NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Here are today’s NHL predictions and best bets.
New Jersey Devils (-130, 6) at Columbus Blue Jackets
7 p.m. ET
The Devils are coming off a 5-3 win at Tampa, rebounding after a 6-3 loss to Carolina in their first game of the season. They now face a Blue Jackets team against whom they have won five of six and eight of 10. Columbus is coming off a 7-4 thumping of the Minnesota Wild on Saturday behind a hat trick from Kirill Marchenko.
The goaltending matchup will see the Jackets turn to Jet Greaves, and the Devils giving Jake Allen his first start of the season. Allen has five wins out of 10 starts in his career versus Columbus (5-2-1), while Greaves gave up two goals in his only start against the Devils. Allen gave up three or more goals in four of his last five starts to close out last season. The Jackets’ 161 goals at home (average 3.92) last season were number one in the NHL. If you have BETMGM available, you can get a “flat 3” on the Columbus team total.
NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Columbus Blue Jackets Team Total Over 3 (-120) – .50 units
Florida Panthers (-145, 5.5) at Philadelphia Flyers
7 p.m. ET
There is no Stanley Cup “hangover” with the Panthers having won back-to-back titles. Florida has outscored their opponents 11-5, with their most recent win, a dominating 6-2 victory over the Ottawa Senators. They now begin the first of five games on the road. The Flyers are coming off a pair of one-goal losses to start the season, including a 2-1 setback at the hands of these same Florida Panthers just four days ago.
The Panthers have won four of the last five meetings between the two teams, with two of the victories being by one goal and a two-goal loss to Florida, with the final goal going into an empty net. Daniil Tarasov, who the Panthers acquired from Columbus in the offseason, will make his Panthers debut in goal. That should be music to the ears of the Flyers’ Travis Konecny. He has four goals in three games versus Tarasov and Owen Tippett, who has beaten the Panthers netminder twice in his previous three appearances.
Dan Vladar gets the call for the Flyers. Though he has just one win in three starts against the Panthers in his career, his numbers are quite good. Vladar has a 2.35 goals against average and a .936 save percentage versus the “Cats.” If the Flyers can generate any offense today, Vladar should give them a good chance to come away with a victory. This will be Philly’s home opener. They are 32-17-7 lifetime in their first home game of the season.
NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Philadelphia Flyers ML (+130) – .50 units
Travis Konecny anytime goal +230 – .10 units
Owen Tippett anytime goal +290 – .10 units
St. Louis Blues at Vancouver Canucks
7:30 p.m. ET
The Blues bounced back from a 5-0 blanking on home ice by doubling up the Calgary Flames on Saturday, 4-2, to even their record at (1-1). The Canucks have also split their first two games of the season, taking advantage of a Calgary team on the second half of a back-to-back by knocking off the Flames, 5-1. They were then thoroughly dominated by the Oilers on Saturday in a 3-1 loss. Vancouver had just nine shots on goal through two periods and finished with 15 for the game. If not for the stellar play of Canucks goalie Thatcher Demko, it would have been a lopsided affair on the scoresheet as well.
The Blues have owned this matchup of late, winning three of the last four and seven of the last 10 meetings. The last four games have gone Over the full game total. I will wait for starting goalies to be announced before I post any player props, so keep an eye out on my “X” feed, @westcoasthky.
NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
St. Louis Blues ML (+105) – .50 units
St. Louis Blues/ Vancouver Canucks Over 5.5 (-115) – .50 units
