Daily NHL Odds and Betting Trends – 08/09/20
by OddsShark (@OddsShark) – Sponsored Post
Here’s a look at the NHL odds and betting trends for the games on today’s schedule.
All NHL betting lines below are as listed at sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com.
Bruins vs Capitals | OddsShark Matchup Report
Opening NHL Odds: Bruins -122 Favorites
It is hard to believe one of these two division champions will be the fourth seed in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs, but that is exactly the case for the loser of this round-robin matchup between the Bruins and Capitals. Boston and Washington are both looking for their first victory here, and the losing team will meet the Carolina Hurricanes next while the winner takes on the New York Islanders. The Bruins had eight more points than any team in the East during the regular season, yet they could end up going 0-3 and face the Hurricanes in a rematch of last year’s Eastern Conference Final. That said, the Capitals have absolutely dominated them dating back to October of 2014, winning 16 of the past 18 meetings. However, Washington lost the last meeting 7-3 on December 23.
Stars vs Blues | OddsShark Matchup Report
Opening NHL Odds: Blues -130 Favorites
Much like the first game of the day, the defending Stanley Cup champion Blues have a lot to lose by falling to the Stars in a key round-robin matchup between two Central Division rivals. St. Louis could enter the first round as the fourth seed despite earning the most points of any Western Conference team during the regular season. A victory here would give the Blues a first-round matchup with the Calgary Flames while a loss would mean playing the Vancouver Canucks instead. The Stars have lost six of the past seven meetings in this series, including the last two games of their second-round playoff matchup a year ago that was decided in seven.
Blue Jackets vs Maple Leafs | OddsShark Matchup Report
Opening NHL Odds: Maple Leafs -179 Favorites
The Maple Leafs will look to keep playing at home in the first round of the postseason by continuing to participate as the host of the Eastern Conference playoffs with a win over the Blue Jackets in Game 5 of their qualifying round series. Toronto stayed alive with a 4-3 overtime victory in Game 4 on Friday thanks to a game-winning goal by Auston Matthews, cashing as a -145 favorite. Columbus had won Game 3 in OT by the same score on Thursday, rewarding backers as a +125 underdog. The winner will meet the Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round of the playoffs next after they fell 4-1 to the Philadelphia Flyers in a round-robin game on Saturday. The OVER has cashed in each of the last two games after five goals total were scored in the first two combined, both of which easily went UNDER.
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