NHL Tuesday bets: Keeping it simple on a small slate

I'm bullish on Montreal piling up some goals here, as they're averaging 3.5 goals per game while Buffalo allows 3.8 per game on the road. Tack on a pitiful Sabres PK, and I'd expect a power-play goal here tonight for the Canadiens. 

Montreal has been in some high-scoring games lately, with their total averaging 8.2 over the past five. At home, they're even steadier, covering the over in four of the last five at home. 

The Sabres have had some issues lately as they come into this losers of eight straight, and tonight's projected goalie Craig Anderson is certainly part of the problem, allowing 12 goals in his past three starts.

Buffalo should be able to put some goals in as well against Jake Allen, who is allowing 3.33 goals per game and also has seen 12 goals past him in his last three starts.

The over has hit in seven of the Sabres last 10 games. There's plenty to like here. I lean Montreal winning and doing the heavy lifting scoring wise.

Games between these two teams tend to be a bit more high scoring when the Canadiens are the home team, the average total in the last four games in Montreal has been 8.5.

.5u: Cole Caufield & Tage Thompson 1+ goal each (+452 FD)

Sure, if this game ends 1-0 we're out two bets, but I think this is the right time to load up a SGP on the two studs netting a goal in a game in which I obviously expect scoring.

When these two teams met at the end of October, Caufield and Thompson combined for 14 shots, but neither scored. Both guys top their team in power-play involvement and volume and are solid bets for a goal on any night.

Caufield has nine goals in 10 home games this season and Thompson has four goals in his last five games against Montreal.

Mika Zibanejad over 3.5 SOG (-106 FD)

The one look that clearly rises above the rest to me in the late game is our old pal Mika Zibanejad's shots. Zibanejad and the Rangers are facing a Kings team that has struggled with penalties, allowing the 12th-most power-play opportunities per game this year.

Zibanejad leads the NHL in power-play shots with 36, so any time he projects to be a in game with some PP chances, I have to give him some consideration.

Zibanejad is over 3.5 SOG in seven straight on the road and had four SOG when he last saw the Kings. These odds are extremely reasonable, probably because Los Angeles has been one of the tighter teams to shots. I'm confident we'll be seeing some power-play chances for New York, which should put Mika over the edge here.

Good luck tonight on the small slate. We'll see you back here tomorrow to break down a massive 15-game Wednesday.