Wake up with VSiN Daily Morning Bets, a quick 15-minute podcast posted at 6:30 a.m. ET highlighting the top games and biggest line moves of the day. For a full breakdown of Thursday’s betting action be sure to catch the VSiN Market Insights Podcast at 2:30 p.m. ET.
In the meantime, let’s examine where smart money is leaning for Thursday’s NHL slate…
7 p.m. ET: Minnesota Wild (+150) at Carolina Hurricanes (-175)
The Wild (25-14-4) have won three straight games and just beat the Capitals 4-2, cashing as -140 road favorites. On the flip side, the Hurricanes (27-9-8) just saw their two-game win streak come to an end, falling to the Canucks 4-3 in a shootout and losing outright as -290 home favorites. This line opened with Carolina listed as a -165 home favorite and Minnesota a +140 road dog. Sharps have laid the chalk with the Hurricanes, steaming Carolina up from -165 to -175. Non-conference home favorites with a line move in their favor are 71-35 (67%) this season. Carolina also holds a distinct rest advantage, having last played on January 15th while the Wild played January 17th. Rested home favorites of 4-days off or more are 25-8 (76%) this season. Carolina is 24-13 as a favorite and 13-5-2 at home. Minnesota is 2-5 as a dog.
7 p.m. ET: Anaheim Ducks (+130) at Columbus Blue Jackets (-145)
The Ducks (12-28-5) have lost five straight games and just fell to the Flyers 5-2, losing as +175 road dogs. Meanwhile, the Blue Jackets (13-29-2) have lost five of their last six games and just lost to the Predators 2-1 as +180 road dogs. This line opened with Columbus listed as a -135 home favorite and Anaheim a +120 road dog. Pros have sided with the home team, driving Columbus up from -135 to -145. If both teams missed the playoffs the previous season, the favorite is 44-27 (62%) this season. Non-conference home favorites with a line move in their favor are 71-35 (67%). Anaheim is just 11-32 as a dog and 4-15-1 on the road. Columbus is 1-2 as a favorite and 10-14-1 at home. The Blue Jackets possess the better offense (2.5 GPG vs 2.3 GPG) and the better defense (3.9 GPG allowed by 4.2 GPG allowed).
10 p.m. ET: New Jersey Devils (-130) at Seattle Kraken (+115)
The Devils (29-12-3) have won five straight games and just edged the Sharks 4-3 in overtime, cashing as -195 road favorites. On the other hand, the Kraken (26-14-4) have lost two straight games and just fell to the Oilers 5-2, losing as +160 road dogs. This line opened at a pick’em at some shops, with others opening with the Devils as a slight favorite. Wiseguys have pounced on New Jersey at the short price, steaming the Devils up to -130. Road favorites off a win are 94-48 (66%) this season. Teams receiving 10-cents of steam or more in a non-division game are 226-139 (62%). The Devils enjoy a one day rest advantage, having last played on January 16th while the Kraken played on the 17th. The Devils are 18-10 as a favorite and 18-2-1 on the road. Seattle is 14-12 as a dog and 10-9-2 at home. Both teams are averaging roughly 3.6 GPG offensively. The difference comes on defense, with New Jersey allowing 2.6 GPG compared to 3.2 for Seattle. The Devils are 81% on the penalty kill. The Kraken are only 70%.