NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Here are today’s NHL predictions and best bets.
Tampa Bay Lightning (29-13-3) at St. Louis Blues (18-21-8)
Lightning (-185) at Blues (+160) – Total 5.5 (Over, -124)
8 p.m. ET
The Lightning put their 11-game winning streak on the line tonight at St. Louis. They face a Blues team that is coming off a 3-0 shutout win (Joel Hofer, 33 saves) over the Carolina Hurricanes, snapping a three-game losing streak.
Tampa has recalled goalie Brandon Halverson, and it is not clear as of 10 a.m. PT which Tampa goalie is unavailable, which is keeping me from playing Tampa tonight. Jonas Johansson does have three wins during the Bolts’ 11-game win streak, but he has just one win in three starts against St. Louis with a goals against average above three. Joel Hofer is making his first career start against Tampa. He has played in two games against Tampa in his career (total: 52 minutes and 8 seconds) in relief and given up just one goal.
I do have a slew of player props that have caught my eye. Nikita Kucherov has had two points or more in four straight and five of the last seven meetings against the Blues. Kucherov also has two or more points in nine of Tampa’s last 10 games and 18 of the last 24 overall. Darren Raddysh has had multi-point games in five of the Lightning’s last seven games and did have a three-point game in the Tampa 4-1 win over St. Louis earlier in the season. With the injury to center Brayden Point, Nick Paul becomes the number one center. As of now, his anytime goal prop is the only prop available. I will jump on it, but I also hope we get an assist prop, which I will grab when it becomes available.
On the St. Louis side, Brayden Schenn and Jimmy Snuggerud make up two-thirds of the top line, and both players’ point prop is available at plus money. Snuggerud has also been shooting the puck lately, registering five, four, five and four shots on goal in his last four games.
NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Jimmy Snuggerud Over 2.5 shots on goal (+182) – 1 unit
Jimmy Snuggerud Over 3.5 shots on goal (+460) – .25 units
Brayden Schenn Over ½ point (+114) – .50 units
Jimmy Snuggerud Over ½ point (+142) – .50 units
Nikita Kucherov Over 1.5 points (-108) – .25 units
Darren Raddysh Over 1.5 points (+360) – .25 units
Nick Paul anytime goal (+350) – .10 units
Nashville Predators (22-20-4) at Colorado Avalanche (33-4-8)
Predators (+250) at Avalanche (-315) – Total 6.5 (Under, -120)
9 p.m. ET
The Avs are coming off just their third home loss of the season (all in overtime/shootout) and only their twelfth in 45 games as they dropped a 4-3 overtime contest to the Toronto Maple Leafs. Tonight is the seventh time this season and the second time facing Nashville that the Avalanche are a favorite of -300 or more. The Avs are 6-0 this season as a favorite of -300 or more and have covered the Puck Line in all six games.
The “GIFT is 5-1 in these games, and the “GIFF” (Goal in first 5 minutes) has cashed in five of the six games (all five at home). The Avalanche have scored two goals or more in four of the six games, including scoring twice in the first period the last time they faced Nashville. The first period Over 1.5 has cashed in five of the six games.
A couple of player props on the card. The Avs Brent Burns has had two shots on goal or more in eight consecutive games. Nashville’s Luke Evangelista has had two shots on goal or more in three straight and eight of nine against the Avalanche. Nashville’s Ryan O’Reilly has points in 14 of his last 18 overall and points in back-to-back versus Colorado.
NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Goal in first five minutes (+152) – .20 units
Goal in first ten minutes (-180) – 1 unit
1stperiod team total Over 1.5 (+180) – .50 units
Avs 1stperiod (-1/2 goal) +104 – 1 unit
Avs -1.5 goals (-122) – Full game – 1 unit
Burns/Evangelista each Over 1.5 shots on goal (+134) – 1unit
Ryan O’Reilly Over ½ point (-125) – .25 units
