NHL Predictions – Expert Picks on Tuesday, January 21:
Here are today’s NHL predictions:
Tampa Bay Lightning (-145, 6.5) at Montreal Canadiens
7 p.m. ET
The Lightning come into Montreal off a 5-3 loss to the Maple Leafs in Toronto and now face the Canadiens in the second half of a back-to-back. It’s the second time this season Tampa will face Montreal on a back-to-back. The Canadiens won the first meeting 5-2 in Tampa. It was just the third time in the last 10 games that the Habs have defeated Tampa. The Lightning have scored four or more goals versus the Canadiens in their last seven wins.
Lightning coach Jon Cooper saved Andrei Vasilevskiy for tonight’s game instead of having his No. 1 goalie play Monday night in Toronto. It may have had something to do with the fact that Vasilevskiy has won 15 of his 19 career starts against the Canadiens, including two shutouts. Vasilevskiy did not play in the December meeting in Tampa.
Slow starts have plagued Tampa of late and in general on the road. The Lightning are just 6-12-5 in the first period on the road while the Canadiens are 9-4-10 in the first period at home. Another first-period trend for both teams is a goal in the first 10 minutes involving games for both teams. Nine of the last 11 Tampa road games have featured a goal in the first 10 minutes and six of the last eight Montreal home games have featured a goal in the first 10 minutes.
I’m targeting several player props tonight. Jake Guentzel has 10 goals in 16 games versus the Canadiens and three in five games against Montreal starting goalie Samuel Montembeault. Brayden Point and Zemgus Girgensons have four goals in six games versus Montembeault, and Brandon Hagel has three.
When it comes to the Canadiens, it’s all about defenseman Lane Hutson. He has an eight-game assist streak (11 total) and we are still getting him at plus money.
NHL Predictions: Goal 1st 10 minutes/Yes (-160) – 1 unit
Tampa Bay Lightning TT Over 3.5 (-110) – 1 unit
Lane Hutson Over ½ assist (+116) – 1 unit
Zemgus Girgensons anytime goal (+900) – ¼ unit
Brayden Point anytime goal (+135) – ¼ unit
Jake Guentzel anytime goal (+175) – ¼ unit
Brandon Hagel anytime goal (+200) – ¼ unit
Detroit Red Wings at Philadelphia Flyers (-150, 5.5)
7 p.m. ET
Just one play in this game — a goal to be scored in the first 10 minutes. The Red Wings have cashed this prop in their last 12 games, and Flyers games have had a goal scored in the first 10 minutes in 11 straight.
NHL Prediction: Goal in the 1st 10/Yes (-155) – 2 units
Ottawa Senators at New York Rangers (-125, 5.5)
7 p.m. ET
This is another game tonight for which I have no feel about a side or total and no trends are pointing me to early goals to be scored. Some player props did catch my eye.
The Rangers’ Arthur Kaliyev has three goals in six games against the Senators dating to his days playing for the Los Angeles Kings, and we get him at a great plus price. The Senators’ Brady Tkachuk has eight goals and 17 points in 16 career games against the Rangers, including four goals in six games versus Igor Shesterkin.
NHL Predictions: Arthur Kaliyev anytime goal (+600) – ¼ unit
Brady Tkachuk anytime goal (+175) – ¼ unit
Brady Tkachuk Over ½ assist (+190) – ¼ unit
Tim Stutzle anytime goal (+210) – ¼ unit
Tim Stutzle Over ½ assist (+134) – ¼ unit
