NHL Betting Preview (February 8): Like Deja Vu All Over Again in Toronto?

It’s a new day and a new week, and that means there’s a new NHL betting slate to attack. There are six games on tonight’s NHL schedule, and if you feel like you have seen some of these matchups recently, that is because you have. One of the quirks of this year’s unique alignment is that teams are going to be very, very familiar with all of their rivals by the end of the season.

What is in store for tonight’s action on the ice?

All NHL odds are via Fanduel Sportsbook as of Monday, February 8 at

February 8 NHL Betting Game of the Day

Carolina Hurricanes (7-2-0) vs Columbus Blue Jackets (5-5-3)

• Time & TV: (NA), 7:00 pm ET
• Moneyline: Hurricanes -142, Blue Jackets +120
• Total: OVER 5.5 (-125), UNDER 5.5 (-105)

Yesterday, the Hurricanes edged the Blue Jackets in a 6-5 goal fest. What does tonight’s rematch have in store? Yesterday was the sixth time the Hurricanes have scored four or more goals this season. The Blue Jackets have allowed 15 goals in their last three games after allowing 28 in their first 10.

Key NHL Betting Trends: The OVER is 5-2 in the Blue Jackets’ home games and has hit in their last three at home.

February 8 NHL Betting: Best of the Rest

New York Islanders (4-4-2) vs New York Rangers (4-4-2)

• Time & TV: (NA), 7:00 pm ET
• Moneyline: Islanders -102, Rangers -116
• Total: OVER 5.5 (-110), UNDER 5.5 (-110)

After winning only once in their first six games, the Rangers have warmed up recently. In their last four games, they have picked up seven points, registering three wins and an overtime loss. Can they continue the surge tonight against the rival Islanders? The Islanders won three of their first four games, but they were winless in five before Saturday’s 4-3 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Key NHL Betting Trends: The Islanders have won only one of their seven road games, with four regulation losses and two overtime losses in the other games.

Tampa Bay Lightning (7-1-1) vs Nashville Predators (5-6-0)

• Time & TV: ESPN+, 8:00 pm ET
• Moneyline: Lightning -158, Predators +134
• Total: OVER 5.5 (-120), UNDER 5.5 (+100)

The reigning champs scored two wins at home against the Predators a week ago, but now the venue switches to Nashville, where the hosts have won four of five games. The Lightning lead the league in fewest goals allowed, as they have shipped only 18 goals in their nine games.

Key NHL Betting Trends: The UNDER is 3-1-1 in the Predators’ five home games this season.

February 8 NHL Betting: Other Games

Edmonton Oilers (6-7-0) vs Ottawa Senators (2-9-1)

• Time & TV: (NA), 7:00 pm ET
• Moneyline: Oilers -180, Senators +152
• Total: OVER 6.5 (-140), UNDER 6.5 (+120)

The Senators won their season opener, but little has gone well since. In their last 11 games, the Sens have only one win and have been outscored 49-23. Ouch. That does not bode well for tonight’s matchup with the Oilers, who recently beat them 8-5 and 4-2. The Oilers have scored four or more goals six times in their last seven games.

Key NHL Betting Trends: The OVER is 8-4-1 in the Oilers’ 13 games this season. Connor McDavid has seven straight multi-point games. He is -130 to continue that run tonight.

Vancouver Canucks (6-9-0) vs Toronto Maple Leafs (9-2-1)

• Time & TV: (NA), 7:00 pm ET
• Moneyline: Canucks +180, Maple Leafs -215
• Total: OVER 6.5 (-130), UNDER 6.5 (+110)

This is the third straight matchup between these two teams, as they also met on Thursday and Saturday. The first two were four-goal wins for the Leafs, who won 5-1 on Thursday and 7-3 on Saturday. Will more of the same happen tonight? Only Ottawa is giving up goals at a worse rate than Vancouver, who has shipped 60 goals in 15 games. The Canucks beat up on the Senators and Jets in a four-game win streak, but they have been on the receiving end in their current four-game losing streak. They have allowed at least five goals in each loss and been outscored 23-9.

Key NHL Betting Trends: The OVER is 3-1-0 in the Canucks’ last four games and 4-1-0 in the Leafs’ last five games. On the season, the OVER is 10-5-0 in Vancouver’s games.

Arizona Coyotes (5-5-1) vs St. Louis Blues (7-4-1)

• Time & TV: (NA), 8:00 pm ET
• Moneyline: Coyotes +138, Blues -164
• Total: OVER 5.5 (+105), UNDER 5.5 (-125)

The Coyotes and Blues are even more familiar with each other than the Canucks and Maple Leafs. This will be the fourth meeting between the two teams in the last week, and two more are coming in Arizona on the 13th and 15th. The Blues won the first meeting, but the Coyotes have taken the last two, putting a dent in the Blues’ nice start to the season.

Key NHL Betting Trends: The OVER is 7-3-1 in Coyotes games this season, and it is 8-4-0 in Blues games.