NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Here are today’s NHL predictions and best bets.
Columbus Blue Jackets (25-20-7) at Chicago Blackhawks (21-24-9)
Blue Jackets (-150) at Blackhawks (+125) – Total 6.5 (Under, -130)
8:30 p.m. ET
The Blue Jackets are trying their best to make a push for the playoffs. Columbus is still 10 points back of both Montreal and Boston, who currently own the two Wild Card spots, though the Blue Jackets have games in hand on both teams. Columbus has won seven of their last eight games and six of seven since Rick Bowness took over as head coach. Tonight, they face a Chicago team that is coming off a 6-2 thumping in Pittsburgh on Thursday and are in the throes of a four-game losing streak. They have dropped seven of their last nine overall.
The Hawks are not only playing back-to-back games, but also three games in four nights. Chicago is (2-5) on the back end of back-to-backs this season. I am going to continue riding Columbus’s strong play, and I will grab their team total Over 3 (available at BetMGM). It is juiced (-155), but in looking back at the last six games for Chicago with Spencer Knight between the pipes, the opposition has scored four, five, three, zero, three, four and three goals. As well, I will parlay the Jackets to win and combine that with the alternate total of 5.5 goals.
On to the player props. The Blue Jackets’ Kirill Marchenko has cashed his shots on goal prop (Over 2.5) in 13 of his last 16 games, and in nine of those 13 games, he has had four or more shots on goal. He also has four goals in six games against the Hawks. Sean Monahan has goals in back-to-back games and three goals on eight shots in two games versus Chicago starting goalie, Spencer Knight.
On the Chicago side, I am on Spencer Knight’s save prop (Over 25.5). Chicago gives up an average of just under 30 shots on goal per game. They have given up at least 31 shots on goal in four of their last six games, including 44 last night at Pittsburgh and 31 and 36 in their last two games on the back end of a back-to-back.
NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Columbus Blue Jackets Team Total Over 3 (-155) – 2 units
Columbus Blue Jackets ML/Over 5.5 (+153) – 1 unit
Spencer Knight Over 25.5 saves (-125) – .50
Kirill Marchenko Over 2.5 SOG (-140) – .50
Kirill Marchenko Over 3.5 SOG (+182) – .25
Kirill Marchenko anytime goal (+210) – .10
Sean Monahan anytime goal (+400) – .10
