NHL Predictions – Expert Picks on Thursday, January 23:
Here are tonight’s NHL predictions:
Ottawa Senators at Boston Bruins (-120, 5.5)
7 p.m. ET
These two teams met last Saturday in Ottawa, with the Senators rallying for a 6-5 shootout win as the two teams are in a battle for the two wild card spots in the Eastern Conference. It was the second consecutive meeting between the two teams that have gone past regulation. If you go back a little further, it’s now three of the last five and four of the last eight meetings that have gone to a shootout or overtime.
The Bruins are coming off a 5-1 loss last night against the Devils and are 4-1 on the second half of back-to-backs this season. With Jeremy Swayman getting the start last night, it will be former Sens goalie Joonas Korpisalo between the pipes for the Bruins. Korpisalo has given up three goals or more in four of his last five starts and four or more goals in three of those starts.
Ottawa was blanked in their last game, 5-0, by the Rangers, putting our system play into effect of a goal to be scored in the first ten minutes and the first period Over 1.5 goals. The Bruins are on an 11-1 run with a goal being scored in the first 10 minutes of their games (and 8 of 9 at home). Today is the fifth time the Senators are in the System Play. They are 4-1 to both a goal in the first 10 minutes and the first period Over 1.5.
NHL Predictions: Goal 1st 10/Yes (-145) – 1.5 units
1st period Over 1.5 (-125) – 1.5 units
Regulation Draw (+290) – ¼ units
Columbus Blue Jackets at Carolina Hurricanes (-360, 6.5)
7 p.m. ET
The Blue Jackets are coming off a 5-1 win at Toronto last night and look to put together consecutive road wins for just the second time this season when they face the Hurricanes tonight in Carolina. Columbus is 0-6 this season on the second half of back-to-backs (outscored 27-6). They lost by two or more goals and have given up four or more goals in the second half of all six games on the back end of back-to-backs.
The Jackets have won two of the three meetings between the two teams this season, with both wins coming in a shootout.
Shayne Gostisbehere has two goals in two games against Jackets starting goalie Daniil Tarasov. Jackson Blake is up on the top line, and he is worth a shot at his big plus price for an anytime goal.
NHL Predictions: Carolina Hurricanes -1.5 (-135) – 2 units
Shayne Gostisbehere anytime goal (+700) – ½ unit
Jackson Blake anytime goal (+500) – ¼ unit
Montreal Canadiens at Detroit Red Wings (-130, 5.5)
7 p.m. ET
The Canadiens have taken both meetings from Detroit this season with a pair of regulation wins on back-to-back nights. Prior to that, six of the seven meetings between the two teams went to overtime. Habs defenseman Lane Hutson is on a nine-game assist streak (12 assists) and can set a rookie record if he can pick up an assist and extend the assist streak to 10 games. The rookie defenseman has recorded three assists in the two previous games against the Red Wings. Patrik Laine has scored in both games versus Detroit this season and has five goals in 10 games against Detroit starting goalie Cam Talbot.
After dropping their first game with new head coach Todd McLellan, the Red Wings rattled off seven consecutive wins but have since dropped three straight and four of their last five. The offense has dried up in the process, scoring just one goal in each of the last three defeats. One thing we can pretty much count on with the Red Wings is a goal to be scored in the first 10 minutes of their games. Detroit games have had a goal scored in the first 10 minutes in 16 of their last 18, and Montreal games on the road have had a goal in the first 10 in 6 straight.
NHL Predictions: Regulation Draw (+310) – ¼ unit
Lane Hutson Over ½ assist (+106) – 1 unit
Patrik Laine anytime goal (+200) – ½ unit
Goal 1st 10 minutes/Yes (-145) – 1.5 units
Philadelphia Flyers at NY Rangers (-155, 5.5)
7 p.m ET
I have no interest in playing the side or the full game total in this matchup between these Metro Division rivals. This game opened with a total of 6.5 and has been bet down to 5.5. The VSIN Betting Splits page shows that the Under is getting just 36% of the bets but a whopping 69% of the money.
