Here are tonight’s NHL predictions:
San Jose Sharks at New Jersey Devils (-350; 6.5)
7:00 p.m. ET
On paper and on the ice, this is a total mismatch. The Devils (10-5-2) are first in the Metropolitan Division and host the Sharks, who find themselves at the very bottom of the league standings, 32nd out of 32 teams. New Jersey is coming off a thrilling 4-3 overtime win on Saturday against the Islanders. The Devils scored two goals in the final five minutes of regulation and the tying goal with 50 seconds left, setting the stage for Jack Hughes’ OT winner. New Jersey also fits the trend of betting on a home favorite (-200+) coming off a win. Teams in this spot are now 18-1 following wins by Florida and Toronto on Saturday night. Yes, everything points to the Devils running their win streak to three today, but I am going to make a case for why the Sharks are the play today and why I don’t like this spot for New Jersey.
The Devils are coming off an emotional win on Saturday versus their New York neighbors and division rival, the New York Islanders. After today’s game against the Sharks, the Devils have a pair of games at Florida against the Panthers, they are at Tampa, host Carolina and then at Washington. Call it a “sandwich game,” “trap game,” or “look ahead game.” They all apply. I will make a pair of small plays on the Sharks today, including San Jose on the Alternate Line (-1.5). Of the last 11 games won by the underdog in the NHL, they have won by two or more goals eight times.
NHL Predictions: San Jose Sharks ML (+280) – ¼ unit
San Jose Sharks -1.5 (+530) – ¼ unit
Minnesota Wild (-180,6) at Chicago Blackhawks
7:00 p.m. ET
Minnesota enters play today coming off back-to-back wins and have won five of their past six games. The Wild have been road warriors this season, going 7-1-1. Kirill Kaprizov has had two or more points in each of Minnesota’s last eight games away from home, including back-to-back three-point games. In fact, Kaprizov has had six games this season with three points. His 27 points for the season are just two back of league leader Nathan MacKinnon.
There is no reason why the winning ways for the Wild won’t continue today as they travel to Chicago for a game against the Blackhawks. The Wild have won 12 consecutive games against Chicago and have covered the Puck Line in eight of the 12 wins. Minnesota has won by two or more goals in eight of their 10 wins this season. The Blackhawks have failed to cover the puck line in seven of their 10 losses.
Minnesota’s Matt Zuccarello has scored four goals in nine games against the Blackhawks’ expected starting goalie, Peter Mrazek. Chicago has scored just one goal in each of their past two games but one of those came off the stick of Tyler Bertuzzi. Bertuzzi, not only leads the Hawks in goals this season but has five goals in 10 career games versus the Minnesota Wild.
NHL Predictions: Minnesota Wild in Regulation (-115) – 1 unit
Minnesota Wild -1.5 goals (+135) – ½ unit
Matt Zuccarello anytime goal (+240) – ¼ unit
Tyler Bertuzzi anytime goal (+245) – ¼ unit
Kirill Kaprizov over 1.5 pts (+115) – ¼ unit
Kirill Kaprizov over 2.5 pts (+350) – ¼ unit
Columbus Blue Jackets at Anaheim Ducks (-140, 6.5)
8:00 p.m. ET
I am not going to waste any of your time with a write-up on this game between two bad teams. I will go back to the well with the Sean Monahan shots on goal prop of Over 2.5. I just need to know which one of you couldn’t keep this a secret because the “books” have now adjusted the line from plus money to (-110). Monahan has cashed this prop in eight of his last nine games and 10 of 13 for the season following last night’s game in Los Angeles.
NHL Prediction: Sean Monahan Over 2.5 SOG (-110) – 1. 5 units
