NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Here are today’s NHL predictions and best bets.
Florida Panthers (19-14-2) at Carolina Hurricanes (22-10-3)
Panthers (+120) at Hurricanes (-140) – Total 6 (-110)
7 p.m. ET
These teams met four days ago, with the Panthers rallying from a 3-0 deficit with three third-period goals and then went on to win 4-3 in a shootout. It didn’t get any better for the Hurricanes in their next game when they jumped out to a three-goal lead against Tampa, only to lose that game 6-4.
Carolina goalie Freddie Andersen will make his first start since December 2. This season has been a struggle for Andersen, who has lost his last six starts with the opposition scoring four goals or more in each of the losses. As much as I would like to back Carolina in this revenge spot, there is no chance I could wager on the Hurricanes with Andersen in goal. Add to that the absence of top defenseman Jaccob Slavin, who is out with an upper-body injury. Florida’s Brad Marchand is on a five-game point streak and has points in three of his last four games against Carolina. Linemate Sam Bennett is on a three-game point streak. He has points in five of the last seven games and five of his last six against Carolina.
NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Florida team total over 2.5 (-145) – 2 units
Florida team total Over 3 (+110) – .50 units
Florida team total Over 3.5 (+184) – .25 units
Sam Bennett/Brad Marchand point parlay (+114) – .50 units
New Jersey Devils (20-15-1) at New York Islanders (19-13-4)
Devils (-125) at Islanders (+115) – Total 5.5 (Over, -130)
7 p.m. ET
Jack Hughes returned to the Devils’ lineup on Sunday and gave his team a 1-0 lead only to see the Buffalo Sabres score three unanswered goals and win their sixth straight game, 3-1. Tonight, New Jersey will look to get back to its winning ways when it takes on the Islander,s who have defeated the Devils in four of the last five meetings. Three of the four matchups have gone past regulation. Jacob Markstrom will start in goal for the Devils. With Ilya Sorokin dealing with an injury, David Rittich gets the nod for the Islanders, hoping to end a personal three-game losing streak.
A couple of player props have caught my attention in this game. Timo Meier of New Jersey has 11 goals, tied with Hughes for the team lead. Meier has opened the scoring for the Devils in three of the last six games versus the Islanders and seven times overall this season. Hughes has been a volume shooter against the Islanders, recording four shots on goal or more in seven of the past nine games and six times recording five or more. Devils center Nico Hischier has had at least three shots on goal in three consecutive games and seven of his last 11 against the Islanders. The Islanders’ Mathew Barzal is on a six-game assist streak overall and against the Devils.
NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Mathew Barzal Over ½ assist (-108) – .50 units
Timo Meier anytime goal (+200) – .15 units
Timo Meier 1st Devils goal (+650) – .05 units
Jack Hughes Over 3.5 shots on goal (+116) – .50 units
Jack Hughes Over 4.5 shots on goal (+250) – .25 units
Nico Hischier Over 2.5 shots on goal (+114) – .25 units
Utah Mammoth (18-17-3) at Colorado Avalanche (26-2-5)
Mammoth (+200) at Avalanche (-250) – Total 6 (Over, -120)
9 p.m. ET
The Avalanche are hoping that 13 is their lucky number. Colorado is riding a 12-game home winning streak as the Mammoth come to visit. This is the third meeting between the teams this season, with the home team winning each game. Early goals have been the story for Avalanche home games. We have had a goal scored in the first five minutes in 11 of the last 14 home games and the first-period Over 1.5 goals has cashed in 13 of 16 home games.
Colorado’s Nathan MacKinnon has 30 goals, two shy of his total from last season, and he has had his way with Utah goalie Karel Vejmelka, scoring seven times in 10 games. But rather than pay a tax (-115) on MacKinnon to score, I will parlay a MacKinnon goal with his linemate Martin Necas to pick up a point for some plus money. On the Utah side, I will continue to bank on defenseman Sean Durzi to record an assist. He is on a four-game assist streak. Utah’s Dylan Guenther leads the Mammoth with 16 goals, including two against Colorado this season. He has four goals in four games versus Avs starting goalie Scott Wedgewood.
NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Goal in the first 5 minutes (+164) – .50 units
1st-period Over 1.5 goals (-140) – 1 unit
Nathan MacKinnon goal/Martin Necas point (+126) – 1 unit
Sean Durzi assist (+265) – .25 units
Dylan Guenther anytime goal (+230) – .10 units
