NHL

NHL Betting Guide: Monday 4/24/23

Austin Swaim  —  @ASwaim3 Apr 24th, 2023
Given Alexander Georgiev's poor level of play for the Avalanche in this series, how should we bet their Game 4 tilt with Seattle on Monday?

A wild weekend of hockey saw six total overtime sessions. If we see another in tonight's nightcap, I won't be too happy given the pick.

How should we bet the quartet of Game 4s on Monday?

Note: Lines are subject to change throughout the day after this article is published. All NHL betting odds and totals come from FanDuel Sportsbook.

Vegas Golden Knights at Winnipeg Jets

Jets ML (-102)

This series appears best to ride whomever the underdog might be.

The Golden Knights and Jets have been nearly even on the real and expected sheets thus far. Both teams are scoring 3.24 goals per 60 minutes, and Vegas (2.90 expected goals per 60 minutes) just edges out Winnipeg (2.88 xGF per 60) in the expected category.

That means this series is there for the taking from a hot goaltender, but Laurent Brossoit (-0.98 goals saved above expectation) and Connor Hellebuyck (-1.24 GSAx) have been nearly even, too.

With that the case, it's pretty easy to justify the home team with motivation. As even as this one has been, it's likely over if the series is 3-1 Knights headed back to Vegas. For that reason, I'll also sprinkle the Jets -1.5 (+230) on the thesis of their best performance since Game 1.

Colorado Avalanche at Seattle Kraken

Avalanche -1.5 (+162)

With none of the first-round series lined up as a sweep, this could have a case for the most lopsided by the end of the night.

The Avalanche earned a 6-4 road win on Saturday, and if not for some puck luck in Game 1 that I discussed last Thursday, they'd have comfortably captured all three games.

Colorado (3.95 xGF per 60) is bludgeoning Seattle (2.32) in the game within the game. Oddly enough, it's Avs netminder Alexandar Georgiev (-2.26 GSAx) who's let the team down.

However, in the regular season, Georgiev (17.29 GSAx) was significantly better than Philipp Grubauer (4.94 GSAx) on a given night. That's why things seem so worrisome for the Kraken.

I expected this to be a heavy public side, but it's really not. Seattle is getting 47% of puckline tickets, but sharps love the Avalanche -- 87% of the handle lies with Colorado laying 1.5 goals.