NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Here are today’s NHL predictions and best bets.
Montreal Canadiens (31-17-7) at Minnesota Wild (32-14-10)
Canadiens (+120) at Wild (-140) – Total 6.5 (-110)
7:30 p.m. ET
The Minnesota Wild continues to be an Over machine. The Wild are on a 16-2 run to the full game Over and have cashed the first period Over in nine straight and 11 of their last 12 games. For their part, the Canadiens have had a combined two goals or more in the opening 20 minutes in seven of the last 10 games. The other major storyline in this game for me is the Canadiens Cole “Goal” Caufield. Left off the US Olympic team by Minnesota Wild and Team USA General Manager, Bill Guerin, Caufield has 11 goals in his last eight games, including the game-winner with 15 seconds left in regulation when these teams met two weeks ago in Montreal.
The Canadiens’ win on January 20 was just their second over Minnesota in their last 20 meetings and snapped a 9-game losing streak against the Wild. There is value with the Canadiens as (+120) road favorite. As I do see this game as a “coin flip,” by far the best play in this game is the full game going Over the total (6.5).
I am always on the hunt for “plus money” props, and with the anticipation of lots of goals in this game, I am going to parlay, Caufield, Nick Suzuki (points in seven of the last eight games), the Wild’s Matt Boldy (points in five straight, seven of eight) and Quinn Hughes (points in eight straight).
NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Wild/Canadiens Over 6.5 (-110) – 3 units
Caufield/Suzuki/Hughes/Boldy Over ½ point (+240) – 1 unit
Wild/Canadiens 1st period Over 1.5 (-134) – 1 unit
Cole Caufield anytime goal (+145) – .25 units
Kirill Kaprizov Over ½ PP point (+140) – .10 units
Quinn Hughes Over ½ PP point (+140) – .10 units
St. Louis Blues (20-26-9) at Nashville Predators (25-23-6)
Blues (+125) at Predators (-150) – Total 5.5 (Over, -125)
8 p.m. ET
Tonight will be the fourth and final meeting between these Central Division rivals this season, with Nashville winning two of the three. The first period Over 1.5 goals has cashed in all three games this season between the two teams. Nashville has gone Over the 1st period total of 1.5 in five of their last seven games. The Blues are on a 13-5 run to the first period Over (1.5).
Steven Stamkos and Filip Forsberg have each scored four goals versus the Blues in the three games. Forsberg has also scored goals (three) in back-to-back games. Michael Bunting has six goals in 12 career games against the Blues and scored in two of the three meetings this season (one against each Hofer and Binnington).
The Predators’ Nick Perbix has seven points in eight games vs. St. Louis. He has points (both assists) in two of the three games this season. For those of you in Canada who have access to the Betano Sportsbook, his points and assist prop is available, his goal prop is widely available (+1200 at BetRivers is the best price).
Nashville’s last seven wins against the Blues have been by three goals or more. I am on Nashville to win this game tonight. Instead of laying the (-150) on the money line, I will play the Preds on the Puck Line (-1.5) as well as their team total Over 3. Nashville has scored four goals or more in 18 of their 25 wins, and the Blues have given up four goals or more in 26 of their 35 losses. Earlier on Monday, Nashville General Manager Barry Trotz announced he will step down from his post but will remain in his role until a successor is found.
NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Nashville Team Total Over 3 (-135) – 1.5 units
Nashville -1.5 goals (+175) – .50 units
Nashville -2.5 goals (+290) – .05 units
Filip Forsberg anytime goal (+150) – .20 units
Michael Bunting anytime goal (+340) – .10 unit
Steven Stamkos anytime goal (+180) – .10 units
Nick Perbix anytime goal (+1200) – .05
Nick Perbix Over ½ point (+410) – .10
Nick Perbix Over ½ assist (+520) – .10
Winnipeg Jets (22-25-7) at Dallas Stars (32-14-9)
Jets (+145) at Stars (-170) – Total 5.5 (Over, -120)
8:30 p.m. ET
I am going to be very cautious with the Dallas Stars with just two remaining games heading into the Olympic break. Dallas has seven players representing four different countries that will be playing in the Olympics (Jake Oettinger, Miro Heiskanen, Mikko Rantanen, Roope Hintz, Esa Lindell, and Radek Faksa), and the combination of not wanting to get injured and having a playoff spot pretty much secured, I don’t see maximum effort from the Stars. Dallas is also coming off a three-game road trip where they gutted out wins over St. Louis, Vegas and Utah, and fatigue is also a concern for me as it pertains to the Stars. Winnipeg, on the other hand, needs and wants this game more than the Stars in my opinion. Saying that, I don’t trust the Jets for the full game, but I am willing to give them a shot to win the first period. I also see this game having the chance to get to overtime.
NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Winnipeg Jets 1st period Money Line (+118) – .25 units
Regulation Draw (+310) – .05 units
Toronto Maple Leafs (25-21-9) at Calgary Flames (22-26-6)
Maple Leafs (-120) at Flames (+100) – Total 6 (Over, -130)
10 p.m. ET
I know the Maple Leafs have won their last seven trips to Calgary, but these are not your daddy’s Maple Leafs. The Leafs barely defeated the hapless Vancouver Canucks on Saturday, winning 3-2 in a shootout to snap a six-game losing streak. Stick a fork in the Leafs. They are done; they are not making the playoffs this season, and as Sportsnet Hockey Insider Elliotte Friedman mentioned on Hockey Night in Canada, they are “sellers” as the trade deadline approaches.
While Calgary is not playoff-bound either and fits into the “seller” category, this is a team that brings a lunch-pail attitude to every game. I look for Calgary to get off to a fast start. I like them to win the first period as well as the game. Calgary is 5-0-3 after the opening 20 in their last eight games, and the Maple Leafs are 0-4-4 in their last eight overall and 1-5-2 in their last eight road games through the first 20 minutes. The Flames’ Morgan Frost has scored the Flames’ first goal in three of the past four games and scored the Flames’ first goal in the lone meeting versus Toronto earlier this season.
Of Calgary’s 22 wins this season, they have held the opposition to two goals or less 18 times. Former Maple Leaf Nazem Kadri has scored points in five of his last seven games against Toronto. Kadri also has three shots on goal or more in three of the last four games versus Toronto and back-to-back home games. Jonathan Huberdeau has points in five straight games against the Maple Leafs. One Maple Leafs player that I will invest in tonight is William Nylander. Born in Calgary and the son of former NHLer, Michael Nylander, he has enjoyed success against his “hometown” team. Nylander has had at least four shots on goal in five of the last seven games versus the Flames. He has 12 goals in 25 career games against Calgary. I will add the Over Saves prop to whichever goalie starts for Toronto. The Flames are a high-volume shooting team (ninth overall), and the Leafs allow the most shots on goal per game (31.9).
NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Calgary Flames 1st period money line (-110) – .50
Calgary Flames money line (full game) (+102) – .50
Toronto Maple Leafs team total Under 3 (+104) – .25
Morgan Frost 1st Flames goal (+1100) – .05
Morgan Frost anytime goal (+380) – .15
William Nylander anytime goal (+195) – .10
Kadri/Nylander each Over 2.5 SOG (+219) – .25
Jonathan Huberdeau Over ½ point (+105) – .50
