NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Here are today’s NHL predictions and best bets.
Colorado Avalanche (25-2-7) at Minnesota Wild (22-9-5)
Avalanche (-160) at Wild (+130) – Total 6.5 (Under, -130)
6 p.m. ET
This is the marquee game on the NHL card as they are not only two of the top three teams in the Central Division but also in the National Hockey League. The Avs are winners of four straight and just two regulation losses all season. The Wild, winners of seven straight, have not lost in regulation at home since October 30th. This is the second meeting this season between these Central Division heavyweights, with the Wild winning back on November 28, 3-2 in a shootout (in Minnesota).
The goaltending matchup will feature Mackenzie Blackwood for Colorado and Jesper Wallstedt for Minnesota. I am taking the “plus money” with Minnesota to beat Colorado for a second time this season. Since acquiring Quinn Hughes from Vancouver, the Wild have outscored the opposition, 21-6, in four games. Vladimir Tarasenko has found the fountain of youth, scoring goals in each of the past three games and has had two shots on goal or more in eight consecutive games. Kirill Kaprizov scored both goals for the Wild in the win over Colorado earlier this season and has five goals in the last seven games against the Avalanche and 14 goals in 19 career games versus Colorado.
One other Minnesota prop play will be Jesper Wallstedt Over 27.5. The Avalanche average the second most shots on goal per game (34.6) and put up 38 of their 41 shots in regulation in the first meeting. One Colorado player prop for me will be on Brock Nelson Over 2.5 shots on goal. The Minnesota native has had three shots on goal or more in four straight, plus five straight and six of the last seven games against his hometown team.
Lastly, with it being Sunday and a game that is starting before 8 p.m. ET, I will be on the Under 6.5 goals. This season, games that start on Sunday before 8 p.m. ET are 32-10-1 to the Under.
NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Minnesota Wild ML (+130) – .50 units
Minnesota Wild Team Total Over 2.5 (-135) – 1 unit
Vladimir Tarasenko anytime goal (+330) – .10 units
Kirill Kaprizov anytime goal (+140) – .10 units
Vladimir Tarasenko Over 1.5 shots on goal (+110) – .25 units
Brock Nelson Over 2.5 shots on goal (+148) – .25 units
Jesper Wallstedt Over 27.5 saves (-114) – .50 units
Under 6.5 (-130) – 1 unit
Ottawa Senators (17-13-4) at Boston Bruins (20-15-1)
Senators (-140) at Bruins (+120) – Total 6.5 (Under, -135)
7 p.m. ET
This will be the fourth and final meeting this season between the Senators and the Bruins, with the home team winning all three games. Ottawa comes into Boston on a three-game winning streak. The Bruins, who lost last night at home to Vancouver in a shootout, have dropped back-to-back games and three of the last four.
It will be former Sens goalie, Joonas Korpisalo (7-3-1, 2 shutouts versus Ottawa), making his first start in ten days, against former Bruins goalie Linus Ullmark, who took the loss in overtime when the teams met earlier this season in Boston.
Both teams are on a back-to-back and playing three games in four days. For Ottawa, who played a day game on Saturday, travel and rest should not be an issue. This is another prop-filled game. Boston’s Morgan Geekie has goals in all three games this season against the Senators, and all three have opened the scoring for Boston. He has scored the Bruins’ first goal of the game in two of the past three games and eleven times this season.
Ottawa’s Brady Tkachuk has goals in three straight and has been shooting pucks from everywhere, as evidenced by his 10 shots on goal yesterday. He has five or more shots on goal in four consecutive games and eight of his last 11 versus the Bruins. His teammate, Claude Giroux, has three goals and five points against the Bruins this season and has goals in each of the last four meetings against their Atlantic Division rival.
NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Brady Tkachuk Over 3.5 shots on goal (-114) – 1 unit
Morgan Geekie anytime goal (+175) – .10 units
Morgan Geekie to score B’s first goal (+550) – .05
Claude Giroux anytime goal (+450) – .10 units
Under 6.5 (-135) – .50 units
