NHL Predictions – Expert Picks on Monday, February 3:
Here are tonight’s NHL predictions:
Ottawa Senators at Nashville Predators (-135, 5.5)
7:30 p.m. ET
The Ottawa Senators will look to extend their winning streak to five games tonight when they visit Nashville in the lone game in the NHL. If recent history is any indication, this is a bad spot for Ottawa, who have lost nine of their last 10 games at Bridgestone Arena.
Nashville is coming off a 3-0 loss on Saturday at Pittsburgh, so they are in the system play (Goal 1st 10, 1st period Over 1.5). The Goal in the 1st 10 is at a 66% success rate despite its recent struggles of failing to cash in the last five situations. The first period, Over 1.5, is at 59% for the season.
Tonight, we have some conflicting numbers. Predators games have had a goal scored in the opening 10 minutes in nine consecutive games, while the Senators have had a goal scored in the opening 10 minutes in just two of their last 10 games. The first period Under 1.5 goals has cashed in nine of Ottawa’s last 11 games. For those who subscribe to “the system,” the system is the system, and we go with it regardless of any other statistical numbers. If the first period fails to go Over the 1.5 goals, then I will double down and play the second period Over 1.5. We have seen seven of the last nine games go Over 1.5 goals in the second period when the first period has less than two goals.
Some Nashville player props that intrigue me. Tommy Novak has four goals in his last six games, Michael McCarron has scored twice against Ottawa goalie Anton Forsberg in their only meeting and Jonathan Marchessault has 11 goals in 20 games against the Senators.
Ottawa’s Brady Tkachuk has had four or more shots on goal in seven of his last nine games.
NHL Predictions: Goal 1st 10/Yes (-140) – 1 unit
1st Period Over 1.5 (-120) – 1 unit
Brady Tkachuk Over 3.5 SOG (-122) – 1 unit
Michael McCarron anytime goal (+850) – ¼ unit
Tommy Novak anytime goal (+490) – ¼ unit
Jonathan Marchessault anytime goal (+200) – ¼ unit
