NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Here are today’s NHL predictions and best bets.
Nashville Predators (5-8-4) at NY Rangers (7-7-2)
Betting Line: Rangers (-175, 5.5)
7 p.m. ET
The Rangers are looking to avoid losing their eighth consecutive home game to start a season, which would match their longest futility streak in team history. New York has been blanked an incredible five times at home and hopes the return of Vincent Trochek to the lineup will help bolster the anemic offense. The Blueshirts have scored just six goals at home (last in the league) in seven games, while their 29 goals on the road are sixth best in the NHL.
Tonight has the potential for the Rangers to break out, as Nashville ranks 29th in goals allowed. The goaltending matchup has Juuse Saros for the Preds and Igor Shesterkin for the Rangers. If I was to play “a side,” it would have to be Nashville strictly because the Rangers should not be this big of a favorite. I am tempted to play the Rangers team total, Over 3 (-155) available at BetMGM, but that is still too big a price. I will wait and hope we don’t get an early Rangers goal and try to get their team total at (-140) or better.
There are some player props that are on my card for tonight. Nashville’s Jonathan Marchessault has torched Rangers goalie, Igor Shesterkin, scoring five goals in four games on just 10 shots against the netminder. Ryan O’Reilly has five goals in six games on 15 shots against Shesterkin. One shots on goal prop. The Predators, Luke Evangelista has had two or more shots on goal in four of his last five games and seven of 10. We are still getting great value on forward Matthew Wood, who is on the Preds top power play.
On the Rangers’ side, I expect Vincent Trocheck to be firing away in his first game back. I am on both his shots on goal prop (Over 2.5) and I like him for an assist (+148). New York recalled Gabe Perreault from their top minor league team, and he will play on the top line with JT Miller and Mika Zibanejad. I don’t see an assist or point prop available but will grab his goal prop. Will Cuylle has cashed his shots on goal prop (2.5) in back-to-back games and four of the last 5.
NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Jonathan Marchessault anytime goal (+330) – .15 units
Ryan O’Reilly anytime goal (+320) – .15 units
Matthew Wood anytime goal (+460) – .15 units
Luke Evangelista Over 1.5 shots on goal (-155) – .30 units
Vincent Trocheck Over ½ assist (+148) – .15 units
Vincent Trocheck Over 2.5 shots on goal (+108) – .30 units
Will Cuylle Over 2.5 shots on goal (+122) – .30 units
NY Islanders (7-6-2) at New Jersey Devils (11-4-0)
Betting Line: Devils (-150, 6)
7 p.m. ET
Unlike the New York Rangers, who have lost all seven home games, the New Jersey Devils have won all seven on home ice. Jacob Markstrom gets the start tonight for New Jersey and is 3-2 on the season, but most importantly from a betting perspective, he has given up three goals or more in four of his five starts and six or more in two of the games. With that, the Islanders team total Over 3 (at BETMGM) is on my bingo card.
As well, this being an Islanders game, I am on the full game Over. Eleven of their 15 games this season have had a combined seven or more goals, and a twelfth had six goals. The Isles’ Bo Horvat is riding a five-game point streak and has three goals in his last four games against New Jersey. He has also cashed his shots on goal prop in three straight and four of the last five games. Teammate Kyle Palmieri has also had at least three shots on goal in three straight. One longshot for a goal prop from the Islanders is Tony DeAngelo. He has 17 points in 18 games (6 goals) against the Devils. I can’t find a point or assist prop, so I will go with the goal prop.
The Devils’ Jack Hughes’ eyes must explode when he faces the Islanders. Hughes has 18 goals in 19 games versus the Islanders and 10 goals in 13 games when facing Ilya Sorokin.
NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Islanders/Devils Over 6 (-120) – 1 unit
Islanders Team Total Over 3 (+105) – 1 unit
Jack Hughes anytime goal (+120) – .10 units
Stefan Noesen anytime goal (+390) – .10 units
Bo Horvat anytime goal (+170) – .10 units
Bo Horvat Over 2.5 shots on goal (-155) – .10 units
Kyle Palmieri Over 2.5 shots on goal (+120) – .10 units
Tony DeAngelo anytime goal (+800) – .10 units
Matthew Schaefer assist/Kyle Palmieri point (+246) – .10 units
Florida Panthers (7-7-1) at Vegas Golden Knights (7-3-4)
Betting Line: Vegas (-140, 6)
10 p.m. ET
The NHL is saving the best for last with the Panthers and Golden Knights as the final game on the Monday slate. Brad Marchand picked up the slack and then some with the absence of both Sasha Barkov and Matthew Tkachuk from the lineup due to injuries. Martchand has goals in four consecutive games (five total) and points in seven straight (seven goals, three assists). The ageless wonder leads the team in goals (10) and points (16). His linemate, Eetu “Cool Mint” Luostarinen is also riding a four-game points streak (one goal and four assists). Sam Reinhart has four goals in four games versus Vegas goalie. Akira Schmid.
For the Golden Knights, Mitch Marner is off to a great start in Vegas with four goals (all at home) and 18 points (second to Eichel with 22). He has 14 goals in 31 games against the Panthers in his career and half of his goals against Florida have come against Sergei Bobrovsky. Noah Hanifin has had an assist in each of the last two games and has cashed his shots on goal prop in three of the last four games. He was held to one shot against Anaheim on Saturday, but he did have five in total directed at the net. As with all Vegas games, the first period Over 1.5 goals are always in play. Knights’ games have featured at least two goals in the opening 20 minutes in 10 of 14 games. Panthers’ games have cashed twice in the first three games of their current road trip after the previous nine games fell below the total (1.5).
NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Florida Panthers/Vegas Golden Knights 1st period Over 1.5 (-128) – 1.25 units
Brad Marchand anytime goal (+210) – .15 units
Sam Reinhart anytime goal (+175) – .15 units
Eetu Luostarinen Over ½ point (+162) – .15 units
Mitch Marner anytime goal (+220) – .15 units
Noah Hanifin Over 1.5 shots on goal (-144) – .75 units
Noah Hanifin Over 2.5 shots on goal (+220) – .25 units
Shea Theodore assist/Ivan Barbashev point (+244) – .10 units
