NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Here are tonight’s NHL predictions and best bets:
San Jose Sharks (30-25-6) at Buffalo Sabres (39-19-6)
Sharks (+170) at Sabres (-210) – Total 6 (Over, -120)
7 p.m. ET
The Sharks are a point back of Seattle for the second wild card spot in the Western Conference (two points when you consider Seattle owns the tiebreaker). They kick off a massive five-game eastern road trip tonight in Buffalo against the first-place Sabres, who are riding a seven-game win streak following their epic 8-7 win over Tampa on Sunday.
If there is ever a letdown spot for Buffalo, tonight is the night. They are coming off a highly emotional game against division rival Tampa and face a Western Conference team in San Jose who needs to win this game more than Buffalo. I understand that “must win” doesn’t mean will win, but the Sharks at (+170) are also a great value play.
I also like the Sharks to score the first goal of the first period goal. Macklin Celebrini has goals in back-to-back games and has opened the scoring for San Jose in consecutive games and three of the last five San Jose games and nine times this season. Barclay Goodrow has two goals in two games versus Sabres goalie Alex Lyon. The Sabres’ Alex Tuch has goals in four of his last six games overall and five of his last six games against the Sharks.
NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
San Jose Sharks 1st goal:1st period (+160) – .25 units
San Jose Sharks Team Total Over 2.5 (-130) – 1 unit
San Jose Sharks Money Line (+170) – .25 units
Macklin Celebrini anytime goal (+140) – .50 units
Macklin Celebrini 1st Sharks goal (+460) – .05 units
Barclay Goodrow anytime goal (+1300 ) – .05
Toronto Maple Leafs (27-26-11) at Montreal Canadiens (34-18-10)
Maple Leafs (+140) at Canadiens (-170) – Total 6 (-125)
7 p.m. ET
The Maple Leafs are in a free fall, losers of seven straight and have given up four goals or more in six of the seven losses. For the season, Toronto has given up at least four goals in 28 of their 36 defeats this season. The Canadiens return home from their California road trip off a 4-3 comeback win over the LA Kings after losing to both San Jose and Anaheim.
Tonight is the front end of a back-to-back for the Habs, who play the Ottawa Senators on Wednesday. The Canadiens have won two of the three meetings between the two teams this season. The Canadiens’ last five games and 11 of their last 15 have all gone Over the posted total. Montreal has scored four goals or more in 27 of their 34 wins this season.
Canadiens forward Cole Caufield has recorded four shots on goal or more in nine of his last 11 games against the Maple Leafs and in eight of his last 10 games overall. Toronto’s Matias Maccelli is on a three-game goal streak, and all three goals have been the Leafs’ first goal of the game.
NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Cole Caufield Over 3.5 SOG/Canadiens ML +191 – .50.
Montreal Canadiens Team Total Over 3.5 (-125) – .50 units
Cole Caufield Over 3.5 SOG (+100) – 2 units
Matias Maccelli anytime goal +390 – .10 units
Matias Maccelli Maple Leafs 1st goal of the game +1100 – .05 units
Los Angeles Kings (26-23-14) at Boston Bruins (35-22-6)
Kings (+125) at Bruins (-150) – Total 5.5 (Over, -135)
7 p.m. ET
The Los Angeles Kings are fresh off a 5-4 overtime win yesterday at Columbus and have cashed the full game Over in all four games under new head coach DJ Smith. Monday also marked the 20th time this season the Kings have gone past regulation. Overtime is no stranger when it comes to Kings/Bruins games. Their one meeting this season went past regulation with Morgan Geekie scoring both goals for Boston in a 2-1 victory. The last seven meetings in Boston have all gone past 60 minutes. Bruins players must love home cooking as they are riding a 12-game winning streak on home ice.
Former Kings player Victor Arvidsson has cashed his shots on goal prop (Over 2.5) in eight of his last nine home games. He also has points in six of his last nine games and 12 of his last 15 on home ice. His linemate, Pavel Zacha, has goals in back-to-back games (both opened the scoring for Boston), including a hat trick on Sunday. Zacha is riding a five-game points streak. He also has points in six of his last nine home games.
NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Over 5.5 (-135) – 2 units
Zacha/Arvidsson point parlay (+207) – .25 units
Victor Arvidsson Over 2.5 shots on goal (+100) – .25 units
Pavel Zacha anytime goal (+240) – .10 units
Pavel Zacha Boston 1st goal (+750) – .05 units
Morgan Geekie anytime goal (+190) – .10 units
Regulation Draw (+310) – .50 units
Kempe/Kopitar point parlay (+135) – .25 units
Scott Laughton anytime goal (+450) – .10 units
Anaheim Ducks (35-25-3) at Winnipeg Jets (26-26-10)
Ducks (+110) at Jets (-135) – Total 6 (Over, -120)
8:30 p.m. ET
I believe the Jets have payback on their minds tonight after blowing a 3-1third period lead in Anaheim for a 5-4 overtime loss on February 27. The Ducks have won both meetings against the Jets this season and four of the last five overall. Three of the last four meetings have gone to overtime. The Jets have gone past regulation in five of their last six and six of their last eight overall.
The Ducks are coming off a 4-0 loss at home to St. Louis on Sunday. Anaheim has rebounded well after being held to a goal or less this season, scoring three goals or more in seven of the nine games. The Jets have won three straight and four of their last six, but two of those wins came against Vancouver in overtime, one against the Blackhawks in overtime, and the other against a struggling Tampa team.
On to the props. Cutter Gauthier has opened the scoring in four of Anaheim’s last five games. The one game he didn’t score the Ducks’ first goal was Sunday’s shutout loss to St. Louis. The Jets’ Cole Perfetti has cashed his shots on goal prop (Over 2.5) in nine of his last 10 games and three of his last four games at home.
NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Anaheim Ducks Team Total Over 3 (-108) – 1.5 units
Regulation Draw (+320) – .10 units
Cutter Gauthier anytime goal (+190) – .25 units
Cutter Gauthier Ducks 1st goal (+500) – .05 units
Cole Perfetti Over 2.5 SOG (-102) – .50 units
Edmonton Oilers (31-25-8) at Colorado Avalanche (43-10-9)
Oilers (+145) at Avalanche (-175) – Total 7 (Under, -130)
10 p.m. ET
The nightcap of the TNT doubleheader is a star-studded game featuring Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar and the Colorado Avalanche hosting Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl and the Edmonton Oilers in what could be a preview of this year’s Western Conference Final. The Oilers are coming off a 4-2 over Vegas on Sunday and are in search of back-to-back wins for the first time since winning three straight at the end of January. Edmonton has traded wins and losses over their past five games. The Oilers will look to avenge a 9-1 loss to the Avalanche last November in Edmonton.
Colorado is coming off a 3-2 shootout win over the Wild on Sunday, extending their winning streak to four games, and the Avs have won six of seven overall. Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar were two of four Colorado players who scored twice in the win. MacKinnon has had six shots on goal or more in three of the last four meetings and seven of the last 10 between the two teams, including six shots on goal in the November victory. Oilers defenseman Mattias Ekholm has points in six straight (all assists). His point prop is (+225), and his assist prop is (+270). I will go with the point prop.
NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Colorado Avalanche ML/MacKinnon Over 3.5 SOG (+122) – 2 units
Nathan MacKinnon Over 4.5 Shots on goal (+108) – .25 units
Mattias Ekholm Over ½ point (+220) – .25 units
