2022 NHL Regular Season Betting Preview – Team Point Total Odds, Predictions and Best Bets

• The NHL season gets underway October 12th, 2021 as sportsbooks have opened regular season point totals for all 32 teams
• Bettors can choose to wager on over/under for NHL teams regular season totals
• Read below for a full breakdown of the regular season total NHL odds and predictions and which teams pose the best value

NHL regular season team point totals can be a tricky betting market for bettors to dip their toes into. For the most part, there’s not a ton of value on these NHL odds and betting lines, as most sit between +100 and -130. The most important aspect of looking at the NHL regular season point totals market is to shop around at different sportsbooks.

For example, the Los Angeles Kings regular season point total at DraftKings is listed at 83.5, at FanDuel they are sitting at 84.5. For Canada online sports betting, bet365 and a few other spots list their total at 86.5. Depending on how you think the Kings will do, there’s definitely multiple options to look at.

The Colorado Avalanche are the favorite in the Stanley Cup odds, so naturally, they have the highest regular season point total at 111.5. The lowest point total belongs to the Buffalo Sabres at 67.5. I know, shocking, right?

Through research of NHL odds and models throughout the offseason, I have come up with four top graded regular season point total plays for the 2021-22 NHL season.

2021-22 NHL Regular Season Point Totals

All odds as of Oct. 8th at FanDuel

Seattle Kraken Odds and Prediction

After how the Vegas Golden Knights entered the league as the new expansion team in 2017, people think hopes are too high for the Seattle Kraken. But if you look closely at this roster, this team poses similar depth and defensive ability that led the Golden Knights to a Stanley Cup berth.

For Seattle, it starts with their goalie tandem of Philip Grubauer and Chris Driedger. Grubauer was a Vezina Trophy candidate last year and finds himself as a +1000 contender in the NHL odds this season. Meanwhile, Driedger’s broken out over the last two years posting a 14.7 goals save above expected in 35 starts, which is good for second in the league. These guys can easily be a top-five tandem this year.

** 2021-2022 NHL TEAM POINT PROJECTIONS **

We wrote a quick summary of our model and covered some interesting aspects within each division. Check it out! These, along with our new game predictions, will be updated daily on the site during the season.https://t.co/DQ820MbtpY pic.twitter.com/ltlbGG6YtR

— Evolving-Hockey (@EvolvingHockey) October 5, 2021

Their defensive structure isn’t something that leaps off the page, however, their depth is fantastic. Giordano-Oleksiak-Dunn-Larsson-Soucy-Fleury pose as a very balanced top six. Oleksiak’s stats do in fact jump off the page. In his two seasons with the Stars, they allowed under two expected goals per 60 with Oleksiak on the ice.

The forwards can be looked at in the same light as the defense. Most of these players have always been in lesser roles, but now on a new expansion team, they have the freedom and opportunity to spread their wings and produce in more minutes. One player I believe will breakout is Jared McCann. The 25-year-old has posted five points per-60 minutes on the powerplay over the last two seasons and owned a 56 percent expected goals rate in his lone season with Pittsburgh.

I think this team is being extremely undervalued, especially in a Pacific Division that has a lot of poor teams (Sharks, Ducks, Kings, Canucks). Seattle has a 89.5 NHL betting line at bet365, while listed at 92.5 at DraftKings. I will obviously grab the value at bet365, but would happily take 92.5 if I had to. I have Seattle anywhere between 94-98 points this season.

Pick: Kraken Over 89.5 (-125) at bet365

Los Angeles Kings Odds and Prediction

A lot of analysts and individuals are actually quite high on the Kings this season. I am not one of those people.

The Kings have one of the best prospect pools in the NHL with Quinton Byfield, Gabriel Vilardi, Jaret Anderson-Dolan and others. However, those prospects are at least a year away from making a noticeable impact, especially since Byfield will start the season on the shelf after fracturing his ankle in NHL preseason play. Moreover, Anze Kopitar, Drew Doughty, and Dustin Brown aren’t getting any younger and are continuing to regress.

🚨🚨🚨Injury Report: According to @mayorNHL sources, #GoKingsGo Quinton Byfield (ankle) is expected to be out at least a month. Further imaging will be done today to set a proper timeline. pic.twitter.com/ojJAEFZp8Y

— Hockey Hound (@HockeyHoundShow) October 6, 2021

Kopitar, 34, is still an unbelievable two-way center and is their best player. But Kopitar doesn’t score at the same clip as he used to. Last season, his expected goals per-60 minutes was 0.56, which is right around average across the NHL. The Kings rely heavily on Kopitar’s production, and that’s saying something since they had the third-worst expected goals percentage at 44.3 last season, only behind the Red Wings and Sabres.

