NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Here are today’s NHL predictions and best bets.
Carolina Hurricanes (22-9-2) at Florida Panthers (18-13-3)
Hurricanes (-135) at Panthers (+115) – Total 5.5 (Over, -125)
7 p.m. ET
On paper, this is the game of the night. It will be the first time these two teams have met since the Panthers eliminated the Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference Final en route to their second consecutive Stanley Cup Championship. Canes head coach, Rod Brind’Amour said after the series, “You can’t have any weak links if you want to beat them (Florida). We just had more holes in our lineup than they did.” The Canes were missing key players on the blueline and the addition of Nikolaj Ehlers and moving Logan Stankoven to center make the roster deeper.
For Carolina, I believe they want to put some self-doubt in the minds of the Panthers. For Florida, they want to let Carolina know that we are still the best team in the East. When it comes to picking a winner tonight, I have no desire to choose sides. Both teams come in hot, as Carolina has won five straight and the Cats have won six of their past seven.
The goaltending matchup for tonight is Brandon Bussi and his 11-1-0 record for Carolina and Sergei Bobrovsky for Florida. I will go with a Bobrovsky Over saves prop tonight. His number is 25.5, which has cashed in four of his last six overall and in four straight against Carolina. Carter Verhaeghe has been on a roll since he and his wife announced the birth of their child. He has cashed his shots on goal prop (Over 2.5) in nine of his last 10 games, and we can still get him at “plus money”. Carolina’s Seth Jarvis has cashed his shots on goal prop in four of his last five and 10 of the last 14.
NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Sergei Bobrovsky Over 25.5 saves (-110) – 1 unit
Carter Verhaeghe Over 2.5 shots on goal (+110) – 1 unit
Seth Jarvis Over 2.5 shots on goal (+100) – 1 unit
Winnipeg Jets (15-16-2) at Colorado Avalanche (24-2-7)
Jets (+200) at Avalanche (-250) – Total 5.5 (Over, -120)
9 p.m. ET
It has been the “GIFF” that keeps on giving. Thirteen of the last 14 Avalanche home games had a goal scored in the first five minutes. Colorado’s dominance of the other 31 teams means you must dig deeper in looking for ways to find value. Laying (-250) on Colorado to win the game makes no sense, but I will target another first period play, and that is Over 1.5 goals. In addition to their 13-1 “GIFF” run, they are also on a 13-1 run to the first period Over 1.5 goals at home.
On to my favorite player props. Nathan MacKinnon’s 28 goals lead the NHL, and sportsbooks are tired of getting pounded on his anytime goal prop. You must pay a tax if you want to bet him to score a goal (-118 at BetMGM is currently the best price). I will pass. Instead, I will target his shots on goal prop of Over 4.5 (+104). MacKinnon has hit this number in eight of his last nine overall and four of his last five home games. MacKinnon’s linemate, both at even strength and on the power play, has had two or more points in seven of his last nine games, and we are getting a great price (+200 at FanDuel). The price looks even better as MacKinnon is (-128) for at least two points.
Back to the shots on goal prop. A pair of defensemen from both teams also caught my eye. Colorado’s Devon Toews has had two shots on goal or more in five straight, and the Jets’ Neal Pionk has had two shots on goal or more in four straight overall and four of the last six games against Colorado. One more blueliner that is on my card for today is Brent Burns, who has picked up an assist in four consecutive games.
NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Goal first five minutes (+160) – .50 units
1stperiod Over 1.5 goals (-138) – .50 units
Nathan MacKinnon Over 4.5 shots on goal (+104) – 1 unit
Toews/Pionk each Over 1.5 shots on goal (+234) – 1 unit
Brent Burns Over ½ assist (+186) – .25 units
Martin Necas Over 1.5 points (+200) – .15 units
