The road to the Super Bowl continues this weekend as the NFL’s Divisional Round takes center stage. With only eight teams left standing and conference championship berths up for grabs, every snap is crucial. Even with the postseason intensity, betting value remains across the sports landscape. A compelling NHL slate presents another opportunity for bettors to find the edge and cash in. Here are tonight’s best bets brought to you by BetOnline.ag. Click here to join. All new players get a 50% welcome bonus and up to $250 in free bets.
First Pick: Los Angeles Kings Moneyline
Rundown: The Los Angeles Kings (19-16-12) head to Honda Center for round two of a back-to-back as they square off with the Anaheim Ducks (23-21-3) in a critical Western Conference battle.
Los Angeles enters tonight's contest looking to rebound after falling 3-2 in shootout on Friday night, a game in which they led 2-0 midway through the second period. The loss marked LA's 12th overtime/shootout defeat of the season, tied with the Vegas Golden Knights for most in the NHL. Los Angeles will need to ignite an offensive that ranks 30th in the league in goals per game in order to snap its three-game losing streak.
For Anaheim, Friday's win marked its second consecutive victory after losing nine straight contests. Ducks rookie center Tim Washe played a key role in Anaheim’s win over Los Angeles, scoring his first NHL goal to tie the game at two. Heading into Saturday, Anaheim sits just one point back of Los Angeles in the Western Conference standings. The recent success has stemmed from Anaheim's league-worst scoring defense stepping up, allowing just three goals in the two-game span.
At this stage of the season, every point is key. Expect Los Angeles to come out as an angry hockey team looking to avenge a frustrating loss and execute enough to walk away with a road victory.
Second Pick: 49ers +7
Rundown: Brock Purdy and the San Francisco 49ers head to Lumen Field to face Jaxon Smith-Njigba and the Seattle Seahawks in an NFC West showdown with a trip to the NFC Championship Game on the line.
San Francisco enters the divisional round fresh off an impressive road victory over the reigning Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles in the Wild Card round. The win, however, came at a cost, as the 49ers lost star tight end George Kittle for the remainder of the season with a torn Achilles. Despite Seattle boasting one of the NFL’s most hostile home environments, quarterback Brock Purdy has thrived at Lumen Field, owning a perfect 4-0 record in road starts against the Seahawks. The 12th Man will be in full force Saturday evening, looking to derail San Francisco's offense.
As for Seattle, the Seahawks enter the divisional round fresh off a bye after securing the NFC’s No. 1 seed with a Week 18 victory over these same 49ers, a game in which they surrendered just three points. Seattle’s top-rated defensive unit has been the foundation of its success, leading the league by allowing just 17.2 points per game during the regular season. The Seahawks’ third-ranked run defense will be tested against one of the NFL’s premier backs in Christian McCaffrey, who totaled 2,126 yards from scrimmage this season, second only to Bijan Robinson.
The quarterback position looms large for Seattle, as first-year Seahawk Sam Darnold is questionable with an oblique injury suffered Thursday. If he is unable to play, backup Drew Lock would serve as the team’s starter.
With a trip to the NFC Championship Game at stake, expect Kyle Shanahan to empty the playbook in an effort to generate offense against the league’s top defense, resulting in a close game that results in San Francisco covering the touchdown spread.