NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Here are tonight’s NHL predictions and best bets.
Minnesota Wild at Nashville Predators
Minnesota (-140) at Nashville (+116) – Total 6 (-118)
8 p.m. ET
Minnesota was tied for 10th in goals for last season (268) and was one of three teams with a pair of 40-goal scorers; Kirill Kaprizov (45 goals) and Matt Boldy (42 goals) reached the forty-goal mark for the first time in his career. Kaprizov and Boldy both have six goals in 10 games versus Preds goalie Juuse Saros. Three of Boldy’s goals vs Saros came in a 6-5 overtime win last season. He loves to shoot the puck when going up against Nashville (59 shots on goal in 15 games). He has recorded five shots on goal or more in each of his last three games in Nashville and nine of his last thirteen head-to-head contests versus Nashville overall.
One major concern for the Wild and their offense:t In trying to keep dollars available to sign Quinn Hughes, they could not keep three of their top seven goal scorers from last season (Tarasenko, Zuccarello and Johansson). There is good value on Blake Coleman, who comes over from Calgary and joins Boldy and Joel Eriksson Ek on the top line. The Wild will be without a key player on the blueline with Brock Faber suffering a fractured skull in the final pre-season game. He is out indefinitely.
On the Nashville side, there are three players I am going to focus on. Steven Stamkos was second on the Preds with 206 shots on goal and registered three shots on goal or more in five of his last seven games versus the Wild. Alex Kerfoot was acquired in the off-season and has earned himself a spot on the top line with Stamkos and Ryan O’Reilly. Kerfoot’s assist prop isn’t widely available, but if a sportsbook offers it (+190), grab it. Matthew Wood (15th overall pick, 2023) slots in as the second-line center this season and is slated to be on the top power play. He had 17 goals as a rookie last season, and I expect him to crack the 20-goal mark in 2026-27.
Four of the last five meetings in Nashville have gone past regulation, and five of the last eight overall have had “free hockey”.
NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Matt Boldy Over 3.5 shots on goal (+110) – 1 unit
Blake Coleman anytime goal (+285) – ¼ unit
Boldy/Eriksson-Ek point parlay (+109) – ½ unit
Matthew Wood anytime goal (+330) – ¼ unit
Matthew Wood Over ½ assist (+215) – ¼ unit
Regulation Draw (+310) – ¼ unit
Alex Kerfoot Over ½ assist (+190) – ¼ unit
Steven Stamkos Over 2.5 shots on goal (-110) – 1 unit
Chicago Blackhawks at Utah Mammoth
Chicago (+195) at Utah (-220) – Total 6 (Over, -115)
9 p.m. ET
So many things went right for the Mammoth in just their second season in Utah, highlighted by a trip to the playoffs. One thing that didn’t go right was four losses to tonight’s opponent, the Chicago Blackhawks. The Hawks swept the season series, holding Utah to two goals or less in all four wins. Chicago is coming off a 5-2 loss on Tuesday in Vegas, where they were overmatched for most of the game. With Connor Bedard on the sidelines (recovering from shoulder surgery) for the first couple of months of the season, it’s going to be a bumpy ride for the Hawks and their fans.
NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Utah in regulation (-140) – 1.5 units
Clayton Keller/Vincent Trocheck point parlay (-105) – 1 unit
Edmonton Oilers at Vancouver Canucks
Edmonton (-220) at Vancouver (+180) – Total 6.5 (Over, -115)
10 p.m. ET
This is a classic revenge spot for the Oilers, who lost to the Canucks just two nights ago at home to kick off the 2026-27 season. The Canucks struck for three unanswered goals to start the third period, only to see Edmonton rally late to tie the game at five before losing 6-5 in overtime despite a five-point night (three goals, two assists) from defenseman Evan Bouchard. Vancouver’s Paul Cotter’s first game as a Canuck couldn’t have gone much better. The off-season free agent signing opened the scoring with a short-handed goal and ended the game by scoring the game-winner in overtime.
While I do expect goals and lots of them again tonight, I don’t see another overtime game, and I like the Oilers to win this game in regulation. I will split a unit on Edmonton winning in regulation and their team total Over 3.5. Connor McDavid had a pair of assists in the opening night loss, and I like him again for at least two points. Newcomer Alex Formenton gets another shot tonight to play with McDavid. He picked up an assist last game, and I will split a half unit on Formenton to find the back of the net and earn an assist. I don’t expect another three-goal performance from the Oilers Evan Bouchard, but at almost four-to-one to score (+380), I will take a shot he scores at least once. I am also coming back with Leon Draisaitl to score a goal. Draisaitl had his five-game goal streak against Vancouver halted on Tuesday despite five shots on goal and 11 shots directed at the net.
NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Draisaitl/McDavid each Over 2.5 shots on goal (+111) – 2 units
Edmonton Oilers in regulation (-135) – ½ unit
Edmonton Oilers team total Over 3.5 (-142) – ½ unit
Connor McDavid Over 1.5 points (-130) – 1 unit
Alex Formenton anytime goal (+390) – ¼ unit
Alex Formenton Over ½ assist (+245) – ¼ unit
Evan Bouchard anytime goal (+380) – ¼ unit
Leon Draisaitl anytime goal (+105) – ¼ unit
Leon Draisaitl Over 3.5 shots on goal (+158) – ½ unit
Florida Panthers at San Jose Sharks
Florida (-145) at San Jose (-120) – Total 6.5 (Under, -120)
10 p.m. ET
For those of you out east, do whatever you need to do to get caffeinated. This is the game of the night. Florida is coming off an opening-day win, blanking the defending Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes, 1-0 in Overtime. They are kicking off a three-game western road swing as they take on Macklin Celebrini and the San Jose Sharks. The Sharks beat the Panthers in both meetings last season, outscoring them 7-2 (4-1, 3-1). If you have been watching my appearances on VSIN this week, you know I am very bullish on the Sharks and especially Macklin Celebrini. The sportsbooks aren’t giving us any “freebies” with Celebrini, so I will start off by putting him in a four-player shot prop (see below) to get some decent plus money. I do believe we will see goals tonight from the Sharks, and I like Macklin to be a part of at least two San Jose goals. Give me his Over 1.5 points as well.
NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Macklin Celebrini Over 1.5 shots (+164) – ½ unit
Celebrini/Thompson (Buf)/Boldy (Min)/J.Hughes (NJ) each 3+ shots (+289) – 1.5 units
