Monday features a healthy slate of NHL matchups that feature several matchups that are sure to please casual fans looking for a battle between contenders. Many of the best games to start this week will also feature major playoff implications.
Edmonton Oilers (-139) at Buffalo Sabres
The Sabres haven’t figured out how to climb into the Eastern Conference playoff picture, but they play a style Edmonton will look forward to playing against. Buffalo scores 3.74 goals per game but also concedes 3.56 per contest. The Oilers are built along a similar line.
Edmonton scores 3.88 goals but gives up 3.31. The Sabres won the first meeting between the two teams, 4-2. Buffalo has won six of its past ten games. Each chance to grab points is getting more urgent for Buffalo, which is three points behind Pittsburgh for the final Wild Card spot.
The Oilers are tied with the Seattle Kraken for third place in the Pacific Division, but the Kraken have two games in hand. Edmonton will take advantage of the wide-open style of this game to grab a win.
Calgary Flames at Dallas Stars (-129)
The Stars are sitting atop the Central Division and have been excellent at home. Dallas is 17-6-8 at American Airlines Center this season. The first matchup between the Stars and Flames was a wild meeting in Texas.
Calgary escaped with a 6-5 win in January. The Flames have had their playoff hopes severely dented recently after dropping five consecutive games. Calgary hasn’t found a way to score many goals, being limited to one or fewer goals in three of those five losses.
Dallas, which has won four of its past five games, is an excellent offensive team, putting up 3.29 goals per game. The Stars usually don’t let their opponents get many opportunities either, only allowing 2.59 goals per game. Dallas will grab a win at home.
Washington Capitals at Los Angeles Kings (-157)
The Capitals being sellers at the deadline signifies that Washington is ready to start transferring between eras. While Alexander Ovechkin remains, the Capitals have come to the conclusion they need to start building up the rest of the roster. Los Angeles has fully recovered from its quick rebuild.
The Kings are very much in the thick of the playoff race in the Western Conference. Los Angeles has had its fair share of issues on defense. The Kings allow 3.34 goals per game while only scoring 3.31 per game.
Washington has a solid defense, only allowing 2.97 goals per game. Capitals goaltender Darcy Kuemper has had his share of success with Washington since coming over from Colorado last season. He has a .910 save percentage and a 2.77 goals-against average.
The Kings are led in scoring by center Adrian Kempe, who is tied for 20th in the league with 29 goals.
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