NHL betting schedule breakdown, rest edges: March 10 – March 16
With the NHL trade deadline in the rearview, the final stretch run toward the playoffs has begun, and rest will be an important factor in deciding which teams reach their ultimate goal and which fall short. This article highlights games that feature rest mismatches for the week of March 10 – 16.
The table below shows how home-ice advantage was influenced by rest last season:
| Rest Diff | Games | Home Win % | Implied Odds |
| Home > | 373 | 59.0% | 55.9% |
| Home = | 690 | 53.8% | 55.4% |
| Home < | 249 | 47.8% | 50.8% |
Here’s how rest has impacted home-ice advantage this season:
| Rest Diff | Games | Home Win % | Implied Odds |
| Home > | 306 | 60.1% | 56.3% |
| Home = | 519 | 55.1% | 55.0% |
| Home < | 194 | 46.9% | 52.2% |
Monday, March 10th
The week starts with a four-game slate on Monday, including a couple of matchups featuring a rest mismatch. First, the Ottawa Senators will host the Detroit Red Wings in a game with big playoff implications. Detroit is coming off a two-day break. Then, the Utah Hockey Club will welcome the Toronto Maple Leafs to town. Utah is also coming off two days’ rest. Elsewhere, the Chicago Blackhawks will play their third game in four days when they travel to Colorado to take on the Avalanche.
| Other | Rest Days | Visitor | Home | Rest Days | Other |
| 1 | EDM | BUF | 1 | ||
| 2 | DET | OTT | 1 | ||
| 3/4 | 1 | CHI | COL | 1 | |
| 1 | TOR | UTA | 2 |
Tuesday, March 11th
Things pick up again on Tuesday with 11 games on the docket. Ottawa will play the second half of its back-to-back in Philadelphia against the Flyers, while Colorado will do the same on the road against the Minnesota Wild. The Tampa Bay Lightning will have a one-day rest advantage over the Carolina Hurricanes, as will the Montreal Canadiens in an all-Canadian matchup against the Vancouver Canucks. Meanwhile, well-rested teams will go head-to-head in Boston and San Jose, with the Bruins welcoming the Florida Panthers and the Sharks hosting the Nashville Predators. Additionally, several teams will be playing their third game in four days—or, in the case of the Winnipeg Jets, their fourth game in six days.
| Other | Rest Days | Visitor | Home | Rest Days | Other |
| 2 | FLA | BOS | 2 | ||
| 1 | CBJ | NJD | 1 | ||
| 2/2 | 0 | OTT | PHI | 1 | 3/4 |
| 1 | VGK | PIT | 1 | ||
| 2 | TBL | CAR | 1 | ||
| 2/2 | 0 | COL | MIN | 1 | |
| 3/4 | 1 | NYR | WPG | 1 | 4/6 |
| 2 | MTL | VAN | 1 | ||
| 1 | WSH | ANA | 1 | ||
| 3/4 | 1 | NYI | LAK | 1 | 3/4 |
| 2 | NSH | SJS | 2 |
Wednesday, March 12th
Wednesday’s slate is light, with just four games, but the schedule adds some intrigue. Vancouver will play its second game in as many days in Calgary against the Flames, who are returning from a three-day break. Montreal will also play the second half of a back-to-back against the Seattle Kraken, while the Anaheim Ducks will play their sixth game in nine days against the Utah Hockey Club.
| Other | Rest Days | Visitor | Home | Rest Days | Other |
| 1 | BUF | DET | 1 | ||
| 2/2 | 0 | VAN | CGY | 3 | |
| 6/9 | 0 | ANA | UTA | 1 | |
| 2/2 | 0 | MTL | SEA | 2 |
Thursday, March 13th
Thursday’s schedule features nine games, and while no teams are playing back-to-back, there will be some rest mismatches. The Maple Leafs will have a one-day rest advantage when they return home to face the Florida Panthers. Edmonton will also have an extra day of rest when it continues its Eastern Conference road trip in New Jersey against the Devils. Chicago will have the edge, rest-wise, in San Jose against the Sharks. However, St. Louis has the biggest advantage, as the Blues will return from a four-day break to take on the Pittsburgh Penguins.
| Other | Rest Days | Visitor | Home | Rest Days | Other |
| 1 | FLA | TOR | 2 | ||
| 1 | BOS | OTT | 1 | 3/4 | |
| 2 | EDM | NJD | 1 | ||
| 1 | TBL | PHI | 1 | 4/6 | |
| 4 | STL | PIT | 1 | ||
| 1 | VGK | CBJ | 1 | ||
| 4/6 | 1 | NYR | MIN | 1 | |
| 1 | WSH | LAK | 1 | 4/6 | |
| 2 | CHI | SJS | 1 |
Friday, March 14th
There are six games scheduled for Friday, and all but one matchup will feature a rest mismatch. The Carolina Hurricanes, Colorado Avalanche, and Nashville Predators will each have a one-day rest advantage over their opponents. However, the New York Islanders and Dallas Stars will have two-day rest advantages in their respective matchups.
| Other | Rest Days | Visitor | Home | Rest Days | Other |
| 1 | DET | CAR | 2 | ||
| 2/2 | 0 | EDM | NYI | 2 | |
| 4 | DAL | WPG | 2 | ||
| 2 | COL | CGY | 1 | ||
| 2 | NSH | ANA | 1 | 3/4 | |
| 1 | UTA | SEA | 1 |
Saturday, March 15th
Saturday’s schedule features 11 games, with only two teams playing on back-to-back nights: Carolina and Nashville. The Hurricanes will travel to Philadelphia to face the Flyers, while the Predators will head to Los Angeles to take on the Kings. That said, a few other matchups will feature a rest mismatch. The Buffalo Sabres, Montreal Canadiens, and Vancouver Canucks will each have a one-day rest advantage over their opponents.
| Other | Rest Days | Visitor | Home | Rest Days | Other |
| 1 | VGK | BUF | 2 | ||
| 1 | NJD | PIT | 1 | ||
| 1 | WSH | SJS | 1 | ||
| 1 | TBL | BOS | 1 | ||
| 4/6 | 1 | OTT | TOR | 1 | |
| 1 | FLA | MTL | 2 | ||
| 2/2 | 0 | CAR | PHI | 1 | |
| 1 | NYR | CBJ | 1 | ||
| 1 | STL | MIN | 1 | ||
| 2/2 | 0 | NSH | LAK | 1 | |
| 1 | CHI | VAN | 2 |
Sunday, March 16th
The week ends with seven games on Sunday. Vegas will play its second game in as many days when it visits the Detroit Red Wings. The New York Islanders, Anaheim Ducks, and Utah Hockey Club will each have a one-day rest advantage over their opponents. Edmonton will also have a rest advantage against the Rangers, who will be playing their sixth game in nine days.
| Other | Rest Days | Visitor | Home | Rest Days | Other |
| 2/2 | 0 | VGK | DET | 1 | |
| 1 | DAL | COL | 1 | ||
| 4/6 | 1 | ANA | STL | 0 | 2/2 |
| 3/4 | 1 | EDM | NYR | 0 | 6/9 |
| 2/2 | 0 | FLA | NYI | 1 | |
| 1 | UTA | VAN | 0 | 2/2 | |
| 1 | WPG | SEA | 1 |