NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Here are today’s NHL predictions and best bets.
San Jose Sharks at New Jersey Devils (-375, 6.5)
7 p.m. ET
The “red hot” San Jose Sharks are fresh off their first win of the season (1-4-2). Last night, they defeated the Rangers 6-5 in overtime at MSG. Tonight, they will look to make it two in a row against a Devils team that they have defeated in three of the last four meetings. But San Jose will be facing a Devils team that owns the league’s longest current win streak (six) and sits tied for second overall in the standings.
New Jersey will have to contend with two of the Sharks and games’ brightest stars in Macklin Celebrini (1st overall 2024) and Will Smith (4th overall 2023). Celebrini is coming off a five-point night against the Rangers (3 goals, 2 assists). Smith was no slouch either with two goals and two assists. Celebrini leads the team in goals (five), points (11) and is tied with Smith in assists (six). Smith is second on the team in scoring, with eight points. We are also going to throw in a fun prop bet tonight for the hell of it, and if it doesn’t cash, blame @Covers_Josh because he is the one who turned me on to this play. We are going with a Will Smith goal and Will Smith (LA Dodgers) to hit a home run parlay tonight.
When most people are asked about the Devils, Jack Hughes is usually the first name mentioned, but if you don’t follow them closely, you may not know about Jesper Bratt. Bratt led the Devils in scoring the past two seasons and once again finds himself atop the Devils’ points lead with 11. He is the only Devil to register a point in all seven games (four goals, seven assists) this season. Back to Jack Hughes. As long as he stays healthy, the Devils (who I picked to miss the playoffs) have a shot to make a long playoff run. Hughes leads the Devils with six goals. Former Shark Timo Meier has yet to score against his former team in the four games he has faced them.
NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Will Smith Over ½ point (+112) – .20 units
Will Smith anytime goal/Will Smith LA Dodgers to hit a home run (+3158) – .10 units
San Jose Sharks ML +300 – .15 units
San Jose Sharks +1.5 goals (+118) – .10 units
Washington Capitals (-120, 6.5) at Columbus Blue Jackets
7 p.m. ET
The Capitals have won five of six since losing on opening night to Boston and face a Jackets team that is coming off back-to-back wins over Tampa and Dallas. Dylan Strome (two goals, seven assists), Tom Wilson (three goals, five assists) and John Carlson (one goal, three assists) are all on four-game point streaks for the Caps. Alexander Ovechkin has just one goal through the first seven games of the season and is two goals shy of 900. Ovi scored a goal in the one game he faced Jackets’ starting goalie Jet Greaves.
For Columbus, Kent Johnson has goals in back-to-back games, Kirill Marchenko has five goals and seven points and is on a five-game point streak, Adam Fantilli has four goals in seven games against the Capitals, and Cole Sillinger has three goals in the four games against Logan Thompson.
NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Cole Sillinger anytime goal (+450) – .10 units
Alexander Ovechkin anytime goal (+140) – .10 units
Adam Fantilli anytime goal (+260) – .10 units
Kent Johnson Over ½ point (+100) – .20 units
Dylan Strome assist/John Carlson point (+179) – .25 units
Tom Wilson assist (+124) – .10 units
Toronto Maple Leafs (-130, 6.5) at Buffalo Sabres
7 p.m. ET
Tonight is the front end of a back-to-back with the Leafs and the Sabres. Toronto fans normally fill the arena in Buffalo, making this more of a Leafs home game. But much of their attention will be on the Blue Jays, with Game One of the World Series beginning tonight between the Blue Jays and the Dodgers.
Buffalo has turned things around after losing their first three games to start the season. The Sabres have won three of their last four games with wins over Florida, Detroit and Ottawa sandwiched around a loss to the Montreal Canadiens. The Maple Leafs are coming off back-to-back losses to Seattle and New Jersey and have given up nine goals in their last two games. Leafs head coach Craig Berube juggled his lines and, in a move to get his captain Auston Matthews going, he moved William Nylander and Bobby McMann to the top line and slid Matthew Knies down to the second line alongside John Tavares. Tavares is two goals shy of 500 for his career and has three goals in the past two games. Auston Matthews has 21 goals in 29 games against the Sabres. William Nylander is riding hot with a four-game assist streak (eight total).
The Sabres’ Jack Quinn has a goal and three assists on his two-game point streak. He has five goals in eight games against the Maple Leafs.
NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Auston Matthews goal/William Nylander assist (+155) – .10 units
William Nylander goal/Auston Matthews assist (+243) – .10 units
Bobby McMann goal (+275) – .10 units
Bobby McMann assist (+220) – .10 units
John Tavares goal (+210) – .10 units
John Tavares 2 goals (+1500) – .10 units
Jack Quinn anytime goal (+440) – .10 units