The additions of Phillip Danault, Viktor Arvidsson, and Alex Edler look great on paper but don’t necessarily fit their needs. Danault is a defensive center, Arvidsson hasn’t scored more than 20 goals in his last two seasons, and Edler was a sieve defensively on the Canucks last year.

I have the Kings projected for 80 points with their ceiling at 82. bet365 is offering them at 86.5 in their NHL odds, which is tremendous value. Not to mention, the Kings are -320 in the NHL playoff odds. 87 points is a fringe playoff team, and LA is just not ready for that step of their development yet.

Pick: Los Angeles Kings Under 86.5 (-115) at bet365

Pittsburgh Penguins Odds and Prediction

Months ago, the Penguins found out they will be without Sidney Crosby for the first month of the 2021-22 NHL season. More recently, they found out they’d be without Evgeni Malkin until at least December. And sportsbooks still have their regular season point total at 96.5?

Malkin wasn’t exactly himself last NHL season, and you can see an obvious regression in his game, especially defensively. The Russian veteran was last on his team in expected goals against per-60 minutes. Crosby’s Game Score Value Added (GSVA) or projected player win total is 3.6 for this season, while Malkin’s is 2.2. With both their injuries, their value drops about 1.5 points. Both these superstars take a lot of pressure off other skaters on the team, which means this burden fully falls on Jake Guentzel and Bryan Rust now.

Rust and Guentzel obviously play better when Crosby’s on the ice, so who knows if they’ll be able to produce just as efficiently without his constant leadership. This team also lost Jared McCann to Seattle, who was second on the team in points per-60 minutes last season.

Tonight's Advanced Goaltending Matchups

Regular Season Stats:

NYI: Ilya Sorokin – 13-6-3, 91.8% (19th), 2.68 GSAx (19th)
PIT: Tristan Jarry – 25-9-3, 90.9% (38th), -9.13 GSAx (74th)

5 on 5 and Penalty Kill Shots against by angle@SBNationNHL @EvolvingHockey pic.twitter.com/voq8vunv48

— Bryan Bastin (@BryanBastin) May 18, 2021

Without the leadership of Crosby to start the season, question marks in net and a tough Metropolitan division with multiple teams rising, I think there’s great value on under 96.5. To put in perspective how bad Tristan Jarry was last season, his goals saved above expected was -11.8 in 39 starts.

The NHL betting public still believes Pittsburgh is a playoff team, but I have my doubts.

Pick: Penguins Under 96.5 (-110) at FanDuel

Winnipeg Jets Odds & Prediction

I think this could very well be the year the Jets take the next step and seriously contend in the Western Conference. I definitely believe they have the necessary defensive depth, goaltending, and offensive firepower to surpass 91.5 regular season points this NHL season.

We already know they possess elite forwards in Mark Scheifele, Nikolaj Ehlers, and Kyle Connor. But, now throw in solid defensive depth that they’ve missed the last few seasons, and this team looks scary good on paper. The additions of Brendan Dillon and Nate Schmidt are a huge plus for the Jets. Pair those two solid defenders with Josh Morrisey and Neal Pionk, and you’re looking at a competent defensive structure to put in front of Connor Hellebuyck.

Neal Pionk could be one of the more underrated defensemen in the league. His powerplay points-per-60 of 6.7 is an incredible mark. That was only second to Victor Hedman last season. His five-on-five stats were awesome last year, and that was on a team that relied heavily on Hellebuyck to bail them out most of the time.

You just have to respect the clapper from Nikolaj Ehlers here… 👏💣 pic.twitter.com/9WMdxvfT3O

— NHL (@NHL) October 7, 2021

I also think Nikolaj Ehlers could have an even bigger season in 2021-22. He’s got a wicked shot, and with Patrik Laine officially out of the picture for a full season, Ehlers could step up and fill that goal-scoring void alongside Kyle Connor. His goals above expected last season was 8.3, paired with a 1.59 goals-per-60.

This Winnipeg team continues to be undervalued, especially on the offensive end, and I don’t understand why. With better defenders and puck-moving defensemen, this team will be dangerous. In the NHL odds, a 91.5 regular season point total is far too low. I have the Jets in the same range as Seattle with their ceiling at 100 points. Take the over.

Pick: Jets Over 91.5 (-106) at FanDuel