NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Here are tonight’s NHL predictions and best bets.
Vegas Golden Knights at Boston Bruins
Vegas (-115) at Boston (-105) – Total 6 (Over, -120)
7 p.m. ET
The Vegas Golden Knights come into Boston after losing four of their last five games, scoring two goals or fewer in each loss and giving up the first goal in all four. Now they take on a Bruins team that has won six of its seven home games, yet the Bruins are the betting underdog in most spots. I am going to pass on “the side” and instead play the Over 6 goals (-120). Vegas is 10-4-1 to the Over this season, and the two teams have combined for 7+ goals in four of their last five meetings (the other ended 5-1).
On to the player props. The Knights, Jack Eichel, a Massachusetts native, born just outside of Boston, loves playing the team he grew up watching. Eichel has had five consecutive two-point games, five consecutive games with a power play point and recorded 4+ shots on goal in five of his last six games against the B’s (4,9,0,5,4,5). Mark Stone has an assist (six) in four of his last five games versus Boston, and Mitch Marner is on fire, riding a nine-game points streak and points in 11 of his last 12 games. Defenseman Shea Theodore has had 3+ shots on goal in four of his last five games, and Stone has had 2+ shots on goal in seven of his last 10 games against the Bruins. Also going to take a shot on Boston native Noah Hanifan to find the scoresheet. Boston’s J.J. Peterka has had 2+ shots on goal in each of the Bruins’ last five games and eight of the last 10.
NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Over 6 (-120) – 1 unit
Eichel/Marner/Stone point parlay (+138) – 1 unit
Jack Eichel 3+ SOG (-135) – 1.5 units
Jack Eichel 4+ SOG (+185) – ½ unit
Peterka/ Stone/Theodore 2+ SOG each (+311) – ½ unit
Noah Hanifan 1+ assist (+270) – ¼ unit
Noah Hanifan anytime goal (+1300) – ¼ unit
Colorado Avalanche at Chicago Blackhawks
Colorado (-235) at Chicago (+190) – Total 6 (Over, -124)
8 p.m. ET
This is the front end of a back-to-back for Colorado, who play tomorrow night at Columbus. The Avs are 6-1-1 on home ice but 2-4-0 on the road. The Hawks have just one win in their past six games and are coming off a terrible 5-4 overtime loss to Boston on Saturday, blowing a 4-2 third-period lead and giving up the tying goal with less than a minute to play in regulation. Spencer Knight gets the start for the home team tonight, and while he has yet to defeat the Avs (0-3-1), he has a 1.75 goals against average and a .937 career save percentage.
Each of Colorado’s last five games have gone Over the posted total, but the series history has seen each of the last six meetings fall Under the total. One Colorado player that appears to have solved Knight is Cale Makar, who has scored three goals on 10 shots vs. the Hawks netminder. Avalanche forward Artturi Lehkonen remains hot, riding a nine-game points streak (nine goals, four assists). He has also had 2+ shots on goal in 10 consecutive games against the Hawks and six of seven overall.
NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Artturi Lehkonen 1+ point (-120) – 1 unit
Cale Makar anytime goal (+330) – ¼ unit
Nathan MacKinnon 3+ shots/Makar and Lehkonen 2+ shots each (+144) – 2 units
Spencer Knight Over 28.5 saves (-119) – 1 unit