What I will be playing is a goal to be scored in the first 10 minutes of the game. The Flyers had their 11-game streak of a goal scored in the first 10 minutes snapped on Tuesday against the Red Wings (they had a 12-game streak snapped as well)
Three of the last four meetings between the Flyers and Rangers in New York have gone to overtime. The Blueshirts have gone past regulation in two of their last three games. The Flyers have played bonus hockey in two of their last four games.
Philadelphia had their 11-game streak with a goal scored in the first 10 minutes snapped on Tuesday against Detroit. I am willing to give them another shot with this prop tonight. In addition to the Flyers’ 11-1 overall run with this prop, it has also cashed in 20 of their 24 road games. The Rangers home games featured a goal in the first 10 minutes in 16 of their 22 games at MSG.
It sounds like the Flyers will go with Samuel Ersson between the pipes, and that is music to the ears of Rangers forward Alexis Lafreniere, who has scored in back-to-back games and has three goals in three games against Samuel Ersson.
NHL Predictions: Regulation Draw (+320) – ¼ unit
Goal 1st 10 minutes/Yes (-145) – 1.5 units
Alexis Lafreniere anytime goal (+250) – ½ unit
Vegas Golden Knights at St. Louis Blues
8 p.m. ET
These two teams will meet for the second time in four days. The Golden Knights rallied with a pair of goals in the final 3:10 to earn a point before losing 5-4 in a shootout to St. Louis. It marked the second time in the last three meetings and the fourth time in seven games that a Knights and Blues game has gone past regulation. Vegas has had a great deal of success playing in St. Louis, winning four straight and seven of ten. The Over has cashed in both meetings this season and seven of the last ten overall.
There are multiple player props on both sides that have value. Jack Eichel has scored in both meetings against St. Louis and Shea Theodore, who had four assists in Monday’s contest, has a goal and five points in the two games against the Blues this season. He has one goal and 10 points in his last five games.
The Blues’ Pavel Buchnevich has six goals in six games when facing Adin Hill. Jordan Kyrou has had at least one assist (six total) in each of the last four games against the Golden Knights. He has four assists in the two games this season.
A goal in the first 10 minutes of Blues games has cashed in 10 of their last 12. It has also cashed in both meetings this season with the Golden Knights.
NHL Predictions: Goal in the 1st 10/Yes (-154) – 1.5 units
Regulation Draw (+310) – ¼ unit
Jack Eichel anytime goal (+170)- ½ unit
Shea Theodore Over ½ assist (-115) – 1 unit
Pavel Buchnevich anytime goal (+330) – ½ unit
Jordan Kyrou Over ½ assist (+176) – ½ unit
Tomas Hertl Over ½ point (-135) – ½ unit
Buffalo Sabres at Calgary Flames
9 p.m. ET
This is the second of two meetings this season between the Sabres and Flames. Buffalo won the lone meeting back in November, a 3-2 overtime victory over the Flames. It’s their fourth win in the last six meetings between the two teams and the fourth time in 10 games they have gone past 60 minutes.
Buffalo is coming off a 3-2 win over Vancouver on Tuesday, erasing a 2-1 third-period deficit and winning for just the third time in 20 games when trailing after two periods and handing the Canucks their first regulation loss this season when (15-1-6) when leading after 40 minutes.
Flames games have gone Under the total in three straight and nine of their last 11. Calgary has been strong on home ice this season, going 14-6-3. When you go inside the numbers, the Flames have been dominant as a home favorite, going 8-2 as opposed to just 6-7 as a home underdog. The Sabres are 6-10 as a road underdog, and outside of their three-game sweep of the California teams in late December, Buffalo has not won back-to-back games on the road this season.
Calgary’s Mikael Backlund has two goals in three games.
NHL Predictions: Flames ML (-130) – 1 unit
Mikael Backlund anytime goal (+300) – ½ unitBest of the Rest:
Kirill Kaprizov Over 3.5 SOG (-105) – 1 unit
Matt Boldy Over 3.5 SOG (+115) – 1 unit
Leon Draisaitl anytime goal (+120) – 1 unit
JT Miller anytime goal (+340) – ½ unit
Washington Capitals/Seattle Kraken goal 1st 10 (-140) – 1.5 units
