NHL Predictions – Expert Picks on Sunday, March 2:
Here are tonight’s NHL predictions:
Calgary Flames at Carolina Hurricanes (-310, 6)
5 p.m. ET
The Calgary Flames are coming off back-to-back shutout losses and have dropped five of their last seven. The Carolina Hurricanes have dropped six of their last eight games. Carolina opened as a (-245) favorite and has been bet up to (-310). We have a couple of systems plays in effect for this game. We are on the “GIFT” (goal in 1st 10 minutes), as well as the first period Over 1.5 goals, and the Flames to score at least one goal in the first period. The trends also point to this game going under. The Flames are 21-8 to the Under following a loss. I will look to playing the full game total live with the hopes that if we get the first-period offense I am predicting, we will get a higher number than 6 for the full game total.
Just to give you some stats to support my reasoning for my plays. In the next game, after a team has been shut out, the “GIFT” is 72-37. When you have a favorite of (-300+), the “GIFT” is 33-19. The first period Over 1.5 goals is 61-48 in the game after being shutout and 29-23 with a (-300+) favorite. The Underdog has scored a first-period goal with a (-300) favorite in 31 of the 52 games.
NHL Predictions: GIFT/Yes (-160) – 1 unit
1st period over 1.5 goals (-130) – 1 unit
Calgary Flames 1st period over ½ goal (+100) – 1 unit
St. Louis Blues at Dallas Stars (-250, 5.5)
6 p.m. ET
Four of the last six meetings between the two teams ended 2-1. Three of those went past regulation and there was a 4-3 game that couldn’t be decided in regulation. Most of these games were with Jordan Binnington in goal. Joel Hofer gets the start today and he has faced the Stars twice in his career. He has a 2-1 victory and a 5-2 loss.
The Blues come into this game on a roll, winning four straight, covering the puck line in all four wins and have given up two goals or less in each of the four victories. The first period over (1.5 goals) has cashed in Hofer’s last seven starts. The “GIFT” has been a great play with both these teams. Dallas is on a 16-2 run, and the Blues have had a quick goal in 14 of their last 17 games. The Stars’ Wyatt Johnston has two goals in two games against Blues starter Joel Hofer.
NHL Predictions: GIFT/Yes (-155) – 1 unit
1st period Over 1.5 (-125) – 1unit
Wyatt Johnston anytime goal (+195) – ¼ unit
Thomas Harley Over ½ assist (+126) – ¼ unit
Nashville Predators at New York Rangers (-170, 6.5)
7 p.m. ET
It will be the battle of the backups as Justus Annunen (Nashville) goes up against Jonathan Quick (NY Rangers). Annunen has given up four or more goals in each of his last four starts (18 total). Quick has given up five or more goals in three of his last five starts.
A couple of player props that I will take a shot with (pun intended). Nashville’s Kieffer Bellows has two goals in two games against Jonathan Quick, and Tommy Novak has two goals in three games against the veteran Rangers goalie.
NHL Predictions: New York Rangers TT over 3.5 (-110) – 1.25 units
Tommy Novak anytime goal (+410) – ¼ unit
Kieffer Bellows anytime goal (+100) – ¼ unit
