NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Here are today’s NHL predictions and best bets.
Montreal Canadiens (26-15-7) at Ottawa Senators (22-19-5)
Canadiens (+113) at Senators (-126) – Total 6.5 (Under, -115)
7 p.m. ET
Two teams that are struggling as of late meet tonight in Ottawa. The Canadiens have lost three of their last four. Ottawa has dropped five of their last six. Tonight is the third of four meetings between the Atlantic Division rivals, with each team coming away with a victory. Both games had a combined seven goals, marking the fifth consecutive contest between the two teams with seven goals or more.
The Canadiens have scored the first goal of the first period in each meeting this season and have scored the first goal of the first period in six of their last nine games overall. Ottawa has scored the first goal of the first period in each of their last three games (Rangers, Canucks, Panthers), but prior to that had surrendered the opening goal in eight consecutive games.
Cole Caufield’s eyes seem to get big facing Ottawa with 11 goals in 16 career games against the Sens, including scoring in one of the two games this season. Defenseman Noah Dobson has led the charge for Montreal when it comes to blocking shots. He has had at least three blocked shots in three straight and six of the last seven Montreal games. His shot block prop is available at DraftKings. Montreal forward Oliver Kapanen has cashed his shots on goal prop (Over 1.5) in four straight and six of the last games.
One Ottawa player prop that I will be on is Drake Batherson to score a goal. He has found the back of the net in each of the last four games against Montreal.
NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Montreal Canadiens first goal, first period (+130) – .50
Noah Dobson Over 2.5 blocked shots (+130) – .50
Cole Caufield anytime goal (+165) – .10 units
Oliver Kapanen Over 1.5 shots on goal (-125) – .50
Drake Batherson anytime goal (+230) – .10
1st Period Over 1.5 goals (-138) – .50
Montreal/Ottawa Over 6.5 goals (-105) – .10
Carolina Hurricanes (28-15-4) at New Jersey Devils (24-21-2)
Hurricanes (-115) at Devils (-105) – Total 6 (Over, -125)
7 p.m. ET
The Hurricanes are coming off a resounding 9-1 win last night over the two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers, defeating the Panthers for the first time in three tries this season. With Carolina giving Brandon Bussi the start in goal last night, that means Freddie Anderson is likely to start in goal for the Canes today. Freddie has been a “cash cow” for betting the opposition’s team total, Over. Anderson himself has given up at least three goals in 16 of his 19 starts, and Carolina has given up four goals or more in 13 of the 19 games with Freddie between the pipes.
The Devils’ team total at Over 2.5 is very juicy at (-174), but with 84% of the games with Andersen in net seeing the opponents score at least three goals, I am inclined to split a one-unit bet on the Over 2.5 and Over 3 goals for the Devils to score.
A few player props in this one for me: I have been riding Seth Jarvis Over 2.5 shots on goal prop, and he has been making us some good money and will come back to that again today. Jarvis has registered three shots on goal or more in nine of his last 13 games.
The Devils’ Nico Hischier loves shooting pucks at Carolina goalies. He has had three or more shots on goal in eight of his last nine games against the Canes and 11 of 14. He has also cashed his shots on goal prop in four of his last six games overall.
Since scoring a goal in his return to the lineup against Buffalo, Jack Hughes has gone 11 games without a goal, but as my good buddy @AdamsDigest pointed out to me last night, Hughes has been getting onto the scoresheet by setting up goals. Hughes has an assist in four consecutive games (six total) and six of the last seven overall. He has also picked up a helper in six of the last nine games against the Canes.
NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Seth Jarvis Over 2.5 shots on goal (-130) – .25
Devils Team Total Over 2.5 (-174 at Fan Duel) – .75
Devils Team Total Over 3 (-109) – .25
Nico Hischier Over 2.5 shots on goal (+130) – .25
Jack Hughes assist (-115) – .25
Columbus Blue Jackets (21-19-7) at Pittsburgh Penguins (22-14-10)
Blue Jackets (+105) at Penguins (-125) – Total 6.5 (Under, -125)
7 p.m. ET
The Blue Jackets have won both their games under new head coach Rick Bowness and have now won three straight overall. These two teams met 13 days ago in Columbus, with the Blue Jackets blowing a 4-1 lead and losing 5-4 in overtime, a game that was likely the beginning of the end for former head coach Dean Evason.
Overtime has been common between the two teams, with each of the last three games and five of the last seven needing extra time to decide a winner. A ton of great prop plays in this contest. The Jackets’ Charlie Coyle has goals in three consecutive games (four total), and Kirill Marchenko has eight points in 11 games versus the Penguins.
On the Pittsburgh side, Sidney Crosby has seven goals in 12 games versus Jackets goalie Elvis Merzlikins. Anthony Mantha has five goals in nine games versus the Columbus netminder. Both teams have been making hay on the power play, and I will grab some power play props as well.
NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Sidney Crosby anytime goal (+160) – .15 units
Sidney Crosby power play point (+180) – .05 units
Anthony Mantha anytime goal (+330) – .10
Charlie Coyle Over ½ point (+118) – .10
Charlie Coyle anytime goal (+425) – .10
Sean Monahan Over ½ point (+116) – .10
Kent Johnson Over ½ point (+120) – .10
Charlie Coyle power play point (+450) – .05
Kent Johnson power play point (+500) – .05
Toronto Maple Leafs (23-16-8) at Winnipeg Jets (19-22-5)
Maple Leafs (+110) at Jets (-130) – Total 5.5 (Over, -130)
7 p.m. ET
This is a horrible spot for Toronto as they wrap up a road trip following games in Colorado, Utah, Vegas and now end off in Winnipeg against a Jets team, winners of four consecutive games after dropping 11 in a row. It is also a revenge spot for the Jets, who blew a 5-1 lead in Toronto back on New Year’s Day and lost 6-5 in regulation.
It’s been a long time since I backed the Jets, but tonight I like Winnipeg to win the game and the Over 5.5 (even 6 if you can’t get 5.5) to cash as well. Jets games have flown over the total in eight straight, and all three games on the Leafs’ current road trip have had a combined seven goals or more.
The Jets’ Kyle Connor has 15 goals in 24 games against Toronto, and captain Mark Scheifele has 21 goals in 31 games against Toronto. Former Chicago Blackhawks player Jonathan Toews is on a roll with goals in four straight games. Auston Matthews has 17 goals in 25 games against the Jets, and Matias Maccelli has four goals in his last six games against Winnipeg.
NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Winnipeg Jets Money Line (-130) – 1.5 units
Winnipeg Jets Over 5.5 (-130) – 1unit
Winnipeg Jets Team Total Over 3 (-135) – 1 unit
Mark Scheifele anytime goal (+160) – .10 units
Jonathan Toews anytime goal (+375) – .10 units
Kyle Connor anytime goal (+135) – .10 units
Matias Maccelli anytime goal (+425) – .10 units
Auston Matthews anytime goal (+115) – .10 units
