NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Here are today’s NHL predictions and best bets.
Pittsburgh Penguins (28-15-12) at Buffalo Sabres (32-18-6)
Penguins (+115) at Sabres (-135) – Total 6.5 (Over, -125)
7 p.m. ET
After winning six straight, the Penguins have dropped back-to-back games (both by one goal) and now head into Buffalo and face a Buffalo team that has lost two of three but has won six of their last eight. I am going to pass on playing either team on the money line because I can make a case for both sides. Generally, when I like to back the Penguins, I will play their team total Over 3.5 goals. The Pens have scored four or more goals in 25 of their 28 wins this season.
The goaltending matchup will see Arturs Silovs for Pittsburgh and Alex Lyon for Buffalo. Silovs is making his first career start against the Sabres. Lyon has just two wins in five decisions against Pittsburgh with a goals against average of 4.62.
The Penguins’ Egor Chinakhov has goals in three of his last four games, goals in each of his last two games against Buffalo, including scoring against Alex Lyon in their one head-to-head matchup. Sidney Crosby has goals in four of the six games he has gone up against Lyon. Buffalo’s Rasmus Dahlin has an assist in five consecutive games; Ryan McLeod has an assist in six of the last seven, and Jack Quinn has points in eight of the last ten.
NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Ryan McLeod Over ½ assist (+146) – .50
Ryan McLeod assist/Dahlin assist/Quinn point (+404) – .20
Egor Chinakhov anytime goal (+360) – .15
Sidney Crosby anytime goal (+180) – .10
Anthony Mantha anytime goal (+355) – .10
Los Angeles Kings (23-18-14) at Vegas Golden Knights (26-16-14)
Kings (+110) at Golden Knights (-135) – Total 5.5 (Over, -135)
10 p.m. ET
The Kings and Golden Knights renew their rivalry for the third time this season. The teams have split their first two meetings, with each team winning on the road: the Kings in a shootout, the Knights in overtime. It should come as no surprise that these teams needed extra time to decide a winner. LA has a league-leading 24 games that have gone past regulation, and Vegas is right behind with 21 games. Five of the last six meetings between the two teams have had a combined seven or more goals.
There are some appealing player props available. The Kings’ Brandt Clarke has three goals and seven points in six games against the Golden Knights, and Andrei Kuzmenko has five goals and nine points in nine games, which includes a pair of power play goals. Six of the last nine games in which Kuzmenko has earned a point have come with the extra man.
On the Vegas side, Pavel Dorofeyev scored six goals in 11 games versus the Kings, which includes a hat trick against tonight’s starting goalie, Anton Forsberg, when the teams met on opening night this season. Tomas Hertl has four goals in five games against the Kings’ netminder.
NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Regulation Draw (+300) – .10
Brandt Clarke anytime goal (+750) – .10
Brandt Clarke Over ½ assist (+162) – .25
Andrei Kuzmenko Over ½ power play point (+450) – .05
Andrei Kuzmenko anytime goal (+325) – .10
Pavel Dorofeyev anytime goal (+220) – .10
Tomas Hertl anytime goal (+240) – .10
