NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Here are tonight’s NHL predictions and best bets
Montreal Canadiens (47-23-10) at NY Islanders (43-32-5)
Montreal Canadiens (+100) at NY Islanders (-120) – Total 6 (Over, -120)
6 p.m. ET
It’s a must-win game for the Islanders today, who are three points back of the Flyers for third place in the Metropolitan Division with just two games to play. For the Canadiens, while they still have a shot to win the Atlantic Division, they will likely have to win their final two games and hope that Tampa loses one of their final two games for Montreal to finish second in the Division and earn home-ice advantage versus Tampa in the opening round.
These teams have met twice this season, with both games going Over the total (7-3 and 4-3). Prior to the Canadiens 7-3 blowout of the Islanders on March 21, they had gone past regulation in five consecutive games. I will be back on the Over again today. The Canadiens are 13-1 this season to the full game Over (stat courtesy of @SteveMakinen) versus teams with a goals against average below 2.90 (Islanders 2.88).
The Habs Nick Suzuki is one point shy of his first career 100-point season, and the Islanders Matthew Schaefer is one goal away from breaking the rookie record for goals by a defenseman in one season. He has three goals in the two games he has faced Montreal. I do like the Canadiens to win this game and will also sprinkle on Suzuki and Jake Evans to score a third-period goal. Evans and Suzuki are one, two on the Canadiens for scoring empty net goals.
NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Cole Caufield anytime goal (+115) – .20
Nick Suzuki point/Matthew Schaefer Over 2.5 SOG (+109) – .50
Matthew Schaefer anytime goal (+360) – .20
Montreal Canadiens/New York Islanders Over 6 (-120) – 1 unit
Nick Suzuki to score a 3rd period goal (+650) – .05
Jake Evans to score a 3rd period goal (20/1) – .05
Ottawa Senators (43-27-10) at New Jersey Devils (41-36-3)
Senators (-135) at Devils (+110) – Total 6 (Over, -120)
7 p.m. ET
The Ottawa Senators have locked up one of the two Wild Card spots and it’s just a matter of whether they can hang on to the top Wild Card spot and avoid playing Carolina in the opening round. The Devils will give Nico Daws the start in goal today, with Jake Allen playing yesterday and Jacob Markstrom on the shelf for the remainder of the season.
Ottawa’s Jake Sanderson has points in four straight. Dylan Cozens has points and assists in each of the last four games as well. Jack Hughes has goals in back-to-back games and three goals in four games versus projected Ottawa goalie, James Reimer. I will come back with Cody Glass for a goal as he is one shy of 20. New Jersey Devils games have gone Over the full game total in 12 of the last 16 games.
NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Ottawa Senators/New Jersey Devils Over 6 (-120) – .50
Cody Glass anytime goal (+540) – .10
Jack Hughes anytime goal (+150) – .20
Cozens/Sanderson point parlay (+134) – 1 unit
Jack Hughes and Alex Ovechkin each Over 2.5 SOG (-115) – 2 units
Vancouver Canucks (23-48-8) at Anaheim Ducks (42-32-5)
Vancouver Canucks (-240) at Anaheim Ducks (-310) – Total 6.5 (Over, -135)
8 p.m. ET
We have our systems play where you take the underdog to score a goal in the first period when you have a favorite of (-300+). This season, the Dog scored a first-period goal in 23 of the 33 games in the system. The Canucks are coming off a 4-3 shootout win over San Jose last night, and they come into Honda Center facing an Anaheim team that, with a win tonight, will clinch their first playoff birth since the 2017-18 season.
The Ducks will get a boost to their offense tonight with the return of Cutter Gauthier. Gauthier leads the team with 38 goals and has missed the past five games due to injury. I am anticipating the Ducks to jump out early against the Canucks and find the back of the net at least twice. I am on the Ducks’ first period team total Over 1.5 goals. Mikael Granlund, just one away from having back-to-back 20-goal seasons, has six goals in 10 games versus Vancouver goalie Kevin Lankinen. The Canucks’ Brock Boeser has five goals in nine games versus Anaheim goalie Lukas Dostal.
NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Vancouver Canucks 1st period over ½ goal (-126) – .25
Anaheim Ducks 1st period team total Over 1.5 goals (+155) – .50
Cutter Gauthier anytime goal (+160) – .25
Cutter Gauthier and Troy Terry each Over 2.5 SOG (+162) – .25
Anaheim Ducks/Utah Mammoth ML Parlay (+113) – 2 units
Mikael Granlund anytime goal (+270) – .10
Brock Boeser anytime goal (+210) – .10
