NHL Predictions – Expert Picks on Saturday, March 1:
Here are tonight’s NHL predictions:
Detroit Red Wings at Columbus Blue Jackets (-110, 6)
6 p.m. ET
I am so looking forward to this game tonight at “The Big House,” with the Red Wings and Jackets playing outdoors. These two teams met Thursday night in Detroit, with Columbus coming away with a 5-2 win. The full game Over cashed for the 10th time in the last 13 meetings between these two teams. Early goals have been a theme in Red Wings games. The first-period “GIFT” is on a 20-5 run, and the first-period Over has hit in eight of the last 10 (both stats courtesy of @PsuOtto). When it comes to Wings and Jackets games, if the first period goes Under, then play the second period Over 1.5 goals. In five of the last six meetings, when the first period went Under the total, the second period went Over the total. I will also be on the full game Over, which is on a 10-3 run.
There are some great player props in this game tonight. Detroit’s Alex DeBrincat has 12 points in his last eight games (6G,6A) has two goals and four points versus the Jackets this season and has four goals in six career games against Elvis Merzlikins and Vlad Tarasenko has two goals in three games versus the Jackets netminder.
On the Columbus side, James van Riemsdyk has four goals in two games against Detroit this season and six goals in 13 career games against Wings goalie Cam Talbot. Kent Johnson has four goals in his last four games, and Boone Jenner has five assists in his last three games.
If you like the Jackets to win this game as I do, then playing the Columbus team total Over 3.5 goals has great value. In 24 of the Jackets’ 29 wins, they have scored four or more goals.
NHL Predictions: GIFT/Yes (-165) – 1 unit
1st Period Over 1.5 (-140) – 1 unit
Jackets TT over 3.5 (+130) – 1 unit
Zach Werenski Over ½ assist (-130) – 1 unit
Vladimir Tarasenko ATG (+330) – ¼ unit
Kent Johnson ATG (+240) – ¼ unit
Boone Jenner Over ½ assist (+196) – ¼ unit
James Van Riemsdyk ATG (+330) – ¼ unit
San Jose Sharks at Ottawa Senators (-310, 5.5)
7 p.m. ET
This game fits into our system play when we have a favorite of (-300) or greater. In 51 games this season with this big of a favorite, the underdog has scored a first-period goal 31 times (61%). We also had a goal scored in the first 10 minutes in 33 of these games, and both teams have scored 20 times in the opening 20 minutes in this system. San Jose has also been a great over team on the road (Over 1.5 goals) in the opening 20 minutes, with two goals or more scored in 20 of their 30 road games. The Ottawa Senators are on a great run themselves when it comes to the second period Over 1.5 goals, cashing this prop play in nine consecutive games. Three of the last four games in Ottawa between the two teams have gone Over the total (9,7,3,7).
NHL Predictions: GIFT/Yes (-155) – 1 unit
Sharks 1st period Over ½ goal (-110) – 1 unit
1st period BTTS (+175) – ½ unit
1st period Over 1.5 (-130) – 1 unit
2nd period Over 1.5 (live line TBA) – 1 unit
Sharks/Senators Over 5.5 (-130) – 1 unit
Edmonton Oilers at Carolina Hurricanes (-155, 6.5)
7 p.m. ET
Keeping this one simple. The Oilers are on a 15-2 run to the first period Over 1.5 goals. In the last 12 games that Oilers goalie Calvin Pickard has started, the first period Over has cashed in 11 of 12 games. I will also be on the second period Over 1.5. The second-period Over has cashed in six straight games. Edmonton’s Leon Draisaitl has goals in seven straight.
NHL Predictions: Leon Draisaitl anytime goals (+120) – ¼ unit
1ST period Over 1.5 goals (-145) – 2 units
2nd period Over 1.5 goals (live line TBA) – 1 unit
Montreal Canadiens at Buffalo Sabres (-145, 6.5)
7 p.m. ET
This one is all about the props. Montreal’s Jakub Dobes has given up the first goal in the game in eight straight starts. The only game he hasn’t given up the first goal was his first career start. Patrik Laine has feasted on Buffalo goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen with five goals in two games.
NHL Predictions: Sabres to score first goal of game at even strength (+125) – 2 units
Sabres to score first goal of game on PP (+550) – 1 unit
Patrik Laine anytime goal (+240) – ¼ unit
Philadelphia Flyers at Winnipeg Jets (-215, 5.5)
7 p.m. ET
Just the regulation draw for me in this game. The Jets have gone to overtime in three of their last seven games overall and three times as a favorite of (-200+).
NHL Prediction: Regulation Draw (+340) – ¼ unit
Los Angeles Kings at St. Louis Blues (-115, 5.5)
8 p.m. ET
The Kings come to St. Louis on the second half of a back-to-back. With Darcy Kuemper starting last night in Dallas, it’s David Rittich tonight for the Kings. Jordan Binnington gets the call for the Blues. With last night’s loss, the LA has now dropped six of their last seven on the road. They haven’t fared well in St. Louis, having dropped four of their last five. The Blues are 3-0 since play has resumed from the 4 Nations tournament, scoring 15 goals in the three games. 13 of the last 16 Blues games have had a goal scored in the opening 10 minutes.
A couple of player props that I will be on. The Kings Warren Foegele has goals in three straight, but I am going to target his shots on goal prop. He has had at least three shots on goal in six of his last nine games. The Blues Jordan Kyrou has four goals in four games against David Rittich. Teammate Oscar Sundqvist has found the back of the net three times against the Kings goalie.
NHL Predictions: Foegele Over 2.5 SOG (+165) – 1 unit
Jordan Kyrou ATG (+220) – ¼ unit
Oscar Sundqvist ATG (+470) – ¼ unit
GIFT/Yes (-135) – 1 unit
Vancouver Canucks (-112, 5.5) at Seattle Kraken
10 p.m. ET
For now, just one play in this game, and that is the full game Over the total. These two teams have met 13 times since the Kraken entered the league and all 13 games have had a combined six goals or more.
NHL Prediction: Canucks/Kraken Over 5.5 (+100) – 2 units
