NHL Preview and Best Bets (February 20): Top Teams Take Ice in Tahoe

Today is one of the most loaded NHL betting days of the season. Today’s NHL features a dozen games, which stretch out from 12:30 pm ET to 10:00 pm ET.

The most anticipated game of the day takes place in Lake Tahoe, where the Vegas Golden Knights and Colorado Avalanche face off in an outdoor game this season. Today’s game is one of two that will take place in Tahoe this weekend, with the Boston Bruins and Philadelphia Flyers meeting tomorrow.

While we all daydream about being out in that picturesque scene, let’s get to the NHL betting business. There are a lot of games to get to, and the action starts bright and early today.

All NHL betting odds are via BetOnline Sportsbook as of Saturday, February 20 at 10:00 am ET. Click here for updated NHL betting odds.

February 20 NHL Betting Schedule

Buffalo Sabres vs New Jersey Devils, 12:30 pm ET

New York Rangers vs Washington Capitals, 12:30 pm ET

Vegas Golden Knights vs Colorado Avalanche, 3:00 pm ET, NBC

Florida Panthers vs Detroit Red Wings, 5:00 pm ET, NBCSN

New York Islanders vs Pittsburgh Penguins, 7:00 pm ET

Nashville Predators vs Columbus Blue Jackets, 7:00 pm ET

Toronto Maple Leafs vs Montreal Canadiens, 7:00 pm ET, ESPN+

Los Angeles Kings vs Arizona Coyotes, 7:00 pm ET

Tampa Bay Lightning vs Carolina Hurricanes, 7:00 pm ET

San Jose Sharks vs St. Louis Blues, 8:00 pm ET

Minnesota Wild vs Anaheim Ducks, 9:00 pm ET, ESPN+

Calgary Flames vs Edmonton Oilers, 10:00 pm ET

February 20 NHL Betting Games of the Day

Vegas Golden Knights vs Colorado Avalanche

NHL Betting Matchup: Vegas Golden Knights (10-3-1, 8-6-0 O/U) vs Colorado Avalanche (8-4-1, 5-8-0 O/U)

• Moneyline: Golden Knights +102, Avalanche -120
• Total: OVER 5.5 (-110), UNDER 5.5 (-110)

This is the third of four consecutive matchups between the Golden Knights and Avalanche, with one more coming on Monday. The first two games have both been tight affairs, with the Golden Knights winning 1-0 last Sunday and the Avalanche winning 3-2 on Tuesday. NHL futures odds see these two teams as the top Stanley Cup betting favorites, and there does not seem to be much separating them.

Tampa Bay Lightning vs Carolina Hurricanes

NHL Betting Matchup: Tampa Bay Lightning (10-3-1, 4-2-1 away, 9-5-0 O/U) vs Colorado Hurricanes (11-3-1, 5-0-1 home, 10-4-1 O/U)

• Moneyline: Lightning -154, Hurricanes +130
• Total: OVER 6.5 (+100), UNDER 6.5 (-130)

Speaking of Stanley Cup betting favorites, the Lightning are the other team in the top bunch, coming in just a shade behind the aforementioned duo. The Hurricanes are making a push to join that upper tier of favorites soon enough, as they are off to a fantastic start this season. The Hurricanes have been lighting the lamp with great frequency this month, with their five goals in last night’s 5-3 win over the Blackhawks taking them to 40 goals in nine February games. In that nine-game stretch, the ‘Canes are 6-2-1.

February 20 NHL Betting Best of the Rest

New York Islanders vs Pittsburgh Penguins

NHL Betting Matchup: New York Islanders (8-5-3, 4-5-2 away, 5-11-0 O/U) vs Pittsburgh Penguins (8-6-1, 6-1-0 home, 9-6-0 O/U)

• Moneyline: Islanders +116, Penguins -136
• Total: OVER 5.5 (-110), UNDER 5.5 (-110)

It seems like this should be more than the fourth meeting between these two this season, but that may be because those four meetings have taken place in the last two weeks. Pittsburgh has taken two of the first three, and they look to maintain their advantage over the Isles and continue a decent run of form going. The Pens have won three of their last four games and are trying to inch their way up in the East Division. The Islanders, despite their 4-1 loss to the Pens on Thursday, are still on a 5-1-1 run recently.

Toronto Maple Leafs vs Montreal Canadiens

NHL Betting Matchup: Toronto Maple Leafs (13-3-2, 5-1-1 away, 8-9-1 O/U) vs Montreal Canadiens (9-4-2, 3-4-0 home, 6-8-1 O/U)

• Moneyline: Maple Leafs -118, Canadiens +100
• Total: OVER 6.5 (-110), UNDER 6.5 (-110)

The Maple Leafs shook off an epic Monday night collapse against Ottawa to win their last two against the Senators, and now they hit the road to face the Canadiens for the third time this month. The teams split the first two, with the Leafs winning 4-2 in Montreal ten days ago and the Canadiens eking out a 2-1 win in Toronto last Saturday. While the Leafs have played three times since that game, this is Montreal’s first game since then.

February 20 NHL Betting Top Trends

Golden Knights vs Avalanche

Key Golden Knights vs Avalanche NHL Betting Trends: The UNDER has hit in the Golden Knights’ last four games, and it has hit in the Avalanche’s last three games.

Lightning vs Hurricanes

Key Lightning vs Hurricanes NHL Betting Trends: The OVER has hit in the Lightning’s last four games. It has hit in the Hurricanes’ last five games, and it has hit in nine of their last ten as well.

Islanders vs Penguins

Key Islanders vs Penguins NHL Betting Trends: The Penguins have been excellent at home thus far, with a 3-1 loss to the Washington Capitals last Tuesday their only home loss to this point.

Maple Leafs vs Canadiens

Key Maple Leafs vs Canadiens NHL Betting Trends: The Maple Leafs are 6-1-1 in February. Also, their only regulation road loss was a 5-3 loss to the Ottawa Senators on January 15, in what was just their second game of the season. Since that loss, they are 12-2-2. The Canadiens have not been all that great at home either, with all four of their regulation losses this season coming at home.

February 20 NHL Betting: Best Bets

• 1. Lightning vs Hurricanes OVER (Best Bet): Sure, the odds favor the under here. But the over is the play, given how games have been going for both teams recently.
• 2. Golden Knights vs Avalanche UNDER: The first couple of games between the Golden Knights and Avalanche have gone under. The venue change should not change that outcome.
• 3. Penguins to win vs Islanders: The Pens are playing well at home, and that should continue tonight.
• 4. Maple Leafs to win vs Canadiens: The Leafs have owned the edge in the season series thus far and should continue to. The Canadiens have been subpar at home in comparison to their stellar away record (6-0-2).