NHL Predictions – Expert Picks on Tuesday, January 7:
Here are tonight’s NHL predictions:
Ottawa Senators (-115, 5.5) at Detroit Red Wings
7 p.m. ET
The Senators hope to wrap up their nine-game road trip on a winning note tonight in Detroit. After winning three straight to start the trip, the Sens have lost four of their last five. Ottawa is coming off a 4-0 loss at St. Louis, triggering our systems play of a goal to be scored in the first 10 minutes (49-21) and the first-period Over 1.5 goals (45-25).
Since Todd McLellan took over behind the bench for Detroit, the Red Wings have cashed the first-period Over 1.5 goals in all five games. The Wings are 4-1 under McLellan, winning four straight after losing to Toronto in his debut. With a total of 5.5 available, I will target the full game going Over the total. The last five Red Wings games have had a combined six goals or more. Ottawa has won the last four meetings and eight of the last 10.
I’m also targeting some player props. The Sens’ Tim Stutzle has six goals and eight points versus Detroit in his career. Ridly Greig, who plays on Ottawa’s top line, has three goals in his last four games overall.
The Wings’ Dylan Larkin and Patrick Kane have flourished since McLellan was named head coach. Larkin has four goals and seven points in the last five games, while Kane has added three goals and four assists. Jonatan Berggren has two goals in his last three games.
NHL Predictions: Ottawa Senators/Detroit Red Wings Goal 1st 10 minutes (-145) – 2 units
Ottawa Senators/Detroit Red Wings 1st period Over 1.5 goals (-125) – 2 units
Tim Stutzle anytime goal (+265) – ¼ unit
Tim Stutzle Over ½ assist (+165) – ¼ unit
Dylan Larkin anytime goal (+215) – ¼ unit
Dylan Larkin Over ½ assist (+135) – ¼ unit
Patrick Kane anytime goal (+265) – ¼ unit
Patrick Kane Over ½ PP point (+300) – ¼ unit
Alex DeBrincat anytime goal (+195) – ¼ unit
Alex DeBrincat Over ½ assist (+170) – ¼ unit
Josh Norris anytime goal (+255) – ¼ unit
Regulation Draw (+300) – ¼ unit
Columbus Blue Jackets at Pittsburgh Penguins (-155, 6.5)
7 p.m. ET
The Blue Jackets have won the last two meetings, but both those games were in Columbus. It’s a completely different story when the scene shifts to Pittsburgh. The Penguins have won 15 consecutive games and 18 of the last 20 on home ice against the Jackets. Columbus is 3-13 as a road underdog this season. Sidney Crosby has six goals in nine games against Jackets starting goalie Elvis Merzlikins. Elvis is 2-6 in his career versus the Penguins.
I will once again go back to the well with a Zach Werenski shots-on-goal prop. Werenski’s last six games he has had seven, eight, 11, four, six and seven.
NHL Predictions: Pittsburgh Penguins ML (-155) – 1 unit
Sidney Crosby anytime goal (+180) – ¼ unit
Zach Werenski Over 3.5 SOG (-110) – 2.5 units
Zach Werenski Over 4.5 SOG (+210) – ½ unit
Toronto Maple Leafs (-140, 5.5) at Philadelphia Flyers
7:30 p.m. ET
These teams met two days ago in Toronto with the Leafs escaping with a 3-2 overtime win, making it nine wins in their last 10 games versus the Flyers. Six of the nine wins over the Flyers have been by two or more goals and the Leafs have covered the Puck Line (-1.5 goals) in 19 of their 26 wins this season. In addition, nine of the last 11 games have featured seven goals or more. Thirteen of the last 17 Leafs road games have featured six goals or more.
NHL Predictions: Toronto Maple Leafs ML (-140) – 1 unit
Toronto Maple Leafs -1.5 goals (+170) – ½ unit
Toronto Maple Leafs Over 5.5 (-120) – 2 units
Matthew Knies anytime goal (+270) – ¼ unit
Auston Matthews Over ½ assist (+110) – ½ unit
Regulation Draw (+310) – ¼ unit
