NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Here are today’s NHL predictions and best bets.
New York Rangers at Toronto Maple Leafs (-135, 6)
7 p.m. ET
The Rangers are coming off back-to-back shutouts on home ice and now hit the road for a pair of games starting tonight in Toronto, where they hope they can regain their scoring touch. While the Rangers are looking for their first goal at home, they have outscored the opposition 10-1 on the road. Mika Zibanejad has one of those goals for the Blueshirts. For his career, he has four goals in seven games versus Leafs starting goalie, Anthony Stolarz. The Rangers forward also leads the team this season with 22 shots on goal and has cashed his Over 2.5 shots on goal prop in three straight and four of the five games (3,7,4,1,7) to start the season.
With no Mitch Marner getting him the puck, Auston Matthews has had to do more of the heavy lifting to start the season. Matthews’ 20 shots on goal lead the team and are more than his other linemates (Matthew Knies, Matias Maccelli or Easton Cowan) at even strength combined (14). After being held to just one shot on goal in the opening game, Matthews has had 19 shots on goal (5,8,6) in the past three games, easily cashing his shots on goal prop of 3.5 as well as the alternate prop of 4.5.
I am laying off both the side and the total tonight, but shop around on the total depending on your preference on the Over or the Under, as I am seeing 5.5 and 6s out there.
NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Mika Zibanejad Over 2.5 shots on goal (-120) – .40 units
Mika Zibanejad anytime goal (+240) – .10 units
Auston Matthews Over 3.5 shots on goal (-146) – 1 unit
Auston Matthews Over 4.5 shots on goal (+150) – .40 units
Nashville Predators at Montreal Canadiens (-150, 5.5)
7 p.m. ET
The Canadiens find themselves as the home betting favorite for just the 21st time in their past 124 home games. In the previous 20 home games as the favorite, the Canadiens are 16-4. Montreal has won the last three meetings and four of the last five over Nashville. Montreal is starting Jakub Dobes tonight and not Sam Montembeault. Dobes has given up the first goal in 16 of his 18 career starts, including his only start this season at Detroit. After falling behind 1-0, Montreal scored the next five goals and won the game, 5-1. If the Preds score the first goal of the game, I will play the Canadiens on the “live line” to win the game.
To no surprise, Nick Suzuki (0 goals, six assists) and Cole Caufield (three goals, two assists) lead the Habs in scoring, but just behind them is the veteran Brendan Gallagher (0 goals, four assists). Among active Montreal players, his eight goals, including three on Nashville’s projected starter Juuse Saros, lead the team. He is coming off a three-assist night against Seattle on Tuesday and has had an assist in two of the four games this season. He also sees time on the second power play unit.
NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Nashville to score the 1st goal of the game (+105) – .50 units
Montreal to win in regulation (+105) – .50 units
Brendan Gallagher assist (+330) – .10 units
Brendan Gallagher goal (+350) – .10 units
Steven Stamkos/Jonathan Marchessault parlay each Over 1.5 shots on goal (-109) – .50 units
Colorado Avalanche (-160, 6.5) at Columbus Blue Jackets
7 p.m. ET
This game is all about the props for me. Let’s start with the first period going Over 1.5 goals. Six of the last seven meetings between the two teams have featured two goals or more. Columbus is starting Elvis Merzlikins tonight. He has some ugly numbers against the Avalanche, going 1-4 with a 4.70 goals-against average and an .871 save percentage. Nathan MacKinnon has three goals in five games versus Elvis and goals in three straight overall. Cale Makar has three goals in four games against Merzllikins, and Martin Necas has 16 assists in 25 games versus the Jackets and has gotten off to a solid start to the season with five assists in four games. Zach Werenski leads the Jackets in shots on goal with 19 (7,7,5), and his shots prop at Over 3.5 is available at plus money. The Jackets have shaken up the power play units with Charlie Coyle getting bumped up to the top unit.
NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Zach Werenski Over 3.5 shots on goal (+112) – .50 units
Zach Werenski Over 4.5 shots on goal (+240) – .20 units
Charlie Coyle over ½ power play point (+650) – .10 units
Nathan MacKinnon anytime goal (+115) – .10 units
Cale Makar anytime goal (+350) – .10 units
Martin Necas Over ½ assist (-105) – .20 units
Edmonton Oilers (-165, 5.5) at NY Islanders
7:30 p.m. ET
The Oilers have yet to lose in regulation, and the Islanders have yet to win a game this season in any fashion. New York has lost four of the last five meetings to the Oilers and will turn to former Calgary Flames goalie David Rittich, making his Islanders debut, to get the Islanders into the win column. Rittich is 5-5-1 lifetime versus the Oilers. Connor McDavid (still without a goal this season) and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins each have five goals in 13 career games against Rittich. Andrew Mangiapane, playing on the top line with McDavid, has points in all three games. The Islanders’ Anders Lee is still looking for his first goal of the season. Tonight could be the night. Lee has three goals in three games against Oilers goalie Stuart Skinner. First overall pick, Matthew Schaefer leads all Islanders defensemen in time on ice. Schaefer has points in all three games to start the season and has 12 shots on goal (4,8) in the last two games. Tony DeAngelo, second in minutes on the blueline, has cashed his shots on goal prop (Over 1.5) in all three games.
NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Matthew Schaefer Over 2.5 shots on goal (+165) – .30 units
Tony DeAngelo Over 1.5 shots on goal (-125) – .30 units
Anders Lee anytime goal (+300) – .10 units
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins anytime goal (+250) – .10 units
Connor McDavid anytime goal (+135) – .10 units
Andrew Mangiapane Over ½ point (+115) – .20 units
Vancouver Canucks at Dallas Stars (-180, 5.5)
8 p.m. ET
The Stars’ offense is clicking as Dallas has scored at least four goals in all three games (all victories) this season, with each game going Over the full game total. Thomas Harley and Mikko Rantanen have picked up an assist in each game. Rantanen has 16 goals in 21 games against Vancouver. Jason Robertson leads the team with 16 shots on goal and has cashed his shots on goal prop (Over 2.5) in all three games. Robertson (two goals, two assists) also has a point in each game. Vancouver’s Tyler Myers has had at least two blocked shots in all three games this season.
NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Vancouver/Dallas Over 5.5 (-134) – 1 unit
Jason Robertson over 2.5 shots on goal (-155) – .35 units
Mikko Rantanen anytime goal (+125) – .10 units
Thomas Harley Over ½ assist (+128) – .25 units Jason Robertson/Mikko Rantanen/Roope Hintz point parlay (+140) – .25 units
Tyler Myers Over 1.5 blocked shots (-130) – .25 units
