NHL Predictions – Expert Picks on Monday, December 30:
Here are tonight’s NHL predictions:
NY Rangers at Florida Panthers (-220, 5.5)
7 p.m. ET
The Rangers are in a freefall, having lost three straight, six of seven, and 14 of their last 18 games. They have just three wins in 11 games since trading their captain, Jacob Trouba. When these two teams met back in October at MSG, the Rangers were a (-155) home favorite. Tonight, they are a (-220) road underdog. Now the Blueshirts must face what is likely an angry Florida Panthers team that has been blanked in back-to-back games. The last time Florida was shut out in consecutive games, they beat the Edmonton Oilers, 6-5.
With the Panthers again coming off a shutout, our system plays are in effect: a goal in the first ten minutes, first period Over 1.5, and we will jump on the full game Over 5.5 (Draft Kings). Before their game in October (3-1 Florida), they played 19 consecutive games going Over the total. Also, courtesy of my good friend, @PsuOtto, the Rangers are on a 13-3 run for a goal in the first 10 minutes of their games.
NHL Predictions: Rangers/Panthers Goal 1st 10 (-154) – 1 unit.
Rangers/Panthers 1st period Over 1.5 (-130) – 1 unit
Rangers/Panthers Over 5.5 (-135) – 1 unit
Sam Reinhart anytime goal (+130) – ¼ unit
Carter Verhaeghe anytime goal (+195) – ¼ unit
Nashville Predators at Winnipeg Jets (-120, 5.5)
7:30 p.m. ET
This game opened with the Jets as a (-170) home favorite, and the line has moved in favor of the Predators as the Jets are now a (-120) favorite. Why the big line move? It indicates to me that Eric Comrie is getting the start for the Jets tonight. Comrie faced Nashville in the lone meeting of the season back in November, a 4-1 Preds win. In Comrie’s eight starts, he has given up three goals or more seven times. The Predators have scored three or more goals in four straight and six of their last eight games.
Both Nashville and Winnipeg are on the front end of a back-to-back. The Jets are 3-0 on the front end. The Preds are 1-4 on the front end of back-to-backs. Interestingly, all five Nashville games on the front end have finished with a 3-2 score. The Predators have had 10 games this season with a 3-2 final.
The Predators top line of Jonathan Marchessault, Steven Stamkos and Filip Forsberg all got on the scoresheet in the first meeting. Stamkos and Marchesseault both had goals, while Forsberg had an assist. Marchessault has 11 goals in 20 career games versus the Jets and Stamkos has 33 goals in 45 games against Winnipeg. Forsberg has had an assist in six of his last seven games overall.
NHL Predictions: Nashville TT over 2.5 (-155) – 2 units
Steven Stamkos anytime goal (+235) – ¼ unit
Jonathan Marchessault anytime goal (+195) – ¼ unit
Filip Forsberg Over ½ assist (+160) – ¼ unit
Correct Score: Nashville 3-2 (+950) – ¼ unit
Utah HC (-155, 6) at Seattle
5 p.m. ET
This game opened at (-110) both ways. Bettors are all over the Utah HC, driving this line up to (-155) for the road team. Even with Seattle starting goalie, Joey Daccord unavailable for this game, it’s just too steep a price for me to advise playing Utah. I would have played Utah up to (-130) as they have won four of five games as the road betting favorite. The Kraken are coming off a thrilling 5-4 OT win on Saturday against the Vancouver Canucks. The Kraken scored three goals in the final five minutes to force the extra session, and then Vince Dunn scored the game-winner.
For me, the best way to approach this game is to play the Utah TT over 3.5 and to also look at the full game Over 6. Philipp Grubauer has given up four or more goals in three straight, four of five, and six of his last nine games. The last five games that he has been in goal have all had a combined six or more goals. Utah starting goalie Karel Vejmelka has a 3.57 lifetime GAA against the Kraken.
NHL Predictions: Utah HC TT over 3.5 (-105) – 1 unit
Utah HC/Seattle Over 6 (-120) – 1 unit
Vince Dunn Over ½ assist (+145) – ¼ unit
Logan Cooley anytime goal (+280) – ¼ unit
Dylan Guenther anytime goal (+195) – ¼ unit
Clayton Keller anytime goal (175) -1/4 unit
Jaden Schwartz anytime goal (+265) – ¼ unit
