NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Here are tonight’s NHL predictions and best bets:
Toronto Maple Leafs (28-27-12) at Minnesota Wild (38-17-12)
Maple Leafs (+200) at Wild (-250) – Total 6.5 (Under, -120)
7:30 p.m. ET
Toronto’s bid to win back-to-back games for the first time since just before the Olympic break came up just short as they pushed the Buffalo Sabres to a shootout before falling 3-2 in the skills competition. The Wild have lost consecutive home games to the Flyers and Rangers. They now get a Leafs team on the second half of a back-to-back in what could be a “get right spot” for the home team. Minnesota has won three straight over Toronto, including a 6-3 decision back in January in Toronto. Three of the last six meetings have gone past regulation.
I have zero interest in laying the heavy price with the Wild, but I do like Minnesota to win this game, and I will play the Wild in two money line parlays in search of a “middle.” This game also fits the Sunday Under trend of games that start before 8 p.m. ET on Sundays are 52-23-3 to the Under.
On to the prop plays. The Maple Leafs continue to lead the NHL in giving up the most shots on goal. I will play the Wild team total Over 32.5 shots on goal. I also like the Wild to score a power play goal. Minnesota has scored a power play goal in three of the last four and eight of the last 10 games. For their part, the Leafs have given up a power play goal in six of the last nine games.
Minnesota’s Matt Boldy has goals in three consecutive games and scored the Wild’s first goal of the game in each of the last two games. He has opened the scoring for Minnesota 14 times this season. Boldy also has two goals in three games against the Maple Leafs goalie, Anthony Stolarz. Kirill Kaprizov scored Minny’s first goal in four of the last eight games. Ryan Hartman centers the Wild’s top line, and he has two goals in four games versus the Leafs netminder.
On the Toronto side, I will come back with Matias Maccelli to score a goal today and the Leafs’ first goal of the game. Maccelli has opened the scoring for Toronto in four of the last six games. William Nylander has five goals in the past eight games and nine goals in 16 career games against the Wild.
NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Minnesota Wild Money Line/Over 5.5 (+108) – .50
Minnesota Wild Money Line/Under 7.5 (-121) – .50
Minnesota Wild TT Over 32.5 SOG (-106) – .50
Minnesota Wild Over ½ Power Play Goal (-140) – .50
William Nylander anytime goal (+175) – .20
Matias Maccelli anytime goal (+345) – .10
Matias Maccelli 1st Toronto Goal (+950) – .05
Ryan Hartman anytime goal (+330) – .10
Matt Boldy 1st Minny Goal (+500) – .05
Kirill Kaprizov 1st Minny Goal (+440) – .05
Matt Boldy anytime goal (+120) – .20
Kirill Kaprizov anytime goal (+110) – .20
Nashville Predators (29-27-9) at Edmonton Oilers (32-26-6)
Predators (+150) at Oilers (-185) – Total 6.5 (Over, -130)
8 p.m. ET
I am going to stay away from the side and total in this game as I don’t trust either team. Edmonton looked better in their 3-2 overtime loss to St. Louis, but in saying that, they squandered a 2-0 lead. The Preds, who are still alive for a wild card spot in the Western Conference, are coming off an overtime loss to the Vancouver Canucks, who are dead last in the overall standings.
This game does feature a Cheesecake Factory menu list of player props. On the Nashville side, Steven Stamkos loves scoring against the Oilers with 17 goals in 24 games and scored in one of the two meetings between the two teams earlier this season. Filip Forsberg’s (six goals in seven games versus Connor Ingram) and Roman Josi’s (five goals in eight games versus Ingram) eyes must light up at the sight of seeing goalie Connor Ingram in the opposing net. Matthew Wood, in his second NHL season, doesn’t have much of a history against Ingram but has scored in three of the Predators’ last four games.
On the Edmonton side, Leon Draisaitl has absolutely abused the Predators over the years and, in particular, goalie Juuse Saros. Draisaitl has 29 goals in 31 games against Nashville and 13 goals (on 43 shots) in 14 games against Saros. He has also recorded two assists in five of the last eight games he has faced Nashville. Former Nashville defenseman Mattias Ekholm has five assists in eight games against the team that he spent 10-plus seasons with. He has also picked up an assist in seven of his last nine games overall.
Jake Walman subscribes to the adage that “every shot is a good shot.” Walman has three goals in four games on just five shots against Nashville goalie Juuse Saros. Connor McDavid has nine goals in 13 games against Saros. Zach Hyman has 10 goals in 20 games against Nashville and four goals in nine games against the netminder. Lastly, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, who missed the game against St. Louis as he returned to Edmonton for the birth of his child, is expected to return to the lineup tonight. If you believe in the “baby bump” goal as I do, then RNH for a goal should be on your card.
NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Leon Draisaitl anytime goal (+120) – 1 unit
Leon Draisaitl Over 1.5 points (+176) – .25
Mattias Ekholm Over ½ assist (+200) – .25
Zach Hyman anytime goal (+140) – .15
Connor McDavid anytime goal (+115) – .50
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins anytime goal (+200) – .10
Jake Walman anytime goal (+750) – .10
Steven Stamkos anytime goal (+200) – .25
Filip Forsberg anytime goal (+170) – .25
Roman Josi anytime goal (+460) – .25
Matthew Wood anytime goal (+425) – .10
