NHL Betting Trends (3/21-27): Cold Canes, Hot Oilers & More

A new week of 2021-22 NHL action begins on Monday, March 21 with this season’s trade deadline. Some teams will be busy pulling off deals in hopes of going on a deep playoff run, while others might be selling their assets to build for the future.

Regardless of what happens at the trade deadline, that doesn’t change the fact that there’s still a lot of betting action to get in on before the regular season’s end.

Fortunately, we’re here to help you again after gathering the most noteworthy NHL betting trends ahead of the week of March 21 to March 27.

Hurricanes Dealing with Longest Losing Streak of NHL Season

The Carolina Hurricanes have been one of the best teams since the beginning of the 2021-22 NHL season. They have a 41-15-6 record and 88 points, which is good enough to have them sitting atop the Metropolitan Division.

Having said that, the Hurricanes are beginning to lose their grip on the first-place spot due to a recent skid. They’ve lost their last four games in a row, which is their longest losing streak of the current season.

One big problem during the four-game skid is that Carolina’s best players haven’t shown up when the team needs them. Andrei Svechnikov, Sebastian Aho, Jordan Staal and Teuvo Teravainen have combined for one goal over that stretch. That’s just unacceptable for a team viewed as a potential Stanley Cup contender.

Another thing that’s hindered the Hurricanes’ offensive output is their lack of power-play success. Carolina has a top-10 power play this season, however, the club is 0-for-9 on the man advantage in its last four games.

In terms of NHL betting trends, the Hurricanes have been fairly consistent. The total has hit the under in nine of their last 12 games, which reflects their recent offensive struggles.

The Hurricanes will play the Tampa Bay Lightning, Dallas Stars and St. Louis Blues this week. Each of those teams has been playing fairly average as of late, so there should be some opportunities for Carolina to surprise its opponents, especially with the next two games being played at home.

Perron Heating Up Despite Blues’ Struggles

Life hasn’t been kind to the St. Louis Blues in recent weeks. Although they’re the Central Division’s second-place team, they’ve lost seven of their last nine games — including the last three in a row.

Despite those struggles, the Blues have had one saving grace during that stretch: David Perron. The veteran center has 12 goals during that nine-game span, which ranks as the most in the NHL during that time.

If that wasn’t impressive enough, Perron has found the back of the net in six consecutive contests and recorded a hat trick in a loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday night.

Long story short, Perron has been making player prop bettors extremely happy over the last few weeks. Fortunately, there’s a good chance of seeing that trend continue this week.

The Blues will face the Washington Capitals, Philadelphia Flyers and Hurricanes this week. Although the Capitals are 7-2-1 in their last 10 games, the Flyers have been one of the worst teams in the league this season and could be even worse after the trade deadline. Meanwhile, it was already pointed out that the Hurricanes are struggling lately.

Perron isn’t the NHL’s biggest name, which is why you can likely still find some decent value with his goal-scoring player props. This type of play isn’t sustainable forever, so try and get in on the action as soon as possible.

Coyotes’ Offense is Surging

The Arizona Coyotes have been associated with the bottom of the NHL for many years now. The 2021-22 season was no different as they began things as one of the league’s worst teams, however, that hasn’t been the case recently.

Even though they’re still close to the bottom of the standings, the Coyotes are 7-4-0 in their last 11 games. They’ve also scored 46 total goals over that stretch, which ranks third-best in the league during that time.

It also isn’t like the Coyotes have been beating up on other weaker teams during their bout with success. While they have beaten lowly teams like the Montreal Canadiens and Ottawa Senators, they’ve also scored wins over the Colorado Avalanche, Vegas Golden Knights and Toronto Maple Leafs.

Arizona has been the underdog in each of its last 11 games, so there’s some value to be had if you still think they can pull off some upsets this week. Two of its next three games are against the Seattle Kraken and Winnipeg Jets on the road, which are both winnable contests.

If you’re looking to wager on the total, it’s hit the over in six of the Coyotes’ last eight road games. Considering how two of their next three games this week are on the road, that could be a trend worth keeping track of.

Oilers Continue to Climb NHL Standings

Any team that has a duo like Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl on its roster is bound to deal with high expectations. While the Edmonton Oilers have struggled with the pressure at times this year, they’ve begun racking up the wins lately.

After losing three straight games in the first week of March, the Oilers have won their last five consecutive contests. Their offense has been on full display during this run, outscoring opponents 27-13 while scoring at least six goals in each of their last three outings.

To no one’s surprise, McDavid has been Edmonton’s best player during the five-game stretch. He leads his teammates with six goals and five assists in that time, further proving that they likely wouldn’t see this success without him.

McDavid’s recently hot streak could also help him in the Hart Memorial Trophy race for this season’s NHL MVP. He currently ranks third at +500 odds and is still a ways back from the Maples Leafs’ Auston Matthews (+175), according to BetMGM.

Nevertheless, continuing his recent play down the stretch could help McDavid’s odds improve over the coming week, making him a future betting option worth keeping track of.

In terms of betting trends, the total has hit the over four times in the Oilers’ last five victories. With the way the offense has been looking recently, it’s hard not imagining that trend continuing.

Nevertheless, Edmonton will be busy with four games in the next six days. Teams like the Avalanche and Calgary Flames will provide some tough challenges, while the Stars and San Jose Sharks should still put up a fight. With that being said, don’t count the Oilers out if they continue playing as they have in the last two weeks.