NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Here are tonight’s NHL predictions and best bets:
Carolina Hurricanes (45-19-6) at Montreal Canadiens (38-21-10)
Hurricanes (-140) at Canadiens (+115) – Total 6.5 (-120)
7 p.m. ET
Thank goodness for the quad box available to those who have ESPN+ and/or the Sportsnet+ App, as this will be one of the four games I have on my screen when seven games drop the puck at 7 p.m. ET tonight. The Habs won the only meeting this season between the two teams (7-5 on January 1) and have won three of the last four head-to-head contests, but they have dropped seven of the last 10 overall.
The Canes’ Sebastian Aho’s eyes get very big when he faces the Canadiens. Aho was in on all five goals (two goals, three assists) in the Carolina loss back on New Year’s Day. He has 13 goals in 23 career games against Montreal, with six of the 13 goals coming on the power play. Carolina’s power play has been on a roll of late, scoring five times in their last 12 opportunities with the extra man.
Andrei Svechnikov has 12 goals in 18 games against the Habs. Nikolaj Ehlers has assists in four of the last five and eight of the last ten overall. He has picked up an assist in three straight games against the Canadiens. Canes defenseman Alexander Nikishin has points in back-to-back games and three of the past four Carolina games. He had a goal and an assist in the New Year’s Day game this season.
The Canes’ 32.3 shots on goal per game is number one in the NHL. Their team total shots on goal prop for tonight is at 31.5. They have gone over that total in seven of their past 10 games.
NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Carolina Hurricanes Over 31.5 shots on goal (-114) – .50
Sebastian Aho anytime goal (+180) – .50
Andrei Svechnikov anytime goal (+230) – .50
Nikolaj Ehlers Over ½ assist (+150) – .50
Alexander Nikishin Over ½ assist (+230) – .20
Alexander Nikishin anytime goal (+600) – .10
Carolina Hurricanes Over ½ Power Play Goal (-115) – .50
Hutson/Demidov/Aho/Ehlers point parlay (+406) – .20
Ottawa Senators (36-24-9) at Detroit Red Wings (38-24-9)
Senators (+105) at Red Wings (-125) – Total 5.5 (-125)
7 p.m. ET
The Sens’ playoff hopes took a big hit on Monday night with the loss of defenseman Thomas Chabot to an injury head coach Travis Green referred to as “indefinite.” Ottawa is already without blueliner Jake Sanderson, so for now, they will have to make this run without their top two defensemen. This is also a horrible scheduling spot for Ottawa, who are on the second half of a back-to-back as well as it being three games in four days, five in seven and seven in 11 days.
The Wings sit just one point out of a playoff spot, and the Sens are two points back. Detroit has won all three head-to-head matchups this season, with each of the last two going past regulation. Ottawa has been the best shot-suppression team in the NHL this season, allowing just 23.9 shots on goal per game. Detroit’s team total shots on goal is sitting at 26.5. Only twice in the last 23 games has Ottawa surrendered more than 27 shots on goal, and one of those was to these Detroit Red Wings (34 shots).
Wings captain Dylan Larkin is a game-time decision, but most signs point to him playing tonight. He has eight goals in fourteen games against the Sens’ starting goalie, Linus Ullmark. With the injuries on the blueline, defenseman Jordan Spence has great value. Ottawa’s Drake Batherson has five goals in six games against the Wings’ starting goalie, John Gibson.
NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Larkin/Raymond point parlay (+102) – 1 unit
Detroit Red Wings Money Line (-125) – 2 units
Detroit Red Wings Team Total SOG Over 26.5 (-115) – .50
Drake Batherson anytime goal (+270) – .25
Dylan Larkin anytime goal (+190) – .15
Jordan Spence anytime goal (+1000) – .05
Jordan Spence assist (+170) – .20
Toronto Maple Leafs (29-29-13) at Boston Bruins (39-23-8)
Maple Leafs (+165) at Bruins (-185) – Total 6 (-122)
7 p.m. ET
The Boston Bruins are battling it out for one of two Wild Card spots in the Eastern Conference and still have a shot at third place in the Atlantic Division. The Bruins have won back-to-back games and most recently a 4-2 win over the Red Wings in Detroit. It was only their thirteenth road win in 34 games this season. Tonight, they are back at the friendly surroundings of TD Garden Arena, where their 26 home wins are the league’s best. They host a struggling Maple Leafs team, who they have already defeated twice by identical 5-3 scores.
