$FML's NHL Monday Best Bet - 3/6

FastMoneyLabs is back with a new Best Bet for Monday's NHL action!

The average NHL team has 196 goals this season (excluding shootouts); meanwhile Chicago only has 151 (fewest), and nearly half (44%) were scored or assisted by two players they traded away last week (Patrick Kane and Max Domi). The moves were expected since the team is tanking for draft positioning (Hey Alexa… Google Connor Bedard), but nonetheless: don’t expect many Blackhawks goals going forward.

Chicago has failed to score more than 2x in a game since the trades, and it will be their downfall vs. a red-hot Senators team tonight. They’ve won 5 straight contests by a 2+ goal margin, scoring 5+ goals in each of those 5 games. Ottawa were buyers at the trade deadline, injecting confidence into a locker room that’s pushing for a playoff spot. If the Senators want to make the playoffs (they do), they absolutely need to win this game tonight.

It’s true: Chicago defeated Ottawa for the 9th straight time last month (sadly, killing our Friday Night Parlay in the process). That comeback would not have been possible, though, without Patrick Kane and Max Domi, who remember – are no longer with the team. Look for the Senators to avenge that loss (and the 8 to Chicago before it) in dominating fashion tonight. I’m betting accordingly by backing Ottawa to win by 2 or more goals for the 6th straight game via the puck line (i.e., -1.5 spread).