play the streaking Islanders on Monday night before heading across town to take on the New York Rangers. The Rangers knocked off Buffalo, 3-1, on Sunday and are moving up the Metropolitan Division standings somewhat, now in fifth with 13 points. Their offense is still pedestrian, as they just score 2.5 goals per game (28th overall), but Neal Pionk and Jimmy Vesey scored just 19 seconds apart in their win over the Sabres, so their offense may be coming to life. Can the Blueshirts stop the Canadiens at home, though? NHL Betting Prediction: Montreal 3, New York 2

Wednesday, November 7

Pittsburgh at Washington (7:30pm ET, NBC Sports)

The Penguins have the top offense in the league right now, cranking out 3.8 goals per game. However, just like last year, it’s the defense that is getting Pittsburgh in trouble. On Saturday, they were routed, 5-0, at home by the Toronto Maple Leafs, and now they welcomed New Jersey on Monday night before heading to Washington on Wednesday in another rematch of their Eastern Conference semifinal round in the postseason last year. Washington lost to Dallas on Saturday night at home, falling 4-3 in overtime. They welcomed Edmonton on Monday night before they host Pittsburgh on Wednesday. They are tied with Pittsburgh in goals scored per game at 3.8, but their defense is even worse, as they allow 3.8 goals per game as well — which explains their 5-4-3 record at this point. They score on 35.9 percent of their power plays, tops in the league, but they permit goals on 25 percent of their penalties, 25th best in the league. They need to shore things up before they host the Penguins. NHL Betting Prediction: Pittsburgh 5, Washington 4

Nashville at Colorado (10:00pm ET, NBC Sports)

The Nashville Predators have roared out to an 11-3-0 record to start the season — and that’s with goalie Pekka Rinne spending some time on the injured reserve list. The Preds shut down Boston at home on Saturday, 1-0, thanks to a nasty move by Roman Josi that put him in position to score the game’s only goal. Nashville scores a lot (3.4 goals per game, 8th overall) and has a stingy defense (2.1 goals permitted per game, second overall), which is how they’ve put that nifty record together. They visit Colorado on Wednesday, losers of three in a row, including a 7-6 overtime setback in Vancouver on Friday night. They don’t play again until Wednesday, so they’ll have plenty of rest before they face the Predators, who will have to travel to altitude to play. Colorado also scores a lot (3.7 goals per game, third overall), and their defense is decent (2.8 goals permitted per game, 11th overall), and their penalty kill and power play are both in the league’s top eight units. I see the rested Avs finding enough defense to turn around Nashville. NHL Betting Prediction: Colorado 3, Nashville 1