NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Here are tonight’s NHL predictions and best bets.
New York Rangers at Detroit Red Wings
New York Rangers (+110) at Detroit (-130) – Total 5.5 (Over, -135)
6:30 p.m. ET (TNT)
We are just four days into the season, and the Rangers are playing their third game while the Detroit Red Wings are playing game one of their 2026-27 season. Following a trade request in the summer, the Red Wings stripped the “C” away from Dylan Larkin. Larkin is still a Red Wing, but an upper-body injury makes him unavailable for tonight. Defenseman Simon Edvinsson (restricted free agent) is still without a contract and returned home to Sweden, leaving a big hole on the blueline. Last season, Edvinsson played alongside Moritz Seider on the Wings’ top blueline pair as well and was a key member of the Wings’ penalty kill.
The Rangers are coming off a 5-1 win over Tampa last night that saw goalie Igor Shesterkin score his first career goal. With this being the back end of a back-to-back and the third game in four nights, look for Dylan Garand to get the start between the pipes for New York as Joonas Korpisalo was put on injured reserve because of an injury suffered in the preseason.
I am going to stay away from the side and total in this game and instead will focus on some player props. Rangers’ defenseman Adam Fox is coming off a two-assist night last night against Tampa and has 16 assists in 17 games versus Detroit that include three multi-assist games. New York’s new $11 million man, Pavel Dorofeyev, scored his first goal as a Ranger last night and leads the team with 10 shots on goal. Until the “books” adjust his Over 2.5 shots on goal prop, I will grab the “plus money” that is still available. Lastly, Mika Zibanejad, who led the Rangers last season by opening the scoring for New York 15 times, got the Rangers on the board first last night. A couple of Red Wings player props for me. Andrew Copp centers Detroit’s top line and top power play. I will split a unit on his point prop and power play point prop. Finally, defenseman Moritz Seider, who led the Wings in time on ice last season (25:40) will be relied upon even more with his partner Simon Edvinsson still unsigned. Give me his over 2.5 shots on goal.
NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Moritz Seider Over 2.5 shots on goal (+128) – 1 unit
Andrew Copp Over ½ point (-105) – ¾ unit
Andrew Copp Over ½ power play point (+380) – ¼ unit
Adam Fox Over ½ assist (-110) – ¾ unit
Adam Fox 2+ assists (+540) – ¼ unit
Pavel Dorofeyev Over 2.5 shots on goal (+100) – 1 unit
Mika Zibanejad 1st Rangers goal (+650) – ¼ unit
Mika Zibanejad anytime goal (+210) – ¼ unit
Washington Capitals at Carolina Hurricanes
Washington (+120) at Carolina (-145) – Total 6 (Over, -120)
7 p.m. ET
This is the game of the night as the Washington Capitals are the one team I believe can challenge the Hurricanes for the top spot in the Metropolitan Division. The Caps have become one of the deepest teams in the league with the additions of forwards Alex Tuch (acquired from Buffalo) and Jordan Kyrou (acquired from St. Louis), giving Washington three legit lines that can put the puck in the net.
Carolina is coming off a 1-0 overtime loss to kick off the season, and losing back-to-back games at home on the same homestand is something that rarely happens. Over the past four seasons, the Canes have lost consecutive games on the same homestand just three times. The Capitals took two of three games against Carolina last season, and I would like to grab the “plus money” with Washington tonight, but I am hesitant with the Hurricanes’ history of not losing back-to-back games on the same homestand.
On to the props. I expect the Canes to come out fast and jump on the Capitals. I like Carolina to score the first goal of the first period, and after putting up just 15 shots on goal in their loss to Florida, I expect the Canes to be more like the team that has finished in the top two in shots on goal in each of the last four seasons (32 shots). With that, give me Logan Thompson Over 26.5 saves. I am always one who likes his shots on goal props, and here is a staggering number when it comes to Alexander Ovechkin. Ov has 449 career shots on goal (96 games) versus the Canes. Next up on Washington is Boone Jenner with 85. The “Great 8” has had three shots on goal or more in six of his last seven and 12 of his last 16 games against Carolina. Lastly, give me Alex Tuch for a point. Tuch has points in five of his last six and nine of his last 11 against Carolina.
NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Carolina Hurricanes 1st goal/1st period (+110) – ½ unit
Logan Thompson Over 26.5 saves (-130) – ½ unit
Alex Ovechkin Over 2.5 shots on goal (+100) – 1 unit
Alex Tuch over ½ point (+115) – ½ unit
Best of the Rest:
J.J. Peterka (Boston) +260 anytime goal, +196 assist (1/4 unit each)
David Pastrnak (Boston) Over 3.5 shots on goal +104 – 1 unit
Vegas Golden Knights Team Total Over 3.5 (-134) – 2 units
Vegas/Anaheim Over 6.5 (-122) – 1 unit
Mitch Marner (Vegas) Over 1.5 points (+230) – ½ unit
Tomas Hertl (Vegas) anytime goal (+230) – ¼ unit
Trevor Connelly (Vegas) anytime goal (+400) – ¼ unit
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