The NBA is now on All-Star break, so if you haven’t yet traversed into the NHL betting market with us, now is the time to do so. In an effort to convince some of our NBA-only bettors that hockey betting is a fun experience, we’ll be looking to the most electrifying wager you can win: goals.
Trio of goal scorers to find the back of the net on Friday
Alex DeBrincat goal (+134 FD)
We certainly expect Ottawa to do some scoring tonight. The Blackhawks are allowing the third-most shots per game on the road over their last 10 games, and that has led to 3.7 goals allowed per game: the fifth-highest mark in the NHL.
Alex DeBrincat has been involved on the offensive end in his first season with the Senators, and our motivation to back him tonight simply boils down to revenge. Revenge may sound aggressive: DeBrincat really should be thanking Chicago for shipping him off a sinking ship, but the point remains. This is the first game for DeBrincat against his former team. That’s a narrative we tend to follow, and seeing that his shots have been steady of late, we like backing him here.
DeBrincat has scored in three of his last five games and two of his past three at home.
Chris Kreider goal (+190 CZR)
We love the Rangers for goals tonight. They average 3.9 per game on the road of late, and the Oilers are allowing 3.2 per game at home over their past 10. The motor for New York’s goal-scoring success has been its elite power play, and Edmonton owns a bottom-10 penalty-killing unit.
With the target established, we love the value on Chris Kreider, who skated on New York’s top line last game and is a stalwart for the top power-play unit. Kreider has three goals in his past six, and the kicker is his rich history against Edmonton.
Kreider has loved seeing the Oilers, netting a goal in four straight meetings. In a game the Rangers seem primed for 4+ goals, we’re backing Kreider to extend that streak.
Adrian Kempe goal (+135 DK)
You’ll be hard-pressed to find someone hotter than Adrian Kempe right now. Kempe has piled up an absurd eight goals in his last five games. Eight goals in five games. Sorry — we had to write that a second time.
Los Angeles will head 30 minutes south to Anaheim tonight to take on the lowly Ducks, a team allowing 4.7 goals per game at home over the past 10 and a league-leading 4.13 goals/game on the season. The Kings should find plenty of goals here, and why not continue riding Kempe’s streak?
For good measure, Kempe has four goals in his last five games against Anaheim.
Enjoy some puck plays tonight: You’re going to be OK without the NBA, we promise.
In the news …
Daytona 500 this Sunday — One of our favorite racing events of the season is this Sunday with NASCAR’s Daytona 500 hitting the track. Ryan Blaney is the favorite to win at +1200, but we dug into a few alternative options should you like to get yourself a bet in for “The Big One.” Bubba Wallace at +1600 sticks out to us. Wallace has yet to win the Daytona 500, but he’s finished second twice and tends to perform well on superspeedway tracks. We’re rooting on Wallace to get over the hump and grab his first Daytona win.
Eric Bieniemy close to joining Washington as play-calling offensive coordinator — In somewhat of surprising news, it appears Chiefs OC Eric Bieniemy is set to leave Kansas City and join Washington at the same position. Bieniemy has failed to find a head-coaching job over the past few years, holding the OC job for the entirety of Patrick Mahomes’ career, and while this move to the Commanders would be lateral in title, it would give Bieniemy the chance to call plays to bolster his resume. It remains to be seen whom the Commanders trot out at quarterback this year. Washington is +3000 to win the NFC in 2023.
Genesis Invitational continues on — Day 1 of the Genesis Invitational is in the books, and by the time you’re reading this Round 2 will be underway. Max Homa and Keith Mitchell each fired a 7-under par round to open things up as co-leaders. Homa is currently +450 to win and -115 to finish in the top five, while Mitchell is +1100 to win and +200 to stay inside the top five. Tiger Woods finished strong in his much anticipated return to the Tour, finishing -2 on Thursday. Stamina may be the concern with Woods, but it’s hard to not sprinkle a little bet on Woods to finish in the top 10 at +500.
Today’s Bark Bets is written by Griffin Carroll