NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Here are today’s NHL predictions and best bets.
Vancouver Canucks (8-9-2) at Tampa Bay Lightning (9-6-2)
Betting Line: Vancouver (+175) at Tampa (-175) – Total 6.5 (Over, -104)
5 p.m. ET
The Lightning are coming off an impressive 3-1 over the Florida Panthers on Saturday. Tampa is missing seven starters from their lineup, including Victor Hedman, Brandon Hagel, Anthony Cirelli, Ryan McDonagh and Nick Paul. Vancouver has also been dealing with injuries, including star defenseman Quinn Hughes, who missed their last game against Carolina and is not expected to play today. In addition, top top-pairing defenseman Filip Hronek’s status is unclear for today’s game as well.
Tampa has dominated Vancouver over the years, winning nine of the last 10 games against the Canucks. Even with their recent domination of the Canucks, the fact that they are coming off an emotional win over their bitter rivals, the Florida Panthers and being back-to-back, I will pass on playing Tampa today. I do like the first period and full game Over. Tampa is 6-2 at home and Vancouver is 7-3 on the road when it comes to cashing the first period Over 1.5 goals. The injuries to the Canucks blueline have also been a contributing factor to the full game going Over the total. Canucks games have gone Over in eight straight and ten of the last 11 games.
Let’s talk about player props. Vancouver’s Evander Kane has had 4,8,0,4,10 shots on goal over the past five games. I am on both Over 2.5 and 3.5 shots on goal. Brock Boeser has points in four consecutive games and 10 points in 13 games versus the Lightning. His point prop is at (-146), so I am going to parlay his point prop with the Kane Over 2.5 shots on goal to get “plus money.” Tampa’s Jake Guentzel has 13 goals in 14 games against the Canucks and one goal in the two games he has gone up against Kevin Lankinen. Yanni Gourde has points and assists in back-to-back games and has four goals in seven games against Lankinen. Emil Lilleberg scored goals in two of the last three games and both have been Tampa’s first goal of the game.
NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
1st period Over 1.5 (-148) – 1.25 units
Full game Over 6.5 (-108) – 1.25 units
Evander Kane Over 2.5 SOG (-160) – .50 units
Evander Kane Over 3.5 SOG (+162) – .25 units
Boeser point/Kane Over 2.5 SOG (+164) – .50 units
Jake Guentzel ATG (+125) – .10 units
Yanni Gourde ATG (+330) – .10 units
Emil Lilleberg ATG (+2000) – .10 units
Emil Lilleberg to score Tampa 1st goal (+5000) – .05 units
Regulation Draw (+360) – .10 units
Vegas Golden Knights (8-4-5) at Minnesota Wild (8-7-4)
Betting Line: Vegas (-125) at Minnesota (+105) – Total 6 (Over, -115)
6 p.m. ET
The Golden Knights come into Minnesota following a 4-1-win last night in St. Louis, snapping a four-game losing streak. They look to win consecutive for the first time since winning four straight (Oct 14-Oct 20). The Knights have won three straight over the Wild and eight of the last 10, with two of the last three games going to overtime. Minnesota is coming off a 2-0 blanking of the Anaheim Ducks and has given up two goals or fewer in each of their last four games, including two shutouts. Jesper Wallstedt got the win yesterday. With games on consecutive days, Filip Gustavsson should be between the pipes for the Wild. Carl Lindbom gets the call for Vegas.
Braeden Bowman, who was called up earlier this week from the Knights’ top minor league affiliate, scored his first NHL goal last night in St. Louis and has immediately found himself on the top line and top power play unit. Tomas Hertl has cashed his shots on goal prop (Over 2.5) in four consecutive games and has points and goals in three straight. Jack Eichel has had a “helper” in back-to-back games, four of five. He leads Vegas with 16 assists for the season. Brayden McNabb has cashed his blocked shots prop (Over 2.5) in three straight and eight of 10. Shea Theodore has registered at least 2 shots on goal in four straight games.
On the Minnesota side, Matt Boldy has goals in three straight and has scored the first Minnesota goal of the game in two of the last three games and seven times this season. Joel Erikkson Ek continues to find opportunities to get his shot off, as he has had at least three shots on goal in six straight and eight of the last 10 games. Marcus Johansson has points in four of his last five and nine of his last 10 games, and the “books” are still offering his point prop at plus money. I will take it. With the injury to Marco Rossi, Ryan Hartman slots in as the Wild’s number one center. He has four assists in his last six games against the Golden Knights.
Two trends with the Wild. They have scored the first goal of the game in seven consecutive games and have not given up a first period goal in seven of their last 8 games.
NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Regulation Draw (+340) – .10 units
Wild to score first goal (-105) – .20 units
Vegas 1st period Under ½ goal (+148) – .20 units
Jack Eichel assist/Tomas Hertl point (+132) – 1 unit
Braeden Bowman ATG (+300), Over ½ assist (+210) – .10 units each
McNabb Over 2.5 blocks/Theodore Over 1.5 SOG/Erikkson-Ek Over 2.5 SOG (+320) – .10 units
Marcus Johansson Over ½ point (+122) – .20 units
Matt Boldy anytime goal (+180) – .10 units
Matt Boldy first Minnesota goal (+600) – .05 units
Detroit Red Wings (10-7-1) at NY Rangers (10-7-2)
Betting Line: Detroit (+120) at NY Rangers (-140) – Total 5.5 (Over, -130)
7 p.m. ET
Both these teams enter action on Sunday in the second half of a back-to-back, with the Red Wings also playing their third game in four days. Both teams have lost their two previous games at the back end of the back-to-back. Detroit has been outscored 12-4 (7-2,5-2) and the Rangers have yet to score a goal in this spot, being blanked on both occasions (5-0, 1-0).
New York has dominated the Red Wings of late, winning seven straight and eight of the last nine meetings, including a 4-1 win at Detroit nine days ago. The goaltending matchup for today is the same as when they met in Detroit earlier this season, with Cam Talbot (Red Wings) versus Jonathan Quick (Rangers). Quick has won all five decisions against Detroit since signing as a free agent with the Red Wings and has given up two goals or fewer in his last three wins. In fact, Detroit has scored two goals or fewer in each of the last four meetings with the Rangers and five of the last six games. The Rangers have scored four or more goals in five straight versus the Wings and seven of the last eight. The Rangers have also scored four or more goals in seven of their 10 wins this season. The Rangers’ last home game saw them put up six goals against Nashville in the last home game. That equaled their output from their previous seven home games.
Time for the player props. Rangers’ defenseman Adam Fox has 14 assists in 15 games against Detroit and Artemi Panarin has 44 points in 26 games, which includes five multi-point games. Mika Zibanejad has scored the Blueshirts’ first goal this season, five times.
NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
New York Rangers Team Total Over 3.5 (+120) – .75 units
Mika Zibanejad anytime goal (+190) – .10 units
Mika Zibanejad to score Rangers first goal (+650) – .05 units
Adam Fox Assist/Artemi Panarin Point (+140) – .50 units
Artemi Panarin Over 1.5 points (+230) – .20 units
New York Rangers in regulation (+110) – .50 units
