NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Here are today’s NHL predictions and best bets.
Boston Bruins at Utah Mammoth (-235, 5.5)
7 p.m. ET
The Boston Bruins (3-3-0) visit the Utah Mammoth on the back end of a back-to-back and playing their third game in four nights. It’s also the second consecutive day of playing in high altitude following last night’s 4-1 loss to the Avalanche in Denver. After opening the season with three straight wins and giving up five goals, Boston has lost three straight and has been torched for 14 goals. I am anticipating Karel Vejmelka to start in goal for Utah. Based on history, the B’s David Pastrnak likes to use him for target practice, firing 26 shots (5,6,6,9) on goal in the four games he has faced ‘Veggie”. While Pasta has just one goal in the four games against Vejmelka, his center, Elias Lindholm has six goals on just 17 shots (35%) against the Mammoth netminder. I am also going to take a shot on Bruins Mark Kastelic to find the back of the net. He has two goals (on five shots) in five games against Utah.
Utah, meanwhile, rides a two-game win streak, including a 6-3 home rout of the San Jose Sharks on Friday behind a hat trick from Nick Schmaltz. The Utah forward is on a nice run of late with five points in his last two games, and his 22 shots on goal lead the team. He has cashed his Over 2.5 shots on goal prop in five straight games. Four of the last five Utah games have featured two goals or more in the opening period.
Utah is 3-1 as money line favorites this season, including 2-0 at home, while Boston is 1-3 as underdogs. The (-235) price is too steep for me, so let me suggest a couple of ways to attack playing the Mammoth. You can play their team total of Over 3.5 (-110) or the first team to score 3 goals in regulation at (-140), which I am more inclined to attack. I would also consider Utah -1.5 goals (+118). JJ Peterka has five goals in 10 games against Boston in his career.
NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
1st period Over 1.5 goals (-125) – 1 unit
Nick Schmaltz Over 2.5 shots on goal (-105) – .25 units
JJ Peterka anytime goal +210 – .10 units
Elias Lindholm anytime goal +325 – .10 units
Mark Kastelic anytime goal +1100 – .10 units
David Pastrnak Over 3.5 shots on goal (-110) – 1.50 units
David Pastrnak Over 4.5 shots on goal +205 – .50 units
Utah 1st team to score 3 goals (-140) – 1 unit
Anaheim Ducks (-130, 6) at Chicago Blackhawks
7 p.m. ET
The Anaheim Ducks visit the Chicago Blackhawks at United Center on Sunday, with both teams coming off losses. The Ducks fell 4-1 to Carolina at home, while Chicago dropped a 3-2 shootout decision to Vancouver. The Ducks have given up the first goal in all four games this season, while the Blackhawks have struck for the game’s opening goal in four of their six games to start the season, twice off the stick of Ilya Mikheyev. The first period Over 1.5 goals has also been profitable when it comes to both these teams. Anaheim games have featured at least two first-period goals in three of the four games, while Blackhawks games have had at least two goals in the opening 20 minutes four times.
On to the player props. Anaheim’s Chris Kreider has had at least two shots on goal in three consecutive games. Chicago’s Ilya Mikheyev is one better, doing it in four straight games. I am going to parlay the two to get us a good plus money price. Kreider, who leads Anaheim with four goals, also has three goals in two games against Chicago’s starting goalie, Spencer Knight. The Hawks’ Tyler Bertuzzi has been bumped to the top line and has goals in back-to-back games.
NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
1st period Over 1.5 goals (-134) – 1 unit
Chris Kreider/Ilya Mikheyev each over 1.5 shots on goal (+141) -. 50 units
Tyler Bertuzzi anytime goal (+270) – .10 units
Chris Kreider anytime goal (+190) – .10 units
