NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Here are today’s NHL predictions and best bets.
Nashville Predators (24-23-4) at Boston Bruins (30-20-3)
Predators (-110) at Bruins (-110) – Total 6.5 (Under, -120)
7 p.m. ET
The Bruins are coming off a disappointing 4-3 overtime loss to the New York Rangers at MSG on Monday night, losing for just the second time in 10 games. Tonight, the Bruins host the Predators, who have dropped three of their last four games and sit three points out of a wild-card spot.
The Bruins are 3-2 on the second half of back-to-backs and will turn to Jeremy Swayman in goal. Swayman has won six of his last eight starts, but he has been torched for six goals in each of his two losses. You know who likes to face Bruins goalie Jeremy Swayman? The Predators’ Steven Stamkos. Stamkos has five goals in six games versus Swayman, so the anytime goal prop is on my card for tonight. But I am not stopping there when it comes to Stamkos. He has opened the scoring for Nashville in each of the last two games and four of their last seven. Ten of his 24 goals this season have come in the third period, so I will also have a Stamkos third-period goal in my portfolio.
Nashville’s Filip Forsberg has registered three or more shots in five consecutive games and three of his last four versus Boston. Ryan O’Reilly has points in 18 of his last 25 games. On the Boston side, there is value on power-play points. The B’s have the fifth-best power play on home ice, and Nashville ranks 26th on the road.
NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Steven Stamkos anytime goal (+195) – .25
Steven Stamkos first Nashville goal (+650) – .05
Steven Stamkos first-period goal (+750) – .05
Steven Stamkos third-period goal (+550) – .05
Filip Forsberg Over 2.5 SOG/Ryan O’Reilly Over ½ pt (+130) – .50
Morgan Geekie Over ½ PP point (+250) – .10
David Pastrnak Over ½ PP point (+150) – .10
Vegas Golden Knights (25-14-12) at Montreal Canadiens (28-17-7)
Golden Knights (-110) at Canadiens (-110) – Total 6.5 (-110)
7 p.m. ET
Golden Knights coach Bruce Cassidy was far from pleased with his team’s effort in Sunday’s 7-1 loss to the Ottawa Senators. Captain Mark Stone said, “It looked like an NHL team vs. a junior team.” I expect a pissed-off and focused Vegas team tonight. The Canadiens are coming off a 4-3 loss to the archrival Boston Bruins on Saturday night despite a three-goal effort from Cole Caufield. Jakub Dobes gets the start between the pipes tonight for the Habs, and Dobes has a propensity to give up the first goal of the game, having done so in 27 of his 38 career starts.
I expect Akira Schmid to start for Vegas, but as of 10:28 a.m. Pacific Time, I did not have confirmation. Regardless of whether it’s Schmid or Aidan Hill, I will be on the first-period Over, the full-game Over and the Vegas team total Over 3. The Canadiens’ penalty kill has struggled of late, giving up nine goals in the last 17 times they have been short-handed, and the Vegas power play is fifth best in the league.
NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Vegas Golden Knights Money Line (-110) – .50 units
Vegas Golden Knights Team Total Over 3 (-136) – .50 units
Vegas Golden Knights first goal/first period (+125) – .25 units
Vegas Golden Knights/Montreal Canadiens first-period Over 1.5 (-136) – .50 units
Vegas Golden Knights/Montreal Canadiens first-period BTTS (+158) – .25 units
Over 6.5 (-110) – .50 units
Cole Caufield anytime goal (+145) – .25 units
Vegas Over ½ Power-Play Goal (-110) – .50 units
Pavel Dorofeyev Power-Play Point (+230) – .10 units
Stone Power-Play Point (+140) – .10 units
Utah Mammoth (27-21-4) at Florida Panthers (28-20-3)
Mammoth (+120) at Panthers (-145) – Total 6 (Over, -120)
7 p.m. ET
This game opened with the Panthers as a -170 home favorite, and we are seeing a big move to the underdog Mammoth despite Utah being on the second half of a back-to-back. The DraftKings betting splits show 81% of the bets on Florida but just 51% of the handle. On Monday night, I grabbed Utah on the money line and on the reverse puck line (-1.5 goals).
I look at this as a horrible spot for Florida. For starters, tonight is the Panthers’ sixth game in nine days. They recently had a six-game road trip, came home for one game, and then went out on the road for three games. They’re back at home tonight and then head to St. Louis after this game. Give me Utah on the money line, puck line and team total Over 2.5. In the Panthers’ 23 losses this season, they have lost by two goals or more 20 times and have given up at least three goals 22 times. Utah’s Dylan Guenther has three goals in four games against Florida starting goalie Sergei Bobrovsky.
NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Utah Mammoth Money Line (+120) – 2 units
Utah Mammoth -1.5 goals (+260) – .50 units
Utah Team Total Over 2.5 (-134) – 2 units
Dylan Guenther anytime goal (+210) – .25
