Tampa Bay Lightning at Detroit Red Wings odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Sunday’s Tampa Bay Lightning at Detroit Red Wings sports betting odds, picks and best bets

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The Tampa Bay Lightning (43-20-5) tangle with the Detroit Red Wings (16-48-5) Sunday at Little Caesars Arena at 5 p.m. ET. We analyze the Lightning-Red Wings sports betting odds and lines, while providing NHL betting tips and picks around this matchup.

Lightning at Red Wings: Projected starting goalies

Curtis McElhinney vs. Jonathan Bernier

McElhinney is expected to get the starting nod after the Lightning just played in Boston Saturday night with Andrei Vasilevskiy getting the call in that one. The Lightning backup has posted an 8-7-2 record, 2.83 goals against average and .908 save percentage with a shutout, so he is more than capable, especially against the lowly Wings.

Bernier gives the Wings their best chance to win, as he is 14-21-3 with a respectable 2.88 GAA and .909 SV% in his 39 starts and 44 appearances. At home he is a solid 10-10-1 with a 2.75 GAA and .906 SV% in his 21 starts and 24 appearances. It’s unlikely the team turns to Jimmy Howard for this tough matchup. He is a dismal 2-23-2 with a 4.20 GAA and .882 save percentage.


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Lightning at Red Wings: Odds, picks and betting tips

Odds courtesy of BetMGM; access them at USA TODAY Sports for a full list. Odds last updated Saturday at 12:23 p.m. ET.

Prediction

Lightning 4, Red Wings 2

Moneyline (ML)

The Lightning (-278) should be able to dominate this game, but they are playing less than 24 hours after a hard-fought and important game in Boston, and then they had to hop right on a plane for Hockeytown. Still, the Red Wings (+225) have next to no chance. But still, AVOID.

New to sports betting? A $10 bet on the Lightning -278 returns a profit of $3.60 if they win, while a $10 wager on the Red Wings +225 results in a profit of $22.50.

Puck Line/Against the Spread (ATS)

The LIGHTNING (-1.5, even) is the much better play, with or without tired legs. They have so many offensive weapons that it’s hard to envision the cellar-dwelling Red Wings (+1.5, -121) slowing them down. Tampa Bay is 41-11 in the past 52 games against teams with a losing record, too, so they rarely let up or play down to their competition.

Over/Under (O/U)

The OVER 5.5 (-139) is the play here, but because it’s Lightning against Red Wings. If Tampa were playing virtually anyone else, the lean would be Under. The Under is 7-1 in their past eight in the second end of a back-to-back. But the Over is also 7-2 in their past nine as a favorite.

Want some action in this one? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @JoeWilliamsVI and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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Detroit Red Wings at New York Islanders odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Friday’s Detroit Red Wings at New York Islanders sports betting odds and lines, with NHL matchup analysis, picks and tips.

The Detroit Red Wings (15-43-4) travel to meet the New York Islanders (33-20-6) Friday at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale, N.Y., at 8 p.m. ET. We analyze the Red Wings-Islanders sports betting odds and lines, while providing NHL betting tips and picks around this matchup.

Red Wings at Islanders: Projected starting goalies

Jonathan Bernier vs. Semyon Varlamov

Bernier has turned into a trade chip for the lowly Wings leading up to Monday’s deadline. He’ll have at least one more game to build his stock. He enters with a 13-17-2 record, 2.89 goals against average and .908 save percentage, which looks bad. However, those numbers are phenomenal given how poorly Jimmy Howard has played, going 2-22-2 with a 4.08 GAA and .886 SV%. Howard was in the crease, allowing three goals in just 7:56 before getting pulled, in an 8-2 loss Jan. 14 at the Isles.

Varlamov enters 17-12-4 with a 2.55 GAA and .918 SV%, with each of the past two categories slightly ahead of his career numbers. He didn’t start that mid-January start against the Wings, but he allowed just one goal on 31 shots in a 4-1 win in Detroit Dec. 2.


Place a sports bet on this hockey action or other games at BetMGM.


Red Wings at Islanders: Odds, picks and betting tips

Odds courtesy of BetMGM; access them at USA TODAY Sports for a full list. Odds last updated at 12:20 p.m. ET.

Prediction

Islanders 3, Red Wings 1

Moneyline (ML)

The Islanders (-304) should be AVOIDED, not because they’re not going to win, but you have to risk over three times the return on investment. It’s just not worth the risk of an upset. Ask those who laid big money on the Canadiens in Detroit Tuesday – a 4-3 loss. However, the Wings (+240) have won just once in the past seven meetings.

New to sports betting? A $10 bet on the Islanders ML returns a profit of $3.29, while a $10 wager on the Red Wings ML results in a profit of $24.

Puck Line/Against the Spread (ATS)

The ISLANDERS (-1.5, -106) are a better bet on the puck line, even though you still won’t catch plus-money backing them to win by 2 goals or more. Despite the win by the Red Wings (+1.5, -115) last time out, they’ve averaged just 1.7 goals per game across the past seven outings, and rank last in the league with a 2.02 GPG for the season.

