NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Here are tonight’s NHL predictions and best bets:
Tampa Bay Lightning (38-18-4) at Toronto Maple Leafs (27-25-11)
Lightning (-210) at Maple Leafs (+170) – Total 6.5 (Under, -115)
7 p.m. ET
The Lightning come into tonight’s game looking like an NHL bottom-feeder, having lost four consecutive games and giving up 20 goals in the process. Maybe the Leafs are just what Tampa needs to get themselves corrected. Toronto has lost six straight and has given up four or more goals in four of those losses. With both teams having issues keeping the puck out of their net, I am on the Over 6. The Maple Leafs give up more shots on goal per game (31.9) than any other team in the NHL. We are getting the Tampa team total Over 30.5 shots on goal, and this prop would have cashed in five of the last seven Toronto games.
Tampa’s Brayden Point has three goals in four games against the Leafs’ starting goalie, Anthony Stolarz. Corey Perry makes his return to Tampa tonight after being traded yesterday from Los Angeles. Toronto’s Matthew Knies has five goals in six games against Tampa goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy. I will come back with Toronto’s Easton Cowan for a goal. The rookie is on the second line and will be parked in front of the net on the power play. Also, give me Morgan Rielly Over 1.5 shots on goal. He has eclipsed this total in five of the last six games.
NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Over 6 (-134) – 1.5 units
Morgan Rielly Over 1.5 shots on goal (-120) – .50 units
Easton Cowan anytime goal (+440) – .10 units
Brayden Point anytime goal (+165) – .10 units
Corey Perry anytime goal (+380) – .05 units
Tampa TT Over 31.5 shots on goal (-134) – .25 units
Matthew Knies anytime goal (+325) – .10 units
Utah Mammoth (33-25-4) at Columbus Blue Jackets (32-21-8)
Mammoth (-115) at Blue Jackets (-105) – Total 6.5 (Under, -128)
7 p.m.
I have to say I am surprised that the Mammoth are the betting favorite in this contest. Utah has won the first two games of this current road trip, but they are just 15-15-2 away from home this season. How about the history of results when these two teams meet? Each of the last three games and five of the last six have ended 3-2. Four of the six games have gone past regulation.
When it comes to goal props, despite the low score, I am anticipating to be on a handful of players to find the back of the net, hoping that we can hit at least two goal props. Saturday marks the debut of Conor Garland for Columbus, who was acquired from Vancouver earlier this week. Garland has five goals in nine games against Utah goalie Karel Vejmelka. Two other Columbus players who have had past success against Vejmelka include Charlie Coyle (three goals in four games) and Zach Werenski (two goals, two games).
On the Utah side, Dylan Guenther has three goals in four games against Columbus and two goals in three games against the Jackets’ starting goalie, Elvis Merzlikins. With defenseman Mikhail Sergachev and MacKenzie Weegar (acquired from Calgary) not available, Sean Durzi will be counted on more to help distribute the offense from the blueline.
NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Under 6.5 (-128) – 1 unit
5 total goals scored (+550) – .05
2-2 exact score end of regulation (+1100) – .05
Regulation Draw (+325) – .05
Conor Garland anytime goal (+400) – .15
Conor Garland Over 1.5 shots on goal (-118) – .25
Charlie Coyle anytime goal (+330) – .15
Zach Werenski anytime goal (+350) – .15
Dylan Guenther anytime goal (+185) – .15
Sean Durzi Over ½ assist (+155) – .15
Montreal Canadiens (33-18-10) at Los Angeles Kings (25-22-14)
Canadiens (+105) at Kings (-125) – Total 5.5 (Over, -130)
7 p.m. ET
The LA Kings look like a different team under interim head coach DJ Smith, who took over from Jim Hiller, who was fired one week ago. The Kings have split their first two games under Smith, but are playing much more of an up-tempo game, willing to trade chances, something that was not the case with Hiller. The Canadiens are making stop number three of their road trip and have given up 12 goals in their past two games, including a 6-5 shootout loss on Friday to Anaheim. The Kings have won nine straight over the Canadiens, including a 5-1 loss earlier this season in Montreal.
This game is a “dead” Over 5.5 for me. I will also grab the Kings Team Total Over 3. Montreal has given up three goals or more in back-to-back games and three of their last four overall. LA has scored at least three goals in nine consecutive games against Montreal and four goals or more seven times. From VSIN colleague Steve Makinen: The Canadiens are 11-0 to the Over versus teams that give up less than 2.90 goals per game (LA is at 2.89).
On to the player props. It starts with Mr. Saturday Night, Cole Caufield. The Canadiens forward has 15 goals in 17 games played on Saturday. He has had four consecutive multi-goal games on Saturday, and in five of the nine games on Saturday that Caufield has found the back of the net, he has scored the Canadiens first goal of the game.
The Kings’ Adrian Kempe has eight goals and 13 points in 14 career games versus Montreal. Artemi Panarin scored nine goals and 34 points in 25 games versus Montreal. Tonight is also the Phil Danault “revenge” game. Danault, who asked for a trade earlier this season, was traded back to Montreal from Los Angeles.
NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Cole Caufield 1st Montreal goal (+500) – .05
Cole Caufield anytime goal (+160) – .50
Cole Caufield 2+ goals (+1000) – .05
Cole Caufield Over 3.5 shots on goal (+120) – .50
Montreal Canadiens/Los Angeles Kings Over 5.5 (-130) – 2 units
Los Angeles Kings Team Total Over 3 (-118) – 1 unit
Adrian Kempe point/Panarin assist (-118) – .50
Adrian Kempe anytime goal (+160) – .25
Adrian Kempe 1st LA goal (+550) – .05Best of the Rest
Montreal/LA, Utah/Columbus all teams to score 2+ goals (+139) – 1 unit
