NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Here are today’s NHL predictions and best bets.
Detroit Red Wings (13-11-1) at Boston (14-12-0)
Betting Line: Red Wings (-150) at Bruins (-130) – Total 5.5 (Over, -120)
7 p.m. ET
Both teams enter play on Saturday on a back-to-back and three games in four days. The Bruins will be without David Pastrnak for the second consecutive game and top line center Pavel Zacha is a game-time decision, leaving Boston very thin up front. With the Bruins’ injury situation, I do like this spot for Detroit to put an end to their three-game losing streak.
On to the player props. Detroit’s Lucas Raymond has scored the Red Wings’ first goal on the road in three of the last four games, and five of his seven goals this season have opened the scoring for Detroit. He has six goals in 12 career games against Boston. The Bruins’ Casey Mittlestadt has 11 points in 13 games against the Wings, and forward Mikey Eyssimont has had two or more shots on goal in five of his last six games.
NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Lucas Raymond anytime goal +210 – .15 units
Lucas Raymond scores Red Wings’ first goal +700 – .05
Mikey Eyssimont Over 1.5 SOG (-135) – .25 units
Casey Mittlestadt anytime goal +380 – .15 units
Casey Mittlestadt Over ½ assist +212 – .15 units
Detroit Red Wings in regulation (+100) – .50 units
Philadelphia Flyers (13-7-3) at New Jersey Devils (16-7-1)
Betting Line: Flyers (+125) at Devils (-155) – Total 5.5 (Over, -120)
7 p.m. ET
The Devils own the NHL’s best home record (9-0-1), having yet to lose on home ice in regulation. They take on a Flyers team tonight that beat them seven days in Philadelphia. The Flyers erupted for three goals in 26 seconds en route to a 6-3 victory. This time around, the Devils will turn to Jacob Markstrom against the visiting Flyers (Jake Allen started the previous game) as they look to keep up their home dominance. Markstrom is 6-5-1 lifetime (2.03 goals against average) versus the Flyers and will be opposed by Dan Vladar, who has won all three of his meetings against New Jersey, including a shutout.
The Flyers have won four of the last six meetings between the two teams and are 1-1 in their last two trips to Jersey. I am on the Flyers to hand the Devils their second home loss of the season. The Flyers’ Travis Konecny has points in 11 of his last 12 games against the Devils. Tyson Foerster has points in four of his last five games overall. Nico Hischier has goals in four consecutive games. Timo Meier scored eight goals on the season. Six of those goals have opened the scoring for New Jersey. The Flyers have scored four goals or more in nine of their 13 wins this season.
NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Philadelphia Flyers ML (+125) – .50 units
Konecny/Foerster point parlay (+164) – .25 units
Nico Hischier anytime goal +160 – .10 units
Timo Meier anytime goal +180 – .10 units
Timo Meier to score Devils 1st goal +600 – .05 units
Philadelphia Flyers Team Total Over 2.5 (-128) – 1 unit
Toronto Maple Leafs (10-11-3) at Pittsburgh Penguins (12-6-5)
Betting Line: Maple Leafs (-110) at Penguins (-110) – Total 6 (Over, -115)
7 p.m. ET
The Penguins will look to avenge an early-season loss to the Maple Leafs. Toronto scored four unanswered goals in the third period and defeated Pittsburgh, 4-3. The Leafs are coming off a disappointing 4-2 loss that saw the Washington Capitals erase a 2-1 third-period deficit and score three goals in the final seven minutes for the win.
Joseph Woll started last night for Toronto. With Anthony Stolarz still unavailable, Dennis Hildeby is the likely starter in goal for Toronto. In his seven career starts, he has given up three goals or more six times. This season, Hildeby has given up five and four goals in his two starts.
Last night, the Penguins’ Sidney Crosby scored the first goal of the game for the sixth time this season and for the second time in the past three games. Crosby has points in nine of his last 10 games against Toronto. Defenseman Erik Karlsson has 47 points in 50 career games against the Leafs. Pittsburgh is coming off back-to-back wins, scoring four goals in each game. Veteran Pens blueliner Kris Letang has had at least two shots on goal in five consecutive games and three of his last four against Toronto. The Leafs’ John Tavares has had three or more shots on goal in six of his last seven games, while Oliver Ekman-Larsson is riding an eight-game points streak.
NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Pittsburgh Penguins TT over 3 (-118) – 1 unit
Crosby/Karlsson point parlay +121 – 1 unit
Sidney Crosby anytime goal +170 – .10 units
Sidney Crosby Penguins 1st goal of the game +550 – .05 units
Ekman- Larsson Over ½ point (+105) – .25 units
Kris Letang Over 1.5/Tavares Over 2.5 SOG parlay +163 – .25 units
Kevin Hayes anytime goal +390 – .10 units