Over/Under (O/U)

UNDER 5.5 (-129) is the play here as the Red Wings are terrible at putting the biscuit in the basket. The Under is 4-0-1 in the past five on the road for the Wings, while going 5-1-1 in the past seven overall. The Under is also 4-0 in the past four for the Isles, and 5-1-2 in the past eight against Atlantic Division foes. However, tread lightly, as the Over is 13-3 in the past 16 meetings in New York, while the Isles are 5-0 in the past five at home.

Want some action in this one? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @JoeWilliamsVI and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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Detroit Red Wings at Buffalo Sabres odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Tuesday’s Detroit Red Wings at Buffalo Sabres sports betting odds and lines, with NHL betting picks, tips and best bets.

The Detroit Red Wings (14-39-4) and Buffalo Sabres (24-24-8) meet at KeyBank Center in Buffalo at 7 p.m. ET Tuesday. We analyze the Red Wings-Sabres sports betting odds and lines, while providing NHL betting tips and picks around this matchup.

Red Wings at Sabres: Projected starting goalies

Jonathan Bernier vs. Carter Hutton

Bernier led the Red Wings to a stunning win over the Boston Bruins this past weekend while stopping 39 of 40 shots faced. He has a respectable 12-14-2 record, 2.82 goals against average and .911 save percentage across his 29 starts and three relief appearances. He allowed three goals on 32 shots in a 4-3 shootout victory in Buffalo last Thursday.

Hutton didn’t dress for Sunday’s game against the Anaheim Ducks due to an off-ice personal issue, so Jonas Johansson made the start. If Hutton isn’t ready, it would be Johansson again. He was on the losing end of that 4-3 shootout game against the Red Wings last week.


Place a sports bet on this hockey action or other games at BetMGM.


Red Wings at Sabres: Odds, picks and betting tips

Odds courtesy of BetMGM; access them at USA TODAY Sports for a full list. Odds last updated at 10:30 a.m. ET.

Prediction

Sabres 4, Red Wings 2

Moneyline (ML)

The Sabres (-223) are heavily favored over the Red Wings (+180), and you cannot roll the dice on a .500 team plummeting in the standings. AVOID the moneyline in favor of the spread. The Red Wings did win last week in Buffalo, but they have won back-to-back games on just two occasions since mid-November, and both times the Montreal Canadiens were involved in the two-game streak.

New to sports betting? A $10 bet on the Red Wings to pull the upset returns a profit of $18, while a $10 wager on the Sabres results in a profit of $4.50.

Puck Line/Against the Spread (ATS)

The SABRES (-1.5, +125) look to avenge their loss against the Red Wings (+1.5, -150), a team with the NHL’s worst goal differential at minus-95. While Buffalo has been struggling lately, the Sabres are still a solid 15-10-4 at KeyBank Center this season. The favorite is also 25-11 in the past 36 head-to-head meetings.

If you are interested in ‘other goal bets’, you can take the first team to reach 3 goals. The SABRES (-139) are a solid play for this particular prop bet on home ice.

Over/Under (O/U)

OVER 5.5 (-125) is worth a look, although neither of these teams will be mistaken for an offensive juggernaut. Still, a small-unit play on the Over is a good play, as it has cashed in four of the past five overall in this series.

Want some action in this one? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @JoeWilliamsVI and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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Detroit Red Wings at Toronto Maple Leafs odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Saturday’s Detroit Red Wings at Toronto Maple Leafs sports betting odds and lines, with NHL betting picks, tips and best bets.

The Detroit Red Wings (9-24-3) and Toronto Maple Leafs (18-14-4) lock horns at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto at 7 p.m. ET Saturday. We analyze the Red Wings-Maple Leafs sports betting odds and lines, with NHL matchup analysis, picks and tips.

Red Wings at Maple Leafs: Projected starting goalies

Jonathan Bernier vs. Michael Hutchinson

Bernier carries a 7-10-2 record, 3.26 goals against average and .896 save percentage into action. He allowed three goals on 40 shots in a 6-0 loss against the Maple Leafs at Little Caesars Arena back on Nov. 27.

Hutchinson carries an 0-5-1 record, 4.55 GAA and .876 save percentage into action in this one. He has allowed four or more goals in each of his past five appearances, and all six of his starts this season.


Place a sports bet on this hockey action or other games at BetMGM.


Red Wings at Maple Leafs: Odds, picks and betting tips

Odds courtesy of BetMGM; access them at USA TODAY Sports for a full set of today’s betting odds. Odds last updated at 11:45 a.m. ET.

Prediction

Red Wings 5, Maple Leafs 4

Moneyline (ML)

The RED WINGS (+225) are worth a roll of the dice on the road, as the Maple Leafs (-286) haven’t had a lot of success with Hutchinson in the crease. You certainly cannot trust the home side with their winless backup.

New to sports betting? Every $10 wagered for the Red Wings to win in regulation, overtime or a shootout would profit $22.50 if they do so.

Puck Line/Against the Spread (ATS)

The RED WINGS (+1.5, +100) are still offering plus-money on the puck line if you’re not quite feeling the last-place team and want a little insurance in the event of a loss. They’ll just need to stay within 1 goal.

Over/Under (O/U)

The OVER 6.5 (+120) is a big number, but with Hutchinson in between the pipes, it’s the play. The Over is 5-2 in the past seven meetings in this series, and 19-6-1 in Toronto’s past 26 against Eastern Conference foes.

Want some action on this matchup? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @JoeWilliamsVI and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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