NHL Predictions – Thursday, October 31:
Thursday on the ice treated us very nicely, going 11-4-1 on the night (+8.12 units). There are seven games on the card today, and I have plays in four of the games. We have a couple of system plays as I am attacking two sides as well as some juicy prop plays. Looking to build off a big Wednesday night. A reminder that I am off tomorrow and back on Saturday. Here are tonight’s NHL predictions:
Seattle Kraken at Toronto Maple Leafs (-190; 6.5)
7:00 p.m. ET
The Maple Leafs must be feeling good about themselves after handing the Winnipeg Jets their first loss of the season on Monday, 6-4. The line of John Tavares (three goals), William Nylander (one goal, two assists) and Max Pacioretty (three assists) combined for nine points in the win. Tavares is on a five-game point streak (three goals, four assists) and has five points in six games versus the Kraken. The Leafs dynamic duo of Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner have also fared well against Seattle. Matthews has six goals in six games, and Marner has five goals in six games versus the Kraken. The third member of the line, Matthew Knies, has goals in each of Toronto’s last two games and has points in six of his last eight games.
Tonight’s opposition, the Seattle Kraken come to Toronto fresh off an 8-2 thumping of the Montreal Canadiens. Seattle has not fared well against Toronto, losing five of the six previous meetings. Four of the Maple Leafs’ wins over the Kraken have seen the Maple Leafs cover the Puck Line (-1.5 goals). Toronto has covered the Puck Line in all five of their wins to start the season. With the Maple Leafs currently (-190) favorite, they fall into that sweet spot of NHL favorites (-175 to -199) that are 14-8 this season with 12 winners covering the Puck Line.
There are a couple of Kraken players that have caught my eye when it comes to the prop market. Jaden Schwartz has 14 points in 15 career games versus Toronto, Jordan Eberle has 28 points in 25 games and Eeli Tolvanen has 3 goals in six games vs. the Maple Leafs and scored one of those goals against tonight’s starter, Joseph Woll.
Late note out of Toronto: Kraken defenseman Brandon Montour will miss tonight’s game to be with his wife for the birth of their daughter.
NHL Predictions: Leafs PL (-1.5 +120) – 1 unit
Matthew Knies Over ½ point (+05) – 1 unit
Auston Matthews anytime goal (-130) – ½ unit
Jaden Schwartz Over ½ point (+154) – ½ unit
Jordan Eberle Over ½ point (+120) – ½ unit
Eeli Tolvanen anytime goal (+450) – ¼ unit
Anaheim Ducks at Pittsburgh Penguins (-185, 6.5)
7:00 p.m. ET
The Pittsburgh Penguins’ losing streak hit six on Monday after a 5-3 loss to Marc-Andre Fleury and the Minnesota Wild. The Penguins led 2-0 before the Wild responded with four unanswered goals and iced it with an empty netter. The Penguins have been outscored 27-13 in the process.
Pittsburgh has given up four goals or more in all eight losses and lost by two or more goals in six of the eight. I watched their game on Tuesday versus Minnesota from start to finish, and I felt it was one of the better games Pittsburgh played this season.
The Ducks could just be what the Penguins need to end their losing skid. Pittsburgh has won five of the last six meetings with Anaheim, and they will get the Ducks on the final stop of a four-game road swing in six days. Anaheim ranks 30th in offense (2.33 goals per game) and have been limited to six goals in the first three games of the road trip. Troy Terry leads the Ducks in points (eight) and is riding an eight-game point streak (five goals, three assists)
The Penguins opened as a (-200) favorite and the line has been moving to the visitors. Pittsburgh is taking 77% of the bets, but just 54% of the money, according to our VSIN Bet Splits page. Normally, I would jump on the “Dog” in these instances, but with the Penguins’ struggles, it comes as no surprise to me to see the line move in the direction of the Ducks. The Penguins now fall in that sweet spot of a betting favorite (-175 to -199). These betting favorites are 14-8, with 12 of the 14 winners covering the Puck Line.
NHL Prediction: Pittsburgh PL (-1.5 +136) – 1 unit
Montreal Canadiens at Washington Capitals (-215, 6.5)
7:00 p.m. ET
The Washington Capitals are riding high with six wins in their last seven games and get a Montreal team that is coming off an embarrassing 8-2 loss to the Seattle Kraken on Tuesday. Montreal has just two wins in their last seven games.
Two concerns come to mind for those of you who want to jump on the Caps tonight. Could this be a flat spot for Washington coming off games against two of the tougher Eastern Conference teams in the Lightning and Rangers? Second is favorites (-200+) have not been profitable. Favorites in this spot are 21-11 on the season but have lost four straight, and you would be down 8.9 units. If you are considering playing the Caps on the Puck Line to get plus money on your wager, of the last 12 winners, only six have won by two goals or more.
I will be staying away from playing the side in this game and will attack the total and the prop market. The Canadiens are 7-3 to the Over this season. Four of the last five and eight of the last 10 meetings have gone Over the total.
The Canadiens Cole Caufield is tied for second in the NHL with nine goals (one behind Nico Hischier), has goals in three straight games, seven of the Habs 10 games this season, five goals in eight games versus Washington and two goals in three games against Caps starting goalie, Charlie Lindgren. A Cole Caufield anytime goal looks juicy to me.
Alexander Ovechkin has scored 38 goals and 29 assists in 58 career games versus the Canadiens. Ovi had points in all three games last season against the Canadiens. Montreal has given up six or more goals four times this season and have given four goals or more in all but one of their losses.
NHL Predictions: Alexander Ovechkin anytime goal (+120) – 1 unit
Alexander Ovechkin Over ½ assist (+124) – 1 unit
Cole Caufield anytime goal (+150) – 1 unit
Canadiens/Capitals Over 6.5 (+100) – 1 unit
Chicago Blackhawks (-160; 6) at San Jose Sharks
10:30 p.m. ET
The Blackhawks opened as a (-140) road favorite and have been taking money (70% bets and money), according to the VSIN Bet Splits page. Chicago doubled up San Jose two weeks ago in Chicago, 4-2. Connor Bedard had a pair of assists in the victory and has five points in three games versus the Sharks.
After losing eight straight to start the season, the Sharks have won back-to-back games, rallying from three goals down to the Utah HC for a 5-4 overtime win and knocking off the Los Angeles Kings on Tuesday, 4-2.
NHL Predictions: Connor Bedard Over ½ assist (+100) – 1 unit
Connor Bedard anytime goal (+165) – 1 unit
Teuvo Teravainen over ½ assist (+145) – 1 unit
Fabian Zetterlund Over ½ point (-118) – 1 unit
