NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Here are today’s NHL predictions and best bets.
Tampa Bay Lightning (-155, 6.5) at Detroit Red Wings
7 p.m. ET
After dropping their home opener to the Montreal Canadiens, the Detroit Red Wings have put together a three-game winning streak with a pair of wins over Toronto and, most recently, a 4-1 win over the Florida Panthers. Mason Appleton has filled the void on Detroit’s top line, replacing the injured Lucas Raymond. Appleton has scored three goals in the last two games.
Veteran Patrick Kane is tied with Dylan Larkin for the team scoring lead with five points and has had recent success against Tampa, scoring a goal in three of his four games since joining Detroit and cashing his shots on goal prop (Over 2.5) in three of the four games as well. Dylan Larkin has had his struggles in finding the back of the net against the Lightning and, in particular, Andrei Vasilevskiy, with just two goals in twenty games. It’s not due to lack of effort, with Vasilevsky firing 61 shots at the netminder. In his last six games against Tampa, Larkin has 2,5,4,5,7 and 7 shots on goal. If by chance Jonas Johansson gets the start tonight, Larkin has two goals in the two games (on 15 shots) he has faced Tampa’s backup.
John Gibson gets the start in goal for Detroit tonight, looking to rebound from his debut with Detroit. Gibson was touched up for five goals on 14 shots (in 37:13) before getting pulled from the game. His career numbers versus Tampa are solid. Despite just going 4-5-1, he has a 2.13 goals against average and a .932 save percentage.
The Lightning have just one win in four tries to start the season and are coming off a 3-2 overtime loss Tuesday at Washington. It was the first game this season that the Bolts held their opponents to fewer than three goals in regulation, though they have given up three or more goals in all four games. If you like Tampa, I would not recommend playing the Lightning on the money line. Instead, play their team total Over 3.5 goals. Over the past two seasons, in 73 of their 92 wins, the Lightning have scored at least four goals, and they did score four goals in their lone victory this season over the Bruins. Jake Guentzel has seven goals in 10 games versus John Gibson.
NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Dylan Larkin Over 2.5 shots on goal (-128) – .50 units
Dylan Larkin Over 3.5 shots on goal (+195) – .20 units
Patrick Kane Over 2.5 shots on goal (+122) – .50 units
Patrick Kane anytime goal (+310) – .10 units
Mason Appleton anytime goal (+500) – .10 units
Marco Kasper anytime goal (+350) – .10 units
Jake Guentzel anytime goal (+180) – .10 units
Detroit Team Total Over 2.5 (-140) – .25 units
Minnesota Wild at Washington Capitals (-125, 5.5)
7 p.m. ET
Alexander Ovechkin is still in search of his first goal of the season and remains three goals shy of the 900 mark. The Minnesota Wild have not scored an even-strength goal since opening night, scoring nine consecutive goals with the man advantage. The Capitals rank 30th on the penalty kill to start the season, but they have taken only nine penalties. Only Seattle (8) has taken fewer. Since losing their opening game of the season to the Boston Bruins, the Capitals have won three straight but have scored just nine goals in four games. Aliaksei Protas (three) and Tom Wilson (two) scored five of Washington’s nine goals.
As per usual, the Wild are led by their top line of Kirill Kaprizov (four goals), Matt Boldy (four) and Marco Rossi (one), who have accounted for nine of the team’s 14 goals to start the season. The question from a betting standpoint is where we can find some value with the Wild players. Veteran Vladimir Tarasenko has assists in each of the last three games. All four of his assists have come with the Wild on the power play. Joel Eriksson Ek centers the top power play unit, and his point prop with the extra man is at (+250). Good value for a player that already has four points on the power play to start the season. Lastly, defenseman Zeev Buium has five points on the power play.
On the Capitals’ side, I will go with Alexander Ovechkin to get on the board with a goal. The Great 8 has 20 goals in 25 games against the Wild and two goals in four games against Minnesota’s starting goalie, Filip Gustavsson.
NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Joel Eriksson Ek power play point (+250) – .10 units
Zeev Buium power play point (+250) – .10 units
Joel Eriksson Ek over ½ assist (+182) – .10 units
Zeev Buium over 1/2 assist (+158) – .10 units
Vladimir Tarasenko power play point (+290) – .10 units
Vladimir Tarasenko anytime goal (+350) – .10 units
Alexander Ovechkin anytime goal (+140) – .10 units
