NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Here are today’s NHL predictions and best bets.
Montreal Canadiens (30-17-7) at Buffalo Sabres (31-17-5)
Canadiens (+110) at Sabres (-130) – Total 6.5 (Over, -120)
7 p.m. ET
This is the fourth meeting this season between the two teams, with the Sabres taking two of the first three. The goaltending matchup will have Alex Lyon and his 10-game winning streak against the Canadiens Jakub Dobes. Dobes was the goalie for the Canadiens’ lone win this season against Buffalo.
I lean to Buffalo, but I like the first period Over 1.5 and the full game Over 6.5. Sabres games have gone Over the total in the opening 20 minutes in nine of their last 10 games. Montreal is on a (6-3) 1st period Over run.
There are a lot of great player props in this game, starting with Mr. Saturday Night, Cole Caufield of the Montreal Canadiens. The Habs forward has scored 11 of his 30 goals on Saturday night and eight goals in his seven games versus teams in the Atlantic Division. He has five goals in the past two Saturdays. The Sabres’ Alex Tuch has goals in three consecutive games (five total), and defenseman Rasmus Dahlin has had at least three shots on goal in six of his last nine games.
NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
1st period over 1.5 (-144) – .50 units
Rasmus Dahlin Over 2.5 SOG (+104) – .25
Over 6.5 (-120) – .50
Cole Caufield 2+ goals (+900) – .05
Cole Caufield anytime goal (+145) – .25
Alex Tuch anytime goal (+230) – .10
Caufield/Suzuki point parlay (-132) – 2 units
Jakub Dobes Over 23.5 saves (-105) – .50
Sabres 1st goal/1st period (+115) – .25
Sabres/Canadiens/Wild/Oilers all to score 2 goals (+108) – 1 unit
Minnesota Wild (31-14-10) at Edmonton Oilers (28-19-8)
Wild (+105) at Oilers (-125) – Total 6.5 (Over, -125)
10 p.m. ET
The Oilers have been living on the edge the past two games, scoring goals in the final minute in both and going on to win in overtime (Washington and San Jose). Tonight, they get the high-octane offense of the Minnesota Wild. Minnesota games have gone Over the total in 15 of the last 17 games and 17 of 22 since the acquisition of Quinn Hughes. The first period Over 1.5 goals has cashed in eight consecutive games and 10 of the last 11. Ten of the last 15 Edmonton games have flown Over the full game total and the first period Over 1.5 goals has cashed in four straight and five of the last six games.
The Wild’s Matt Boldy has feasted on the Oilers in his career, scoring nine goals in 12 career games versus Edmonton and has scored Minnesota’s first goal versus Edmonton in five of the last seven games. Boldy has scored the first Minnesota goal eleven times this season. The Wild’s Vladimir Tarasenko has had three shots on goal or more in three consecutive games and five of his last seven. I will be adding a goalie saves prop for whichever goalie starts for Minnesota. The Oilers are a high-volume shooting team.
NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
1st period Over 1.5 (-146) – 1 unit
Over 6.5 (-124) – 2 units
Matt Boldy 1st Minnesota goal (+600) – .05
Matt Boldy anytime goal (+170) – .50 units
Matt Boldy Over 2.5 shots on goal (-110) – 1 unit
Minnesota Wild Team Total Over 3 (-113) – 2 units
Vladimir Tarasenko Over 1.5 shots on goal (-120) – .50
Vladimir Tarasenko Over 2.5 shots on goal (+290) – .25
