The NHL regular season is finally here, and under the new format, points in the standings are even more important and harder to come by.
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Here are three underdogs you should consider betting on during Thursday’s slate of games.
Columbus Blue Jackets at Nashville Predators Picks
Best Bet: Blue Jackets ML (+110)
The Columbus Blue Jackets are coming off a playoff run where they upset the favored Toronto Maple Leafs, took the eventual champion Tampa Bay Lightning to five overtimes in the first game of the series, and all but one of their playoff losses were by one goal.
Columbus relies on its defense and goaltending to slow down the pace of play then catch their opponents with speed on the counterattack. Defensemen Zach Werenski (20 goals, 21 assists last season) and Seth Jones (six goals, 24 assists) are masters of breaking the puck out and generating offense from their own zone.
To add extra scoring punch, the Blue Jackets traded for Montreal’s Max Domi this offseason. Domi finished the 2020 season with 17 goals and 27 assists, though the Canadiens’ system was not the best fit for his skill set. Domi will thrive in Columbus, where he can use his speed through the neutral zone to counterattack opponents.
Nashville was the No. 6 seed in the playoff bubble, but it was upset 3-1 by the Arizona Coyotes. While Nashville outshot Arizona in every game, it could not get pucks past Darcy Kuemper. Expect the Predators’ scoring struggles to continue Tuesday against a stingy Columbus team, and the Blue Jackets will walk away with the win.
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Vancouver Canucks at Edmonton Oilers Picks
Best Bet: Canucks +106
The Vancouver Canucks were one game away from advancing to the Western Conference Finals last season, taming the Minnesota Wild and ending the St. Louis Blues’ season on a sour note. They lost in Game 7 to the Vegas Golden Knights but showed they are a force to be reckoned with in the Western Conference.
Edmonton’s bubble was nowhere near as successful, bowing out in the first round to the lowly Chicago Blackhawks. The Oilers’ roster remains nearly the same, though they did add Tyson Barrie to beef up the blue line.
Where Vancouver gets the edge Thursday is in net. Coming off his worst season with Washington last year, Holtby gets a change of scenery and joins a team on the rise.
We’ve seen Holtby play at an elite level, backstopping Washington’s Stanley Cup run just two years ago. He’s still got it and will seal up a Vancouver win Thursday.
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Boston Bruins at New Jersey Devils Picks
Best Bet: Devils ML (+132)
On paper, Boston is the much better team in this matchup. Simply looking at where each team finished in the standings a year ago, the Bruins are clearly better at full strength.
Here’s the catch with Boston. Both of its first-line wingers are out. David Pastrnak is rehabbing after hip surgery, and Brad Marchand is recovering from sports hernia surgery.
Boston also lost two key members of its blue line to free agency. Torey Krug signed with the Blues, leaving a big hole in the power-play unit. Captain Zdeno Chara signed with Washington.
The Devils can catch Boston shorthanded Thursday night and spoil the season opener.
