Three Winning NHL Bets For Sunday

Although there are just two games on the NHL schedule Sunday, there are plenty of solid betting opportunities. Whether you want to bet them individually or combine them into a parlay, here are three bets to make for Sunday’s NHL action.

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Washington Capitals at Pittsburgh Penguins Picks

Capitals vs. Penguins Betting Trends

One of hockey’s great rivalries will take center stage on national TV Sunday. The Capitals and Penguins will face off for the third time this season in Pittsburgh, the site of the previous two matchups as well.

Although the Penguins won each of the first two meetings, here’s why Washington is due to get its revenge.

For starters, the Capitals are the vastly superior offensive team. Washington is averaging 3.58 goals on a 12.6 shooting percentage, which are both the third-best in hockey.

Not only that, but the Capitals’ 37 percent conversion rate on the power play is the best in the NHL. Pittsburgh, meanwhile, ranks 20th in goals scored with 2.83 with a power play that is only 24th.

Defensively, the Penguins have been very solid when it comes to shot suppression, giving up the fifth-fewest shots. But spotty goaltending has them fourth-to-last in goals allowed, combined with the third-worst penalty kill in hockey. That penalty kill, in particular, will get tested against Washington’s elite power play.

Both of the previous matchups against each other needed extra time to decide. Pittsburgh’s 4-3 win back on Jan. 17 needed a shootout to decide, while Sidney Crosby’s overtime winner capped off a Penguins’ comeback two nights later in which they rallied from an early 3-1 deficit. So perhaps there will be a bit of puck luck bouncing Washington’s way this time around.

In addition, starting goaltender Ilya Samsonov is finally back with Washington after a long stint on the COVID-19 list. Samsonov has only appeared in two games and will be an upgrade over current starter Vitek Vanecek and the newly-acquired Craig Anderson.

Meanwhile, Pittsburgh has yet to have one of its goalies take the reins of the starting job, with Tristan Jarry and Casey DeSmith both struggling.

Take the Capitals on the road and at plus money to win this one.

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Alex Ovechkin To Score

This shouldn’t be breaking news to anyone, but even at age 35, Alex Ovechkin remains one of the best goal-scorers in hockey. For Sunday’s rivalry game against Pittsburgh, betting Ovechkin to score seems like a reasonable bet.

For starters, Ovechkin has five goals and seven assists in just eight games. That’s because, following the second game against Pittsburgh, the future Hall of Famer was placed on the COVID-19/reserve list along with several of his teammates.

Since returning to the ice, Ovechkin has scored four goals in four games. His best performance of the season came a week ago against Philadelphia, where he scored twice and added a pair of assists.

Ovechkin has 32 shots on goal, which places him second on the team behind John Carlson’s 34 even though Carlson has played in four more games. That means Ovechkin is averaging four shots per game, which puts him around the same mark as the top shot leaders Connor McDavid and Brady Tkachuk.

He had six shots in his first game against Pittsburgh and had seven in a game last week against the Rangers. The point being, you can’t score if you don’t shoot, hence why he’s taking plenty of shots.

The legendary goal-scorer finally seems to be hitting his stride, so bet on it to continue Sunday afternoon with another goal scored.

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Colorado Avalanche at Vegas Golden Knights Picks

Avalanche vs. Golden Knights Betting Trends

The Avalanche are playing their first game in 12 days but are still inside the top three in the West Division. Two points ahead of them in second place sit the Golden Knights, eager to host the Avalanche for the first time this season. Regardless of who ends up winning, expect some fireworks on offense.

First off, this has been one of the better head-to-head matchups in recent years. The teams have nearly split the nine games they’ve played against one another, with Colorado holding a slight 5-4 lead.

However, more often than not, the games get up there in scoring. Last August in the bubble, the teams combined for seven goals in a Knights overtime win.

Earlier that season, the Avalanche won a pair of games by scores of 7-3 and 6-1. The last four matchups between these clubs have resulted in seven or more total goals scored.

Before the COVID-19 shutdown this season, Colorado was scoring at another solid pace. Led by elite scorers such as Nathan MacKinnon, Mikko Rantanen and Cale Makar, Colorado is averaging 3.45 goals on 31.7 shots, easily ranking within the top 10 of the league.

Not to be outdone, Vegas has also looked the part offensively, given that four of its last five total games resulted in seven or more combined goals scored. Mark Stone leads the way for the Knights, followed by Max Pacioretty and Shea Theodore, as their 3.36 goals scored on 31.3 shots are also around the top three.

If there is a concern about the over hitting, it’s who is in net. Philipp Grubauer was sensational in goal for the Avalanche before the shutdown, allowing 1.67 goals per game with a sparkling .929 save percentage. However, a long layoff may leave him a bit rusty.

For Vegas, the Marc-Andre Fleury and Robin Lehner combo has been excellent as well, but we have seen some cracks as of late.

Two offensively-gifted teams, one ending a long layoff and another on the second half of a back-to-back, should result in a good amount of goals and the over to hit.

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