NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Here are tonight’s NHL predictions and best bets.
Philadelphia Flyers (+125) at Pittsburgh Penguins (-150)
Total 6 (Over, -115)
Game 2 – 7 p.m.
Philadelphia Flyers lead series 1-0
The Flyers stole home ice advantage in this opening round series, winning game one on Saturday night in Pittsburgh, 3-2. The series is a contrast in styles between the Flyers’ tight checking game and the Penguins, who look to push the pace and are willing to trade chances. On Saturday, the Flyers were able to impose their will, as the two teams combined for just 37 shots on goal (Philadelphia with 20, Penguins with 17).
It was not the best night for Sidney Crosby, who took a pair of penalties, including one that saw him finish the game in the penalty box. I am anticipating a bounce-back night from Crosby, who has more points (15 goals, 36 points) versus the Flyers in the playoffs than any other player. I am also on Crosby Over 2.5 shots on goal (in regulation at Fan Duel). Crosby has had at least three shots on goal in 11 of his last 14 games versus the Flyers. I regrettably passed on Geno Malkin’s anytime goal in game one, but I will give it a shot tonight. Malkin’s goal in game one puts him one behind Crosby for the most playoff goals (14) by a current Pens player against the Flyers.
On the Flyers’ side, rookie Porter Martone looked like a seasoned veteran, scoring the eventual game-winning goal on Saturday. He now has 11 points in 10 NHL games (regular season and playoffs). Sean Couturier has had a solid playoff career versus the Penguins with eight goals in 11 games. Tyson Foerster had two shots on goal in game one and has had two goals or more in eight of the last 11 games versus the Penguins and 10 of his last 11 games overall.
NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Sidney Crosby anytime goal (+165) – .25
Geno Malkin anytime goal (+270) – .25
Rakell/Malkin point parlay (+121) – .25
Porter Martone anytime goal (+240) – .10
Porter Martone Over ½ assist (+250) – .10
Crosby Over 2.5 SOG/Foerster Over 1.5 SOG in regulation (+288) – 1 unit
Ottawa Senators (+125) at Carolina Hurricanes (-150)
Total 5.5 (Over, -135)
7:30 p.m. ET
Carolina Hurricanes lead series 1-0
It took just three seconds in game one for the tone to be set when captains Jordan Staal and Brady Tkachuk started chucking knuckles. For the game, Carolina outhit Ottawa 59-37, led by Andrei Svechnikov (8) and Jordan Martinook (7), who combined for 25% of the Canes hits.
Logan Stankoven came into the game on an eight-game points streak and opened the scoring for Carolina. Taylor Hall provided the insurance marker, and the much-maligned Freddie Andersen stopped all 22 shots and picked up his sixth career playoff shutout in the 2-0 Carolina win. Anderson came up huge on an Ottawa power play, turning back Brady Tkachuk and Drake Batherson on a shot that initially ruled a goal and then overturned by video review. Stankoven has gone Over 2.5 shots on goal in four of his last five games versus Ottawa. Jackson Blake has points in seven of his last eight games and four of his last six versus Ottawa
NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Logan Stankoven Over 2.5 SOG in regulation (+172) – .50
Jackson Blake over ½ point (+112) – .25
Andrei Svechnikov anytime goal (+195) – .10
No Goals 1st 5/Under 6.5 (+106) – 1 unit
Minnesota Wild (+110) at Dallas Stars (-135)
Total 5.5 (Over, -125)
Game 2 – 9:30 p.m. ET
Minnesota Wild leads series 1-0
The Stars have now dropped nine of their last 11 game one’s but have rebounded in game twos of a series. The Stars have been tied after two games in the playoffs in eight of their last ten series, and in six of the eight, they lost game one. I will take a shot with Dallas tonight, though I am more invested in player props.
The Wild’s Kirill Kaprizov, who scored in game one, now has 10 goals in the games he has faced Stars goalie Jake Oettinger. Minnesota’s Mats Zuccarello has an assist in six of his last seven games overall and five of the last seven versus Dallas. On the Stars’ side, Jason Robertson has 15 goals in 20 games against the Wild.
NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Mats Zuccarello Over ½ assist (+125) – 1 unit
Jason Robertson anytime goal (+125) – 1 unit
Kirill Kaprizov anytime goal (+145) – 1 unit
Dallas Stars ML (-135) – .50 units
