NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Here are tonight’s NHL predictions and best bets:
Toronto Maple Leafs (28-27-11) at Buffalo Sabres (40-20-6)
Maple Leafs (+195) at Sabres (-240) – Total 6.5 (-115)
7 p.m. ET
The Maple Leafs are coming off a 6-4 win over Anaheim, snapping an eight-game losing streak. However, they lost Auston Matthews for the season, the result of knee on knee hit from Radko Gudas (suspended for five games).
The Sabres had their eight-game winning streak halted by the Washington Capitals on Thursday in a 2-1 setback. I expect Buffalo to jump out quickly and score the first goal in the first period. The Sabres have scored the first goal of the first period in eight of the last 10 games.
A couple of player props. The Sabres’ Jack Quinn has six goals in 11 games versus the Maple Leafs, so I will not only jump on him for an anytime goal but to score the Sabres first goal of the game. The Maple Leafs Matias Maccelli has been on quite a roll of late, scoring goals in four of the past five games, and all his goals have been Toronto’s first goal of the game.
Nick Robertson has five goals in eight games against the Sabres, and with his brother Jason playing tonight for Dallas against the Detroit Red Wings, I will also add a Robertson brothers goal parlay. Lastly, for Toronto. Dakota Joshua has two goals in the two games this season against Buffalo.
The Sabres continue to juggle their lines. Petyton Krebs will play alongside Tage Thompson and Alex Tuch on the top line. His goal prop (+500) has tremendous value. So does newcomer Sam Carrick for Buffalo, who has two goals in three games since being acquired at the trade deadline from the Rangers.
NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Jack Quinn anytime goal +320 – .10
Jack Quinn 1st Buffalo goal +1000 – .05
Buffalo Sabres to score 1st goal/1st period (-110) – .05
Matias Macelli anytime goal +400 – .10
Matias Macelli 1st Toronto goal +1000 – .05
Nick Robertson anytime goal +450 – .10
Nick Robertson brothers goal parlay +1018 – .05
Sam Carrick anytime goal +950 – .05
Dakota Joshua anytime goal +750 – .05
San Jose Sharks (31-26-6) at Montreal Canadiens (36-18-10)
Sharks (+155) at Canadiens (-185) – Total 6.5 (-120)
7 p.m. ET
These two teams met 11 days ago in San Jose, with the Sharks coming away with a 7-5 win over the Canadiens. Now the scene shifts to Montreal for a Saturday night game in Montreal. The Canadiens’ Cole Caufield has been Mr. Saturday Night, scoring 15 times this season. He was held without a goal last Saturday against Los Angeles but had scored on the previous four Saturdays (all multi-goal games).
I do envision another goal-scoring bonanza tonight between these two teams. Let’s start with the Habs’ Oliver Kapanen, who scored in the previous meeting and has three goals in his last eight games, and all three goals opened the scoring for Montreal. Alex Newhook plays on the Canadiens’ second line and second power play unit. He scored twice in the loss to San Jose on March 3 and has six goals in 11 career games against the Sharks. Phil Danault, who also found the back of the net in that game, has three goals on 11 shots in the six games he has faced Sharks goalie Alex Nedeljkovic.
For the Sharks, it always starts with Macklin Celebrini. The San Jose superstar has scored the Sharks’ first goal of the game in three of the last four and four of the last seven games. His linemate Colin Graf has covered his shots on goal prop (Over 1.5) in eight of the last nine games.
NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Macklin Celebrini anytime goal +130 – .50 units
Macklin Celebrini to score Sharks 1st goal +430 – .05
Colin Graf Over 1.5 shots on goal (-110) – 1 unit
Cole Caufield anytime goal +140 – .50 units
Alex Newhook anytime goal +425 – .10 units
Phil Danault anytime goal +700 – .05 units
Oliver Kapanen anytime goal +375 – .10 units
Oliver Kapanen 1st Montreal goal +1200 – .05 units
Will Smith anytime goal +220 – .10 units
Kiefer Sherwood anytime goal +325 – .10 units
Detroit Red Wings (36-23-7) at Dallas Stars (41-14-10)
Red Wings (+140) at Stars (-170) – Total 5.5 (-115)
8 p.m. ET
The Red Wings are now in a fight to make the playoffs as they are without their top two centers, Dylan Larkin and Andrew Copp. That is going to make scoring goals harder. I see no reason why the Stars don’t win this game. A common trend that plays into why I am taking the Stars team total Over 3.5 goals is simple.
Dallas has scored at least four goals in 27 of their 41 wins this season, and more recently, 10 times in their last 14 games. Detroit has given up at least four goals in 25 of their 30 losses this season.
A couple of props for me. The Stars’ power play is second overall and number one on home ice. They have scored a goal with the extra man in 10 consecutive games, and the Wings have given up a goal on the penalty kill in seven of their last nine games. I am also on a Jason Robertson anytime goal. Jamie Benn has goals in four of his last five games. JT Compher is now Detroit’s number one center. I had him on Thursday to score a goal, and he kindly obliged. I will come back with him again tonight.
NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Dallas Stars Team Total Over 3.5 +115 – 2 units
Dallas Stars Over ½ Power Play goal (-120) – 1 unit
Jason Robertson anytime goal +120 – .25
JT Compher anytime goal +450 – .10
Jamie Benn anytime goal +320 – .10
