NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Here are tonight’s NHL predictions and best bets.
Columbus Blue Jackets at Buffalo Sabres
Columbus Blue (+145) at Buffalo (-175) – Total 6 (Over, -120)
7 p.m. ET
The Jackets come into Buffalo on a two-game win streak, knocking off two Central Division heavyweights with wins over Colorado and a 2-1 shootout win over the Dallas Stars last night. The Sabres returned home on Wednesday from a road trip that saw them earn seven of a possible eight points but came up short against the Ottawa Senators on Wednesday, losing at home, 2-1. These two teams opened the season against each other with the Jackets doubling up Buffalo, 6-3 behind a pair of goals from Matthew Knies. The former Maple Leafs forward who came to Columbus in the Kirill Marchenko trade hasn’t scored a goal since. If Buffalo turns to Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen in goal for tonight’s game, then I will go to Knies for a goal. He has three goals in three games versus the Sabres netminder. One other Jackets player prop on my card is Kent Johnson for a point. Johnson is riding a six-game points streak, and the value (best price -105 at ESPNbet) is too good to pass up.
On the Buffalo side, the Sabers’ Josh Doan has just two goals in 15 games this season, but he does have six goals in seven games against Columbus and four goals in four games against tonight’s starting goalie for Columbus, Jet Greaves. I also like his shots on goal prop (Over 1.5) and his alternate shot total (Over 2.5). Doan has had three shots on goal in each of the last three games and three of the last four against the Blue Jackets (including the Oct 1 game this season). Lastly, Buffalo’s Zach Benson is on a five-game points streak, and his center for tonight’s game, Peyton Krebs, has points in two of the last three games.
NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Matthew Knies anytime goal (+310) – ¼ unit
Kent Johnson 1+ point (-105) – ½ unit
Josh Doan anytime goal (+330) – ¼ unit
Josh Doan 2+ shots on goal (-125) – 1 unit
Josh Doan 3+ shots on goal (+240) – ½ unit
Benson/Krebs 1+ point each (+213) – ½ unit
San Jose Sharks at Minnesota Wild
San Jose (+210) at Minnesota (-258) – Total 6.5 (Under, -120)
8 p.m. ET
The Sharks are coming off a 7-2 pounding by the Los Angeles Kings on Wednesday that led to a “players only” meeting following the game. I was in the building on Wednesday, and it was ugly. San Jose has dropped three in a row and five of their last six, but a trip to Minnesota may be just what the Sharks need to get back on track, as crazy as that sounds. The Sharks have won three straight over the Wild and two straight in Minnesota. Add to the fact that the Wild are completing a stretch of playing nine games in nine different cities in 17 days. That’s a lot of travel. I will also sprinkle on a regulation draw. Each of the past four meetings has ended in overtime or a shootout.
On to the player props. Macklin Celebrini put an end to his six-game goal drought in Wednesday’s loss to the Kings, and now he faces a Minnesota team that he has scored seven goals and 15 points in six career games that also include four consecutive multi-point games (five of six). Michael Misa will join Celebrini and Will Smith on the top line, and I will parlay Celebrini for 2+ points and his linemates each for a single point. Check back later today on my Twitter (X) feed for additional Wild player props.
NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
San Jose Sharks Money Line (+210) – 1 unit
Regulation Draw (+360) – .10 units
Celebrini 2+ points/Smith and Misa 1+ point each (+500) – ¼ unit
Macklin Celebrini 2+ points (+200) – 1 unit
Macklin Celebrini anytime goal (+175) – ¼ unit
Anaheim Ducks at Calgary Flames
Anaheim (+110) at Calgary (-135) – Total 6.5 (Under, -115)
8 p.m. ET
NHL Best Bets and Predictions
Ryan Strome anytime goal (+410) – ¼ unit —–facing his former team for the first time
Ryan Strome 1+ assist (+195) – ¼ unit
Tristan Luneau 1+ point (+195) – ¼ unit —–6 game points streak
Flames Team Total Over 3.5 (+108) – 1 unit —–Ducks given up 4+ goals 9 of last 11
Coronato/Farabee point parlay (+117) – 1 unit
Beckett Sennecke anytime goal (+195) – ½ unit
Cutter Gauthier anytime goal (+165) – ½ unit
