The struggling Calgary Flames will be trying to end a four-game losing streak on Friday night when they play host to the Detroit Red Wings as slim -115 betting favourites at Sportsbooks, monitored by OddsShark.com.
The Flames’ lone win this season came against the Canucks almost two weeks ago, dampening enthusiasm in Calgary following the team’s return to playoff action last season.
Elsewhere, the New York Islanders will be gunning for a fifth straight win on Friday night when they welcome the Boston Bruins to Brooklyn as -155 moneyline favourites.
The Islanders return to action after visiting Columbus earlier this week where they handed the Blue Jackets a 4-0 shutout loss as -140 favourites, marking the fourth straight game in which they have scored four or more goals.
While the Islanders are off to a fast start, they enter Friday night’s Bruins vs. Islanders betting matchup at Barclays Center with company at the top of the Metropolitan Division standings, trailing the New York Rangers by two points.
The Isles travel to St. Louis on Saturday to face the Blues, before returning home on Monday to take on the Flames.
The Blues wrapped up a six-game swing across Canada with a 3-0 loss to the undefeated Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday, and enter the weekend deadlocked with Nashville and Dallas atop the Central Division with 10 points.
The Red Wings have lost three straight after winning three in a row to start the season and have struggled to find the net, tallying just eight goals over their past four contests. Detroit moves on to Vancouver for Saturday, where they wrap up their four-game road trip before returning home to start the week against the Hurricanes.
The Canadiens’ seven-game win streak to start the season has lifted them past the Chicago Blackhawks on the odds to win the Stanley Cup, where they now sit as 15/2 favourites. Led by reigning MVP goaltender Carey Price, the Habs have so far outscored opponents 23-7, including shutout victories over the Blues and Rangers.
The Blackhawks closely trail at 9/1, followed by the Tampa Bay Lightning and Anaheim Ducks at 10/1, while the Rangers and Blues are joined at 12/1 by the Minnesota Wild. Despite their strong start, the Islanders have held steady at 22/1, while the winless Blue Jackets have tumbled to 50/1 from their 25/1 opening odds, and the Flames have slipped slightly to 33/1.
