NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Here are today’s NHL predictions and best bets.
New York Rangers (14-12-2) at Ottawa Senators (13-9-4)
Betting Line: Rangers (+120) at Senators (-140) – Total 5.5 (-110)
7 p.m. ET
The Ottawa Senators return home after a seven-game, 13-day road trip that saw Ottawa win four of the seven games. In the betting world, we call a game like tonight a “Malinsky Special.” Play against the home team after an extended road trip (five or more games), and we get a Rangers team that leads the NHL in road wins (11) and also has won four of the last five meetings with Ottawa.
The Rangers also have a decided advantage in goal tonight with Igor Shesterkin between the pipes for New York and Leevi Merilainen getting the call for Ottawa. Merilainen is 3-3 on the season and has faced the Rangers once in his career, giving up two goals on 16 shots.
One-time Ottawa Senator, Mika Zibanejad, has points in six of his last seven and 11 of his last 14 overall. He also has points in eight of the last games against the Sens. Artemi Panarin has points in seven of his last 10 games and in six consecutive games against Ottawa. For his career, Panarin has 32 points in 25 games versus Ottawa.
One Ottawa prop on my card for tonight is a Brady Tkachuk anytime goal. The Ottawa captain has 10 goals in 18 games versus the Rangers and six goals in six games against the New York goalie, Igor Shesterkin.
NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
New York Rangers Money Line +130 – 1 unit
Panarin/Zibanejad point parlay +164 – .50 units
Brady Tkachuk anytime goal +155 – .10 units
Nashville Predators (9-13-4) at Florida Panthers (12-12-1)
Betting Line: Predators (+155) at Panthers (-185) – Total 6 (Over, -115)
7 p.m. ET
The toll of back-to-back Stanley Cup wins, three consecutive trips to the Final, and the loss of their two best forwards (Matthew Tkachuk and Sasha Barkov) is reason enough that the Florida Panthers find themselves in last place in the Eastern Conference. The Panthers have dropped three straight and four of their last five, giving up four goals or more in each of the losses. Sergei Bobrovsky gets the start tonight for Florida. He has been leaky of late, giving three goals or more in five of his last six (4,4,6,0,5,3) and four or more goals four times.
Nashville sits tied for last in the Western Conference with Calgary, and the full game Over has cashed in five straight. One Panthers prop play that I have in my account so far is for the Panthers to score a Power Play Goal. Nashville ranks 31st in the penalty kill on the road.
NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Nashville Predators Team Total Over 2.5 (-118) – .50 units
Nashville Predators/Florida Panthers Over 6 (-115) – .50 units
Florida Panthers Over ½ PPG (-130) – .25 units
Marchesseault/Josi/Evangelista point parlay +760 – .10 units
Colorado Avalanche (19-1-6) at New York Islanders (14-10-3)
Betting Line: Avalanche (-195) at Islanders (+165) – Total 6.5 (Under, -135)
7 p.m. ET
There is the Avalanche and everyone else. Colorado has played 26 games and lost just once in regulation. The Avs have won 14 of their past 16 games. They have covered the Puck Line (-1.5 goals) in nine of their past 11 wins. The Avs not only boast the number one offense and are the only team in the league scoring an average of four goals per game, but their 53 goals against are the fewest in the league.
Number one goalie Scott Wedgewood suffered an injury in the Avalanche’s win over Vancouver, so Mackenzie Blackwood will take over the number one duties. Blackwood is 6-0-1 this season with a sub-two goals against average. He will face an Islanders team that has been offensively challenged of late, scoring two or fewer goals in six straight games.
The Under has been the play with both these teams recently. The Isles have gone Under the total in nine of their last 10 games, and Colorado games have gone Under in five of the last six. Tonight marks the return of long-time Islanders forward Brock Nelson. Nelson did score against his former team when the two teams met back in mid-November. Colorado captain, Gabe Landeskog, is riding a four-game points streak and has 14 points. 18 career games against the Islanders. Defenseman Cale Makar has 16 points in 11 games versus the Islanders. One Islanders player who offers great value is Maxim Shabanov. Shabanov has earned a spot on the top line and top power play unit.
NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Maxim Shabanov anytime goal +380 – .10 units
Maxim Shabanov Over ½ assist +250 – .10 units
Landeskog/Nelson/Makar point parlay +392 – .20 units
Colorado Avalanche/New York Islanders Under 6.5 (-135) – .25 units
Toronto Maple Leafs (12-11-3) at Carolina Hurricanes (16-7-2)
Betting Line: Maple Leafs (+170) at Hurricanes (-210) – Total 6.5 (Under, -120)
7:30 p.m. ET
The Hurricanes have been off since Sunday, a sleepy 1-0 overtime win over the Calgary Flames, and have scored two goals or fewer in three of their last four games. The Maple Leafs are coming off wins over Pittsburgh and Florida, outscoring the two teams by a combined 11-2 margin. The Leafs’ improved play of late can be attributed to the return of goalie Joseph Woll, who missed the first six weeks of the season to deal with a personal matter. Six of Woll’s seven starts have seen the game fall Under the full game total. As always, shop around, as DraftKings and FanDuel are offering a 6.5 total for those of you, like me, who are on the Under.
Slow starts have been an issue for Carolina who have led just once in their last 12 games (1-6-5) after the opening period. Toronto is 4-1-4 in their last nine. In addition to playing Toronto on the first period moneyline, I will take the Leafs for the full game. Toronto has won two of the last three meetings, and they have the better goalie. I am waiting on who starts in goal for Carolina before giving out any Toronto player props. On the Carolina side, Logan Stankoven has six points in four games against Toronto, and Andrea Svechnikov has 13 points in 16 games versus the Leafs.
NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Toronto Maple Leafs/Carolina Hurricanes Under 6.5 (-120) – .50 units
Toronto Maple Leafs 1st Period ML +145 – .50 units
Toronto Maple Leafs ML (+170) – .50 units
Stankoven/Svechnikov point parlay +300 – .20 units
