The Toronto Maple Leafs will be gunning for their fourth straight win on Friday night when they play host to the Pittsburgh Penguins as 6/5 moneyline underdogs in NHL betting action at the online sportsbooks.
Since starting the season with just three wins in their first eight games, the Leafs have won six of their last eight, including their last four home dates, to improve to 20 points and third place in the ultra-competitive Atlantic Division.
There is no rest for the Leafs this weekend. The team heads down the QEW to Buffalo on Saturday to take on the lowly Sabres. Winless in their last five, the Sabres have given up a stunning six goals per game in their last three outings, including a 6-3 loss to the Minnesota Wild on Thursday night.
Saturday’s Leafs vs. Sabres betting matchup at First Niagara Center is the second meeting of the season between the division rivals, with the Leafs earning a 4-0 win at home on Oct. 28.
The Sabres poor play gives them an edge in the Connor McDavid/Jack Eichel sweepstakes while dropping them to 300/1 Stanley Cup betting longshots at sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com.
The Vancouver Canucks will try to overtake the Anaheim Ducks for top spot in the Pacific Division when they face the Arizona Coyotes on Friday night as heavy 1/2 moneyline favourites.
The Canucks’ 12-5-0 start has been the surprise story of the young NHL season, and has improved their odds in Stanley Cup futures betting to 16/1 at sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com.
The Montreal Canadiens will look to maintain their Atlantic Division lead when they face off against the Philadelphia Flyers at the Bell Centre on Saturday night.
The Habs posted a 5-1 victory over the rival Boston Bruins on Thursday night to leapfrog the Tampa Bay Lightning into top spot in the Atlantic with a 12-4-1 record and 25 points.
The Flyers, winners of their last three, open their weekend with a stop in Columbus on Friday where they will take on the freefalling Blue Jackets. SU losers in their last nine, the Jackets have earned just nine points on the season, one ahead of last-place Buffalo.
The Canadiens carry on to Detroit on Sunday for a date with the Red Wings. Detroit has just one win in their last five and has posted SU losses in their last three against Montreal.