NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Here are tonight’s NHL predictions and best bets
Washington Capitals (39-29-9) at New York Rangers (32-36-9)
Capitals (-115) at Rangers (-105) – Total 5.5 (Over, -135)
7 p.m. ET
With a win today, the Washington Capitals could find themselves in a playoff spot. The Caps are bunched up with five other teams fighting for two playoff spots. Washington could find its way into the playoffs as the third seed in the Metropolitan Division or the second wild card spot in the Eastern Conference.
The Capitals have won two of three against the Rangers this season, including a 1-0 shutout back in October with Charlie Lindgren between the pipes. Lindgren is expected to get the start tonight and is 5-1 lifetime versus the Rangers with a 1.49 goals against average and a pair of shutouts.
New York is coming off a 4-1 win over Detroit on Saturday, and the second half of back-to-backs for the Blueshirts this season has been a disaster this season with just one win in twelve games. Add to that they have scored three goals or fewer in 11 of the 12 games and two or fewer nine times. The Capitals’ Pierre-Luc Dubois is on a three-game assist streak. Ryan Leonard has points in four straight. Tom Wilson has goals in each of the last three Capitals games.
NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Washington Capitals Money Line (-115) – 1 unit
Ryan Leonard Over ½ point (+135) – .10
Pierre-Luc Dubois Over ½ assist (+165) – .10
New York Rangers Team Total Under 3 (-125) – .25
New Jersey Devils (39-34-3) at Montreal Canadiens (45-21-10)
Devils (+130) at Canadiens (-155) – Total 6.5 (-110)
7 p.m. ET
These two teams met last night in New Jersey, with the Canadiens jumping out to a 3-0 lead, only to see the Devils rally with three unanswered goals and force the game into overtime, before Montreal won in a shootout, 4-3. It was the third time in the last four head-to-head meetings that the game finished 4-3 in either regulation or a shootout. The win for Montreal last night extended their win streak to eight games, but they have a 10-game home losing streak to New Jersey.
On to the props. Cole Caufield let us down on Saturday, but I will come back with him tonight for a goal. He has goals in nine of his last 12 games and 10 of his last 13 home games. Caufield and Jack Hughes helped us cash a shots on goal prop parlay (Over 2.5) last night, and I will work them into another shots prop for tonight as well. Jack Hughes had a goal and an assist in last night’s game and has had two or more points in five of his last seven games.
NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
New Jersey Devils Money Line (+130) – .25
Regulation Draw (+350) – .10
Jack Hughes Over 1.5 points (+148) – .25
Hughes/Hischier/Suzuki/Caufield point parlay (+208) – .25
Hughes/Caufield each over 2.5 SOG (-115) – 2 units
Hughes/Caufield/Meier/Bratt all Over 2.5 SOG (+568) – .25
Cole Caufield anytime goal (+118) – .25
St. Louis Blues (32-31-12) at Colorado Avalanche (50-15-10)
Blues (+190) at Avalanche (-230) – Total 6 (Over, -115)
9:30 p.m. ET
The Avalanche are coming off a huge 2-0 win Saturday over the Dallas Stars and have all but wrapped up first place in the Central Division. A Colorado win or Dallas loss in any fashion clinches first place in the Division for the Avs. I look at this as a flat spot for the home team and will jump on the Blues to score the first goal of the first period, as well as just to score a goal in the opening 20 minutes.
Mackenzie Blackwood gets the start for the Avalanche today, and he is coming off the game against Vancouver where he gave up six goals on 19 shots. The Blues’ Pius Suter has five goals in the seven games he has faced the Colorado netminder. The Blues Dylan Holloway has registered at least three goals in eight of the last nine games, while Robert Thomas has points in four consecutive games and 15 of his last 17 games.
NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
St. Louis Blues 1st goal/1st period (+175) – .25
St. Louis Blues to score a first period goal (-122) – 1 unit
Dylan Holloway Over 2.5 SOG/Thomas Over ½ point (+162) – .50
Pius Suter anytime goal (+525) – .10
St. Louis Blues Team Total Over 2.5 (-102) – 1 unit
St. Louis Blues Team Total Over 3 (+170) – .20
St. Louis Blues Team Total Over 3.5 (+240) – .05
Parker Kelly anytime goal (+575) – .05
