The NHL resumes play following the Winter Olympics with about a quarter of the regular season remaining. Eight games are scheduled for Wednesday, February 25. I will make picks for half of those with Colorado visiting Utah in the featured game.
Buffalo Sabres versus New Jersey Devils
This is a game with two teams heading in opposite directions. New Jersey is second from the bottom in the Eastern Conference, while Buffalo is in the playoff mix, sitting 6th. The Sabres are “average” versus “dead” status on the Team Strength Oscillator, and +21 to +5 on the Power Ranks Indicator. Both teams are trending in games “over” the line, and the Sabres have a scoring differential edge of +19 to -29. The Sabres have a solid road record of 15-11-3, and the Devils are 13-12-2 at home. The teams split the first two matchups this season, both winning on the road. Buffalo is a slight favorite with odds of 1.925 to 1.955. I like the trend to continue with Buffalo winning by a goal in a game “over” the line.
Seattle Kraken versus Dallas Stars
In this Western Conference battle, the 3rd in the conference, the Kraken are sitting in 7th position. Both teams are “burning hot” on the Team Strength Oscillator after winning a combined 11 of the last 12 games. With both teams involved in games over the line in their last six, betting the “over” is an attractive play. Dallas is +33 to -3 in scoring differential and is 16-7-3 at home versus 13-11-4 on the road for Seattle. Both teams are +7 on the Team Volatility Oscillator, although Dallas is the far more stable team lately. Dallas won the first two games between the teams, both as the favorite. The Stars are home favorites in this one with odds of 1.662 to 2.330. I like Dallas by two goals in a game “over” the line.
Colorado Avalanche versus Utah Mammoth
Despite sitting on top of the Western Conference, the Colorado Avalanche is a mere 4-5-1 over the last ten and “average” on the Team Strength Oscillator. Utah has been impressive as a very young team, sitting 5th in the conference, and “burning hot” after 7-3 over the last ten. The Avalanche have dominated most of the season with a +74 scoring differential, compared to +26 for the Mammoth. Colorado is +27 to +22 on the Power Ranks Indicator, and won two of three against Utah this season. Colorado is a road favorite with odds of 1.662 to 2.330. Their road record of 16-6-5 is outstanding, and I see another Colorado victory, but I will pass on the “over/under” bet.
Edmonton Oilers versus Anaheim Ducks
Both teams are battling in the middle of the Western Conference playoff race with nearly identical records. Anaheim is “burning hot” after going 4-2 over the last six, while Edmonton is “average down” after dropping three consecutive games. Anaheim has a narrow edge of +15 to +12 on the Power Ranks Indicator, while the Oilers have a scoring differential edge of +10 to -4. Amazingly, at this stage of the season, both teams are 0 on the Team Volatility Oscillator, which is a first since I’ve been making picks. The Ducks have an impressive home record of 17-8-1. The Oilers are road favorites with odds of 1.701 to 2.257, and despite winning the first game between the teams by a 7-4 score, I like the Ducks at home, but pass on the “over/under” bet.
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