We’re back today for the first time since pushing both of our first period moneyline underdog bets on Saturday. The Jets came close to earning us a +133 winner in Tampa Bay, but the Lightning scored late in the first period to tie the score 1-1 and cancel that wager.
So it’s still a 13-5 run on the season for these free NHL betting picks, and we’ll try to add to it tonight with yet another first period moneyline underdog. Hopefully, we can cash this one, although settling for pushes isn’t the worst thing in the world either.
Don’t forget to check out our live odds page if you’re interested in seeing tonight’s NHL betting lines. Otherwise, here’s what we like for tonight:
NHL Betting Picks For Tonight
Toronto Maple Leafs at Philadelphia Flyers
The Maple Leafs were an excellent first period team last year under coach Mike Babcock, and that trend has continued into this season. On the year, Toronto has outscored opponents by an average margin of 0.2 goals in first periods, but the numbers are even stronger on the road. When playing away from the ACC, the Leafs are outscoring the opposition by 0.37 goals per contest – a key to their sparkling 10-5-1 road record.
Philadelphia probably feels pretty good about itself following a 3-game road trip through western Canada when they won all their games. The 3-0 trip comes on the heels of a 10-game losing streak, however, and a lot of those losses came at home. Philly has lost 6 in a row in front of the home “faithful”, and just when the Flyers started to get a bit of momentum, they’ve been idle since Thursday.
Yes, the Leafs have to play without Auston Matthews tonight, but his absence is already factored into the betting line and the reason why we’re getting Toronto as an underdog here. Teams often find a way to elevate their play when they’re missing one of their top players, and we expect the Leafs to bring a strong focus in the early going that a Philadelphia team coming off 4 days off might not be ready to match.
NHL betting prediction: Leafs First Period Moneyline +100