NHL Best Bets for February 22: Back With a Bang – Goals Expected in Pittsburgh
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Eric Kelly
- February 21, 2025
Top NHL Pick: Capitals-Penguins Over 5.5 (-135) at BetOnline (visit our BetOnline Review)
It’s been almost two weeks since we’ve had the pleasure of an NHL game. The league took a two-week break due to the Four Nations tournament.
Back with a bang tonight we are liking a lot of the NHL games on our card. Firstly, we are heading to Philadelphia, where the Edmonton Oilers are the visiting team.
Elsewhere, expect goals aplenty in the all-metropolitan divisional clash between Pittsburgh and Washington.
Edmonton Oilers vs. Philadelphia Flyers
Saturday, February 22, 2025 – 01:00 PM ET at Wells Fargo Center
Oilers Can Score Goals in Phillie
Connor McDavid comes into this game having lifted the Four Nations Cup for Canada, having scored the winning overtime goal to beat the USA. McDavid should be bringing a lot of confidence into this game and the Edmonton Oilers will be looking to improve their form having gone 2-2 before the Four Nations Tournament, they have also failed to win a game in regulation in their previous five games.
The Phillie Flyers have come into this game having gone 3-7 in their previous 10 games and have allowed 4+ goals in four of those outings. Taking a look at the Oilers, they have scored 4 or more goals in four of their previous 10 games also.
The Oilers have been strong on the road in recent weeks, having gone 7-3 across their previous 10, scoring 4+ goals on six of those 10 occasions.
Edmonton & Philadelphia Trends & Facts
- The total has gone over in 4 of Edmonton’s last 5 games against an opponent in the Metropolitan Division.
- Edmonton are 5-1in their last 6 games on the road.
- The total has gone over in 8 of Philadelphia’s last 12 games against an opponent in the Pacific Division.
The Pick
The Edmonton Oilers come into this game having averaged 3.3 goals per game in the NHL this season (the 4th highest in the league). Opponents Philadelphia have the 6th worst goals-against record, allowing 3.3 goals per game.
We believe the Oilers are worth laying the juice on their team total line set at 3.5. The Oilers have one of the top offenses in the league and should continue their strong form on the road in front of the crease.
With almost two weeks off either team could be a bit rusty here, let’s hope it’s the home team Philadelphia.
NHL Pick: Oilers Team Total Over 3.5 (-120) at BetOnline
Washington Capitals vs. Pittsburgh Penguins
Saturday, February 22, 2025 – 03:00 PM ET at PPG Paints Arena
Strap in for Goals
Both these teams combine for 6.4 goals per game and allow a total of 6.1 goals per game. The Washington Capitals have one of the best defenses in the league but also one of the top offenses, whilst opponents Pittsburgh rank as the 2nd worst defense and boast a mediocre offense.
In recent games, the Washington Capitals have been on fire having seen an average of 9.1 goals in their previous five NHL outings (the highest in the league in that time frame). Interestingly, the Penguins have only seen an average of 4.2 goals in their previous five games.
Washington & Pittsburgh Trends & Facts
- The total has gone over in 5 of Washington’s last 5 games.
- The total has gone over in 10 of Washington’s last 12 games when playing on the road against Pittsburgh.
- Washington are 7-0 in their last 7 games against an opponent in the Metropolitan Division.
The Pick
We are more than happy to lay the -135 NHL betting odds on this total to go over 5.5 goals, the Washington Capitals have been scoring for fun and we can’t see the Pittsburgh Penguins being able to stop them, especially considering the Penguins captain and one of their star players Sidney Crosby won the Nations league with Canada, while the Capitals top player Alex Ovechkin has been resting up in preparation for this first game back.
Ovechkin could go off on one and the Washington Capitals could be more than capable of scoring 4 or 5 goals alone in this game.
We like the chances of this game seeing six goals and we wouldn’t be surprised to see 7, 8 or even 9 goals scored in the matchup.
NHL Pick: Over 5.5 (-135) at BetOnline
*The line and/or odds on picks in this article might have moved since the content was commissioned. For updated line movements, visit BMR’s free betting odds product.
