NHL Predictions – Expert Picks on Saturday, December 28:
Here are tonight’s NHL predictions:
New York Rangers at Tampa Bay Lightning (-175, 6)
7 p.m. ET
The Rangers are an absolute mess. They have lost 13 of their last 17 games. They healthy scratched Chris Kreider in their final game before the Christmas break in a game they were embarrassed by the New Jersey Devils, 5-0. The Rangers have had a couple of days to heal their wounds and now face a Lightning team that has won seven of their last nine games. With the Rangers coming off being shut out our system plays are in effect: Goal in the first ten minutes and first period Over 1.5 goals. Adding to the goal in the first ten minutes prop is that 12 of the last 15 Rangers games have had a quick strike goal.
NHL Predictions: New York Rangers/Tampa Bay Lightning Goal 1st 10 mins (-160) – 1 unit
New York Rangers/Tampa Bay Lightning 1st period Over 1.5 (-135) – 1 unit
Tampa Bay Lightning -1.5 goals (+155) – 1 unit
Tampa Bay Lightning TT Over 3.5 (-110) – 1 unit
Columbus Blue Jackets at Boston Bruins (-205, 6)
7 p.m. ET
The Blue Jackets will look to make it three in a row over Boston this season as these two teams complete the second half of a home and home and back-to-back. The Jackets blasted Boston last night, 6-2, and they have now outscored the Bruins 11-3 in their two meetings. Columbus is 0-5 on the second half of back-to-backs this season and has scored two goals or less and given up four goals or more in each of the five losses. The Jackets are expected to start goalie Daniil Tarasov in this game. Tarasov has given up four or more goals in six of his nine starts. I am going back to the well with my Bruins props that I rode last night with Brad Marchand to record both a goal and an assist.Â
NHL Predictions: Brad Marchand anytime goal (+180) – ½ unit
Brad Marchand Over ½ assist (+120) – ½ unit
Elias Lindholm Over ½ point (-115) – ¾ unit
Elias Lindholm anytime goal (+280) – ¼ unit
Boston Bruins TT Over 3.5 (-125) – 1 unit
Columbus Blue Jackets TT Under 2.5 (-110) – 1 unit
New Jersey Devils at Carolina Hurricanes (-140, 6)
7 p.m. ET
It’s the back end of a home-and-home match between the New Jersey Devils and Carolina Hurricanes, with New Jersey winning 4-2 on Friday. All three meetings this season between the Devils and Canes have ended 4-2, with New Jersey winning two of the three meetings. Interestingly, both these teams are 1-4 on the second half of back-to-backs. Both teams are going with their backup goalies.
I am going to go back to the well with Jespar Bratt (four assists, three games vs. Carolina this season) and Jack Hughes (five assists vs Carolina this season) to record an assist. Being able to get both these players at plus money to record an assist is worth a shot.
NHL Predictions: Jack Hughes Over ½ assist (+110) – 1 unit
Jesper Bratt Over ½ assist (+105) – 1 uni
Luke Hughes Over ½ point (+160) – ½ unit
Pittsburgh Penguins at NY Islanders (-150, 5.5)
7:30 p.m. ET
Two teams that went into the Christmas break going in opposite directions will face off against each other on consecutive days. The visiting Penguins have won three of their last four and nine of their last 13 games, while the Islanders have dropped three of the last four and four of their last six games. New York has won three straight and seven of the last nine against the Penguins, including a 4-3 shootout win back in November. Five of the last six and seven of the last 10 contests have had a combined seven goals or more. Nine of the last 10 have had at least six combined goals. Shop around on the total. There are multiple spots that were offering Over 5.5.
The Pens have not embraced the role as a road underdog (4-10) or when playing games on the front end of a back-to-back with just one win in seven games in this spot.
Three of the last six meetings needed to be settled in extra time. Pittsburgh has gone to Overtime in three of their last five meetings.
NHL Predictions: Penguins/New York Islanders Over 5.5 (-135) – 2 units
Pittsburgh Penguins/New York Islanders Regulation Draw (+340) – ¼ unit
Calgary Flames (-165, 6) at San Jose Sharks
10 p.m. ET
The Sharks have lost six straight and nine of their last 10 after surrendering four third-period goals, including two shorthanded goals on the same power play in losing to the Vegas Golden Knights, 6-3. In five of their last six losses, the Sharks have had a lead in the final 20 minutes. Tonight could be the night the Sharks get back into the win column as they host the Calgary Flames, who have just four wins in 15 games on the road and are playing their first game in seven days. An early look at our VSIN Betting Splits page shows the Sharks are getting just 19% of the bets but 75% of the money. For me, if you are going to play a side in this game, it is Sharks or pass. Over six goals is a very strong play in this game, as eight of the last 10 Sharks home games have had seven or more combined goals, and all ten have had at least six goals. Flames road games have gone Over the total in four straight and five of the last six.
If you have been a frequent reader of the column, then you are likely familiar with me targeting Macklin Celebrini and his shots on goal prop following a game where he has had fewer than three shots on goal. In that next game, Celebrini had 5, 3, 4, 6, 6 and 5.
NHL Predictions: Calgary Flames/San Jose Sharks Over 6 (120) – 2 units
San Jose Sharks ML (+140) – ½ unit
Celebrini Over 2.5 SOG (-160) – 2 units
Celebrini Over 3.5 SOG (+143) – ½ unit
Celebrini Over 4.5 SOG (+301) – ¼ unit
Best of the Rest:
Seattle Kraken/Vancouver Canucks 1st period Over 1.5 (-120) – 1 unit
Seattle Kraken/Vancouver Canucks Over 5.5 (-135) – 1 unit
Anaheim Ducks ML (+124) – ½ unit
Flyers/Ducks Over 6 (-120) – ½ unit
Zach Hyman anytime goal (+190) – ¼ unit
