NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Here are tonight’s NHL predictions and best bets:
New York Islanders (39-25-5) at Montreal Canadiens (37-21-10)
Islanders (+110) at Canadiens (-135) – Total 5.5 (Over, -130)
7 p.m. ET
Both the Islanders and Canadiens are coming off tough losses. The Islanders lost 3-2 to Ottawa on Thursday as Matthew Tkachuk scored the game-winner with 11.1 seconds left in regulation. The Canadiens took a 1-0 lead into the third period, only to see Detroit tie the game two minutes and change into the final period. Alex DeBrincat scored the game-winner with less than four minutes to play, as Detroit knocked off the Canadiens 3-1 in regulation. Montreal still holds the third spot in the Atlantic Division, having played one less game than Detroit and Boston. All three teams are tied with 84 points. The loss for the Islanders has them just outside of a playoff position for the first time since the beginning of December.
The Isles have won four of the last five meetings against the Canadiens, and each of the last five meetings have gone past regulation. Three of the five have ended with a final score of 4-3.
On to the player props. This is Saturday, and Montreal’s Cole Caufield has earned the nickname, Mr. Saturday Night. Caufield has scored goals on 10 of 19 Saturdays this season and on five of the last six Saturdays. He has scored 10 goals over the past six Saturdays, with four of the six being multi-goal games. Three of the last six Saturdays, he has scored the Habs first goal of the game. For the season, he has scored Montreal’s first goal on Saturday six times.
Montreal’s Juraj Slafkovsky has points in five consecutive games and 11 points in the past nine games. Former Islanders blueliner Noah Dobson scored twice in his first game against his former team. Former Montreal Canadiens forward Emil Heineman has cleared his shots on goal prop (Over 1.5) in each of the last five games. Rookie defenseman Matthew Schaefer scored twice in the one meeting this season against the Habs. He has points in back-to-back games and six of the last eight overall. Tony DeAngelo has gone over his shots on goal prop (1.5) as well as his alternate shot prop (Over 2.5) in each of the past five games against the Canadiens.
Islanders’ goalie Ilya Sorokin is 6-0-2 in his career versus Montreal with a goals against average of 1.83. Even with those impressive numbers, the Canadiens have scored three times on the netminder in each of the past two meetings. This season, the Habs are 12-0 to the Over versus teams with a sub 2.90 goals against average (Islanders are at 2.75).
NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Over 5.5 (-130) – 2 units
Tony DeAngelo Over 2.5 SOG (+195) – .25
Noah Dobson anytime goal (+650) – .05
Cole Caufield anytime goal (+150) – 1 unit
Cole Caufield 1st Montreal goal (+500) – .05
Cole Caufield 2+ goals (+1000) – .05
Matthew Schaefer Over ½ point (-110) – .25
Regulation Draw (+310) – .15
Toronto Maple Leafs (29-28-13) at Ottawa Senators (35-24-9)
Maple Leafs (+200) at Senators (-250) – Total 6 (Over, -115)
7 p.m. ET
The Ottawa Senators kept their playoff hopes alive with a 3-2 win over the NY Islanders on Thursday as Brady Tkachuk scored the game-winner with 11.1 seconds left in regulation. The Sens trail Montreal, Boston and Detroit all by five points, leaving them two potential paths (Atlantic Division and wild card) to a playoff spot.
The two teams have split their previous two meetings (both in Toronto). Ottawa has scored five goals in both their win (5-2) and their loss (7-5). The Maple Leafs are coming off a 4-3 overtime loss last night at home to Carolina, giving up 36 shots to the Canes. It was the seventh consecutive game the Maple Leafs have surrendered at least 32 shots to the opposition. They lead the NHL with an average of 32.3 shots on goal against per game. Ottawa put up 40 in their most recent meeting at Toronto.
On to the player props. Ottawa’s Claude Giroux seems to save some of his best games for the Maple Leafs. The veteran forward is penciled in on the Sens’ top line. He averages just over a point a game (22 goals,35 assists, 57 games) versus Toronto. DraftKings has the best price for his assist prop, and Hard Rock is the place to go for his goal prop.
NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Ottawa Senators 1st period -1/2 goal (+125) – .25
Ottawa Senators Team Total Over 3.5 (-135) – 1 unit
Anthony Stolarz Over 27.5 saves (-115) – 1 unit
Ottawa Senators Team Total Over 32.5 SOG (-124) – 1 unit
Claude Giroux anytime goal (+450) – .10
Claude Giroux Over ½ assist (+235) – .10
Boston Bruins (38-23-8) at Detroit Red Wings (38-23-8)
Bruins (+105) at Red Wings (-125) – Total 6 (Under, -122)
8 p.m. ET
The Bruins and Red Wings bring identical records into this game, and both teams currently own the two wild card spots in the Eastern Conference. Tonight is the fourth and final meeting of the season between the two teams, with the home team winning the previous three contests.
Boston’s struggles on the road this season have been well documented, as they have won just 12 of 33 games away from home. More recently, the B’s have just one win in their past nine road games. The Bruins have gone to overtime in four straight and seven of the past nine away from TD Garden. Low-scoring affairs between the two teams have been the norm, with five of the last six having a combined five goals or less, and five of the games have been decided by one goal (one game went to overtime).
Boston’s Charlie McAvoy has cashed his shots prop (Over 1.5) in 11 straight games, seven of eight versus the Wings, and in six of those games against Detroit, he has had at least three shots on goal. The Bruins’ Pavel Zacha has goals in three straight. The Red Wings’ Alex DeBrincat is riding a five-game assist streak (eight total). Moritz Seider has cashed his shots on goal prop (Over 2.5) in six of his last eight games and five of his last seven at home. J.T. Compher (top line center) and Andrew Copp (net front on power play one) offer great value with their goal props.
NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Pavel Zacha anytime goal (+330) – .10
Charlie McAvoy Over 1.5 SOG (-120) – 1 unit
Charlie McAvoy Over 2.5 SOG (+255) – .50
Regulation Draw (+300) – .10
No Goals 1st 5 minutes/Under 6.5 (-102) – .50
Alex DeBrincat Over ½ assist (+115) – .25
Moritz Seider Over 2.5 SOG (+135) – .25
Andrew Copp anytime goal (+525) – .05
J.T. Compher anytime goal (+320) – .05
