NHL Best Bets for November 15: Will the Leavy Break in Columbus
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Eric Kelly
- November 15, 2024
Top NHL Pick: Penguins/Blue Jackets Over 6 Goals (-125) at BetOnline (visit our BetOnline Review)
Tonight, we kick things off with a trip to Columbus, where the Pittsburgh Penguins visit, setting the stage for what should be a high-scoring NHL showdown.
Meanwhile, two of the league’s top under-performing teams clash, and you guessed it—we’re taking the under at plus money.
Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Columbus Blue Jackets
Friday, November 15, 2024 – 07:00 PM ET at Nationwide Arena
A Flood of Goals Expected in Columbus
Although we are not entirely sure if Columbus has a levy, if there was one we would expect it to burst as we believe goals should be plenty in this matchup.
Coming into this game, the Penguins and Blue Jackets have combined for 5.8 goals per game. However, it’s the defensive issues we are targeting tonight, as neither team is capable of keeping the puck out of their net.
The Penguins and Blue Jackets have the 2nd and 4th worst defenses thus far this season. Combined, both teams are 19-13 to the total line going Over. Coming into this game, the Blue Jackets’ previous five games have seen 7/6/7/3 and 9 goals scored, whilst the Penguins have seen 5/8/6/6 and 7 goals scored.
Team Trends
- The Columbus Blue Jackets are 10-5 to the Over in their previous 15 games.
- The Blue Jackets and Pittsburgh Penguins are 6-4 to the Over in their previous 10 matchups.
- Combined, both teams have allowed 7.5 goals per game thus far this season.
The Pick
We love the -125 NHL odds available at the top-rated sportsbooks for the total to go Over 6 goals in this game.
Given both teams’ poor records defensively and somewhat decent attacks, we believe that, at the very least, this matchup should produce 6 goals for a push, but realistically, we are looking at this game to end on seven or eight goals.
The 6.5 line is available at +100, which is also a solid investment, but give us the juice and the 6 line for a potential push if neither team can get their offense going. The previous game between these two teams ended with 10 goals and 3 of the last 5 matchups have gone Over the 6 total line.
NHL Pick: Penguins/Blue Jackets Over 6 Goals (-125) at BetOnline
Nashville Predators vs. Calgary Flames
Friday, November 15, 2024 – 09:00 PM ET at Scotiabank Saddledome
Cagey Affair in Calgary
Both the Nashville Predators and Calgary Flames have struggled thus far this season when it comes to high-scoring games. Both teams are ranking towards the bottom of the goals-per-game stats with a combined total of just 5.10 goals per game.
The Flames have the 11th worst goals record, while the Predators have the 2nd worst. Defensively, the Flames have the 8th best record allowing 2.93 goals per game. The Predators have struggled defensively, allowing 3.3 goals per game, the 8th worst in the NHL this season.
Just 2 of the previous 10 games combined have seen Over 5.5 goals scored when the Flames and Predators are involved. We believe tonight could be another low-scoring game.
Six of the previous ten games involving these teams have seen the Under 4.5 goal line hit, which is available tonight at +190 if you’re feeling brave.
Team Trends
- Calgary has seen the most games thus far this season go Under the total with a 10-5 record overall.
- Nashville also has a strong under record having gone 9-6 to the Under.
- 50% of the previous ten matchups between these two teams have seen the total go Under.
The Pick
Only a very hopeful person would be expecting goals in this game should they bet the Over 5.5 goals line, which is available at -125. These odds are way off our estimate and, at the very least, we expected Over 5.5 to be in around -105.
Give us the plus money here for another cagey affair involving the Flames and Predators. The Predators are really poor in front of the net right now, and coming up against a decent Flames defense and potentially goaltender rookie of the year, we like our computers’ 4-1 Flames prediction.
NHL Pick: Predators/Flames Under 5.5 Goals (+125) 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.
