NHL Monday betting preview: 3 road teams worth backing

We enter a busy week of hockey at 85-78 (+5.57 units) and looking to heat up again heading into the last week of March - a month that hasn't been kind to us.

Winning some money is a great way to start the week, so let's try to do just that.

This is a bad time for the injury bug to hit the Canadiens, as the scorching-hot Oilers arrive in town for a three-game set this week, which comes with massive playoff implications. Already without Ben Chiarot - who's been missed dearly on the left side of Montreal's defense - the Canadiens now must also cope without leading scorer Tyler Toffoli this week, whose forthcoming absence was confirmed this morning.

Montreal can't afford to lose any scoring against the Oilers - who have scored 30 goals over their last seven games - especially without knowing which version of Carey Price will show up. Price appeared to turn a corner after the Canadiens' coaching change, but he's been struggling again over his last two starts.

Montreal's inconsistencies in goal, coupled with injuries up front and on the back end, results in the Oilers being great value at this price.

Pick: Oilers (+110)

This is a prime revenge spot for the Hurricanes after dropping consecutive games (both 3-2 in overtime/shootout) to the Blue Jackets to close out last week. Elvis Merzlikins stood on his head for Columbus during Saturday's win while producing a save-of-the-year candidate in overtime, and Carolina also endured a disallowed goal in the extra frame for offside.

Those two results don't truly reflect what happened in the games. Carolina was dominant while controlling 63.2% of the expected goal share at five-on-five, making the Hurricanes due for serious positive regression tonight in Columbus.

The goaltending matchup is also working in our favor. Alex Nedeljkovic (5.22 GSAA, 4.77 GSAx) starts over James Reimer (0.52 GSAA, minus-1.19 GSAx) for Carolina, and Joonas Korpisalo (minus-5.19 GSAA, minus-8.86 GSAx) gets the nod over Merzlikins (1.52 GSAA, minus-5.03 GSAx) for Columbus. Add in a massive five-on-five and special-teams edge for the Hurricanes, and they're well worth the juice tonight.

Pick: Hurricanes (-155)

This feels like the week that will either make or break the Flames' season. They sit four points out of a playoff spot ahead of this stretch of four games over six nights against the Senators and Jets. The first two against Ottawa seem like must-win contests for Darryl Sutter's team.

This isn't to dismiss those pesky Sens as a punching bag, but Ottawa is simply a club the Flames can't afford to drop points against - especially with the Senators down to their fifth-string goaltender. Filip Gustavsson is set to make his first NHL start tonight, and while unproven players can often surprise, let's go by what we know. Gustavsson has posted a pedestrian .892 save percentage during his AHL career, and he now faces a big step up in class.

The Flames have been noticeably better under Sutter while looking like a cohesive unit defensively and when in possession. They're systemically much stronger than under Geoff Ward, and when factoring in their edge at all strengths - and a massive advantage in goal with Jacob Markstrom vs. Gustavsson - there's a strong case to pay up for Calgary on Monday.

Pick: Flames (-165)

(Odds source: theScore Bet)

Alex Moretto is theScore's supervising editor of sports betting. A journalism graduate from Guelph-Humber University, he has worked in sports media for over a decade. He will bet on anything from the Super Bowl to amateur soccer, despises how the NHL handles starting goalie announcements, and will never trust a kicker. Find him on Twitter @alexjmoretto.

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