Three Bets to Make Sunday On the NHL

Although Sunday will be about the Super Bowl later on in the day, hockey fans will have plenty to watch and bet on before kickoff. Here are three bets to make individually or as part of a parlay for Sunday’s NHL betting action.

Best NHL Sportsbooks

Detroit Red Wings at Florida Panthers Picks

Red Wings vs. Panthers Stats

The Florida Panthers are 6-0-2, still without a regulation loss, but that doesn’t mean they haven’t had plenty of close calls. In fact, each of their last six games have been decided by a single score, two of which came on the road in Detroit. So why are they a pick to win by multiple goals at -1.5?

For one, Florida is a clearly superior team when you look at the stats. The Panthers are averaging 3.5 goals, seventh in the NHL, while also carrying top-five marks in shots (32.5) and power-play percentage (36%).

Players like Jonathan Huberdeau and Aleksander Barkov have been excellent, registering 12 and 11 points, respectively. Meanwhile, others like Carter Verhaeghe (team-leading six goals) and Patric Hornqvist (five goals) have had a lot of success shooting the puck.

Compare it to the Red Wings, whose offense ranks dead last in goals with 1.83. Additionally, their shots on goal, shooting percentage, and power play all rate 29th in the NHL.

Things aren’t a lot better on defense, where Detroit is giving up over 3.5 goals and has a penalty kill that is the fourth worst in hockey.

There may be some hesitancy with the fact that Florida has had a lot of one-goal games, including the first two games against the Red Wings. However, one of those was a very late goal scored by Detroit to bring the game to within a single goal.

But the Panthers appear to be due for a huge game, and with winning by two or more goals at plus money at +105, it’s certainly a bet worth taking.

NHL Moneyline Odds

Carolina Hurricanes at Columbus Blue Jackets Picks

Hurricanes vs. Blue Jackets Stats

The next team to look at betting is a road favorite, but one with odds at -145 that make them intriguing. Although they’re coming off of their most-disappointing effort of the season, the Carolina Hurricanes are ready to bounce back and take down the Blue Jackets in Columbus.

Carolina (6-2-0) is once again a possession beast, averaging the second-most shots per game with 34.3. But with just three goals per game and a shooting percentage in the bottom third of the league, some puck luck is due to head in the Hurricanes’ direction.

Still, players like Andrei Svechnikov and his team-leading six goals and nine points have found a way to produce, while others like Sebastian Aho and Vincent Trocheck are dangerous in the offensive zone.

The Blue Jackets, meanwhile, have lost two of their last three games as well as defenseman Zach Werenski, placed on injured reserve with a lower-body injury. Columbus has struggled to score all season, ranking 27th in the league with 2.5 goals on just 28.7 shots.

The Blue Jackets’ up-and-down offense is running into a buzz saw with the Hurricanes, who are top five in goals and shots allowed per game.

With Petr Mrazek on the shelf for the foreseeable future, Carolina hopes to get a better outing from James Reimer in net as well. But Thursday was his first loss of the year, and now he’s had three days to reset and respond. Expect Reimer and the superior Hurricanes team to win this one outright on the road.

NHL Expert Predictions

Chicago Blackhawks at Dallas Stars Picks

Blackhawks vs. Stars Stats

For the final bet on your Sunday ticket, how about rooting for goals galore? The Blackhawks and Stars meet for the first time this season Sunday in Dallas, and if the last couple weeks are any indication, expect to see some offense, with an over/under set at 5.5 goals.

Dallas is averaging four goals per game on their own, second in the NHL. A big part of that is due to a power play that has converted at an incredible rate of 40 percent.

Plus, we’ve already seen the Stars score seven goals twice and six goals earlier this week against Columbus. Now they’ll face a Blackhawks defense that gives up over 34 shots per game as well as over three goals.

However, the Blackhawks can find a way to score as well. Averaging a little under three goals per game, Chicago also carries the third-best power-play percentage in hockey at 37.8 percent.

Expect to see them get some work too, with Dallas averaging nearly nine minutes in the box per night. In addition, the Blackhawks are coming off a six-goal performance, their second one of the year.

Joe Pavelski leads the way with a whopping 15 points for Dallas, while Alexander Radulov and John Klingberg trail with 11 and 10, respectively. Not to be outdone, Chicago’s Patrick Kane has 15 points, with Dominik Kubalik and Alex DeBrincat also at 11 and 10 points, respectively.

With fairly even point production coming from their best players, as well as unproven goalies Kevin Lankinen and Jake Oettinger expected to start for their respective teams, look for the lamp to light up plenty Sunday afternoon in Dallas.

Read our guide teaching new sports bettors how to bet on parlays.