NHL Monday betting picks & top value plays – 7/3/2022

There are five National Hockey League (NHL) games scheduled for Monday in the Americas, starting at 7pm CST. Here’s where we suggest you place your bets on Monday’s games.

Los Angeles Kings (+155) @ Boston Bruins (-190)

The Kings are playing their second game in as many days, even if the first one was against Buffalo. At least that game was played in the afternoon on Sunday, but it might not matter. The Kings were absolutely undressed by the Bruins, 7-0, in Los Angeles just a week ago. We doubt there’s enough to be learned from that game tape to surprise the Bruins in Boston.

We like the Bruins and more than six goals being scored. The Bruins to win by two is also an attractive bet at +140, especially with the Kings having played the previous day. But the Kings did save Jonathan Quick for the Bruins. Cal Petersen was in net for the Kings on Sunday.

Florida Panthers (-280) @ Buffalo Sabres (+225)

With Buffalo being the other team that played Sunday, the Panthers are massive favorites on the road on Monday. Take Florida to win, and to win by more than one. Also look at fewer than 6.5 goals being scored, as Buffalo saved their best goaltender, Craig Anderson, for Florida. In 15 games, he’s allowed just under three goals per game and logged a .907 save percentage. It also looks as though the better Sergei Bobrovsky has returned for the Panthers in the month of March.

Toronto Maple Leafs (-235) @ Columbus Blue Jackets (+190)

Both the Leafs and Jackets are coming off two-game losing streaks, but Columbus won the latest matchup between the two teams, a 4-3 overtime win at home. The Leafs took the first game in the series 5-4 at home. Game two of the series was postponed due to players contracting COVID-19.

Despite the home team winning by one being the theme of this series, Toronto is the better team by a vast margin. The Maple Leafs have a massive edge defensively, allowing 0.68 fewer goals per game and scoring 0.37 more goals per game. Both teams stay out of the penalty boxes, but Toronto has the better power play and penalty kill.

The Maple Leafs seem to be struggling defensively right now. Toronto has allowed 21 goals in its last four games. Goaltending has been an issue for both teams throughout the season; Toronto has used five goalies this season to the Blue Jackets’ four. Take Toronto because they’re better on the road (16-9-3) than Columbus is at home (15-11-3), and because they have Auston Matthews. We also like more than 6.5 goals being scored given the goaltending issues for both teams.

Colorado Avalanche (-190) @ New York Islanders (+155)

The Avalanche have buried the rest of the Western Conference this season, thanks to the best first line in the business. They’ve lost two straight games, however, both by one goal.

The Islanders should serve as a nice rebound for the Avs, despite going up against Ilya Sorokin’s .923 save percentage. Colorado’s Darcy Kuemper has served as a competent replacement for Philipp Grubauer, however. In fact, he’s logged the same .918 save percentage that Grubauer posted from 2019 to 2021. Kuemper also got the win over the Islanders on Tuesday, getting up 5-3 in Denver.

Colorado averages almost four goals per game to New York’s 2.5, so expect the same kind of game in NY, where the Islanders are only a .500 team (11-11-4). Also expect more than six goals to be scored, although we’d stay away from the Avs at the points line.

If you must chase a bigger payday, tossing the Bruins into a four-team moneyline parlay including Colorado, Toronto, and Florida pays +350. But even with the Kings playing on consecutive days, keep the stakes modest.

Edmonton Oilers (+150) @ Calgary Flames (-185)

Calgary is coming off a giant overtime win against Colorado in Denver, and the Flames have been hot offensively as of late. They’ve scored 20 goals in their last four games, but they’ve yet to beat the Oilers this season, falling by two goals to Edmonton in each of the two games played thus far. Both of those games were played in Edmonton, however.

Get on the Flames to get their first win over Edmonton this season. Calgary is 15-4-5 at home, while the Oilers are 16-10-4 on the road. Also, the Oilers have lost three of four games with center Ryan Nugent-Hopkins on injured reserve. Oilers defenseman Tyson Barrie is also out.

Although Calgary goalie Jacob Markstrom is 0-2 with an .871 save percentage against Edmonton this season, those were both road games. Markstrom is fantastic when playing in Calgary, posting a minuscule 1.98 goals against average and .923 save percentage in front of Flames fans.

Take the Flames on the moneyline and stay away from betting the spread in this one. In both games these teams have played in Edmonton this season, seven or more goals were scored, so despite how good Markstrom has been at home, he still has the best player in the world, Connor McDavid, shooting the puck at him. Avoid the over/under.