NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Here are today’s NHL predictions and best bets.
Columbus Blue Jackets (16-15-6) at Ottawa Senators (18-14-5)
Blue Jackets (+180) at Senators (-220) – Total 6.5 (-110)
7 p.m. ET
The Columbus Blue Jackets come into Ottawa on a two-game winning streak and will look for their first three-game winning streak since winning four in a row at the end of October. The Blue Jackets have been dominant this season as the betting favorite (9-1) but have struggled as an underdog (7-19).
Tonight is the second half of a back-to-back for the Jackets. With Jet Greaves starting yesterday for Columbus, Elvis Merzlikins is expected to get the start against Ottawa. Merzlikins has been auto bet against in his recent starts, losing six of eight and giving up four or more goals in seven of his last eight games.
At the other end of the ice, the Senators will be turning to Leevi Merilainen for the foreseeable future with the news that goalie Linus Ullmark has taken a leave of absence from the team. Merilainen has just four wins in 10 games this season for Ottawa. I don’t trust either goalie enough to play a “side,” but I will be all over the Ottawa Team Total (Over 3.5). I do believe there will be a lot of goals tonight, and I will be on a slew of player props.
On the Columbus side, Mason Marchment has been a great fit on the Jackets’ top line alongside Adam Fantilli and Kirill Marchenko. Marchment has points in all three games since joining Columbus, Marchenko has goals in back-to-back games, and Fantilli has points in back-to-back and earned an assist in the lone meeting this season against Ottawa.
Boone Jenner has scored goals in six of his last eight games (one this season) versus Ottawa. One other Jackets prop that I will grab is defenseman Denton Mateychuk for an assist and a goal. With Zach Werenski still out, Mateychuk is taking his minutes on the top ‘D pair” and number one power play unit. I haven’t found a sportsbook that offers a point prop for Mateychuk, but if it does become available, I will grab it.
Finally, Columbus has scored a first period goal in seven consecutive games and 11 of the last 12 games. The Sens have given up a goal in the opening 20 minutes in each of their last three games and seven of their last 12.
Ottawa’s Tim Stutzle continues to light up the opposition and is riding a nine-game point streak and a four-game goal streak. Stutzle scored twice in the only meeting between the two teams this season, and that was with Elvis between the pipes. Thomas Chabot has an assist in five straight games against the Jackets.
Note: Late news out of Columbus. The Jackets’ team plane had mechanical issues, delaying the team’s departure to Ottawa. Columbus tentative arrival time in Ottawa is 3 p.m. Start time could be delayed.
NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Columbus Blue Jackets to score a 1st period goal (-144) – .50 unit
Fantilli/Marchenko/Marchment point parlay (+316) – .25 units
Boone Jenner anytime goal (+360) – .10 units
Kirill Marchenko anytime goal (+230) – .10 units
Denton Mateychuk anytime goal (+800) – .05 units
Denton Mateychuk Over ½ assist (+195) – .15 units
Tim Stutzle anytime goal (+160) – .20 units
Thomas Chabot Over ½ assist (+155) – .10 units
Claude Giroux Over ½ point (+115) – .20 units
Ottawa Senators Team Total Over 3.5 (-132) – 2 units
Washington Capitals (20-13-5) at Florida Panthers (20-15-2)
Capitals (+110) at Panthers (-130) – Total 5.5 (Over, -130)
7 p.m. ET
The Capitals come into this game having lost three of their past four games. Washington coach Spencer Carbery indicated this morning that he will be shaking up his line combinations, but he is not taking anyone out of the lineup. Washington has dropped seven of their last 10 and have lost their last three games following a win. The Caps have won three of the last four meetings against Florida, but the Panthers have won seven of the last 10, including the most recent matchup on November 13 in Florida, 6-3.
Seven of the last nine meetings have had a combined six or more goals, and five of the nine have had seven goals or more. With a total of five and half, I must go Over the total. The Panthers have scored four or more goals in six of the seven wins over Washington and have scored at least four goals in 14 of their 20 wins this season.
Brad Marchand has points in seven straight, Sam Reinhart has points in four straight and 11 of 14. He has four goals in six games against Logan Thompson. Sam Bennett has points in five straight and nine of 11, as well as scoring four goals in six games against Thompson. The Caps’ Aliaksei Protas has goals in back-to-back and four of the last five games.
NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Florida Panthers Team Total Over 3 (-120) – 1 unit
Panthers/Capitals Over 5.5 (-125) – 1 unit
Sam Bennett anytime goal (+175) – .10 units
Sam Reinhart anytime goal (+170) – .10 units
Marchand/Reinhart/Bennett point parlay (+167) – .50 units
Aliaksei Protas anytime goal (+390) – .10 units
Aliaksei Protas Over ½ assist (+280) – .10 units
Edmonton Oilers (19-14-6) at Winnipeg Jets (15-17-4)
Oilers (-130) at Jets (+110) – Total 6 (Over, -130)
7:30 p.m. ET
Despite their loss to the Flames on Saturday, the Oilers appear to have turned things around. Edmonton has won six of their last nine games. Tonight, they will go up against a Jets team that has lost five straight, including a 4-3 overtime loss on Saturday to Minnesota.
Tonight is the second of three meetings between the two teams, and unlike the first meeting in Edmonton, the Jets are not on the second half of a back-to-back and will have their number one goalie, Connor Hellebuyck, between the pipes. In the first meeting, Edmonton scored four first period goals on 12 shots, knocking goalie Eric Comrie out of the game.
My concern in backing Edmonton as a road favorite tonight is my lack of faith in Calvin Pickard, who has lost four of his last five decisions, and the fact that Edmonton has nine wins in 23 road games this season. The Oilers are just (7-9) in the role as a road betting favorite, but they have covered the Puck Line (-1.5 goals) in five of the seven wins.
Since backstopping the Jets to victory over the Capitals in his return from injury, Connor Hellebuyck has lost five straight and has started all six Winnipeg games upon his return to the lineup. Winnipeg is (1-4) as a home underdog this season. There have been seven combined goals or more in each of the four losses, with Hellebuyck and Comrie each owning two of the losses.
For those of you who like to wager on the correct score, three of the four games ended 4-3, and the other game finished 5-4. With all of that, the Over 6 (available at BetMGM) is on my card for tonight. I was considering playing team totals for both Edmonton (3.5 is at plus money) and Winnipeg (3 is at plus money), but I felt the full game Over was the better option.
Let’s discuss player props and where there is value. Connor McDavid has recorded at least three shots on goal in seven consecutive games, and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins has had at least two shots on goal in six straight. Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck has cashed his saves prop Over 22.5 in four of his six starts since returning to the lineup. Leon Draisaitl has 21 goals in 29 games against Hellebuyck.
NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Connor McDavid Over 2.5 SOG/Nugent-Hopkins Over 1.5 SOG (+146) – .75 units
Edmonton/Winnipeg Over 6 (-130) – 1.5 units
Connor Hellebuyck Over 22.5 saves (-130) – .25 units
Leon Draisaitl anytime goal (+140) – .15 units