As dominant as the Bruins have been at home, winners of 14 of their last 15, and the Maple Leafs are in free-fall, having dropped 12 of their last 14, I am going to take a shot with Toronto. Leafs players will have their “mentors” at the game tonight, and I expect them to play their best game. I understand that Toronto’s best game may not be good enough to knock off Boston at home, but there is value on Toronto in my opinion.
The Bruins (as are the Maple Leafs) are on the front end of a back-to-back and play the division-leading Sabres on Wednesday. This has look-ahead written all over it. The Bruins’ David Pastrnak scored goals in three of the last four Bruins games (all three are Boston’s first goal of the game), four straight games against the Maple Leafs, and six of the last seven versus Toronto. Three of the last four games versus Toronto, he scored two goals, including back-to-back multi-goal games at home versus Toronto. For his career, he has 27 goals in 34 regular-season games against the Leafs. The last four meetings between the two teams have had eight or more combined goals.
NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Over 6 (-122) – 1 unit
David Pastrnak anytime goal (+110) – 1 unit
David Pastrnak 2+ goals (+550) – .05
David Pastrnak 1st Bruins goal (+440) – .05
Toronto Maple Leafs ML (+165) – .05
Columbus Blue Jackets (37-22-11) at Philadelphia Flyers (34-23-12)
Blue Jackets (-135) at Flyers (+115) – Total 6 (Over, -115)
7 p.m. ET
The Blue Jackets are coming off a 1-0 loss to the Islanders on Sunday and find themselves in a battle for one of the top three spots in the Metropolitan Division as well as one of two Eastern Conference Wild Card spots. Columbus will look to make it three straight wins over the Flyers this season and has won four straight and five of the last seven meetings. Three of the last five and four of the last eight meetings between the two teams have gone past regulation.
The Flyers return home after sweeping away the Kings, Ducks and Sharks on their just-completed West Coast road trip. The Blue Jackets’ Sean Monahan has been a volume shooter in his career against Philadelphia, with 70 shots on goal in 24 games (just under three per game). He has had two or more shots on goal versus Philadelphia in six of his last eight games.
NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Columbus Blue Jackets Money Line (-135) – 1 unit
Regulation Draw (+300) – .10 units
Sean Monahan Over 1.5 shots on goal (-114) – .50
Seattle Kraken (31-29-9) at Florida Panthers (34-32-3)
Kraken (+120) at Panthers (-140) – Total 5.5 (Over, -130)
7 p.m. ET
Florida returns home from a (1-3) western road trip that included a 6-2 loss to these same Seattle Kraken eight days ago. Seattle has dominated the Panthers since coming into the league, winning six of the nine meetings. The Kraken enter tonight’s game having lost three straight, scoring a combined five goals.
The Panthers appear to be in load management mode. At Monday’s practice, the likes of Brad Marchand, Mackie Samoskevich, Matthew Tkachuk, Sam Reinhart, and Esa Lindell were four of six regulars absent. What I trust most is that Seattle will score the first goal of the game, and there is a good chance it happens in the opening 20 minutes. The Kraken have scored the first goal against Florida in six consecutive meetings, and five times that goal came in the first period. The Kraken’s Kappo Kakko has eight points in his last 10 games and 12 points in 11 career games versus the Panthers.
NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Kappo Kakko Over ½ point (+150) – 1 unit
Seattle Kraken to score the first goal of the game (+100) – .75
Seattle Kraken to score 1st goal of the first period (+145) – .25
San Jose Sharks (32-30-6) at Nashville Predators (33-28-9)
Sharks (+125) at Predators (-150) – Total 6 (Over, -130)
8 p.m. ET
The Sharks are on a 13-game losing streak versus the Preds. San Jose has dropped four straight (given up 21 goals) and lost seven of their last nine. Nashville has won four straight overall and find themselves in a playoff spot. Nashville is 11-5 this season as a home favorite (4-10 as a home underdog). The Predators have given up two goals or fewer in 10 of their 11 wins as a home favorite. Nashville has scored four goals or more in eight of the past 10 meetings and in 25 of their 33 wins this season.
The Predators’ Filip Forsberg has 15 goals in 29 games versus the Sharks. Steven Stamkos has 17 goals in 26 games against San Jose.
NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Nashville Predators Team Total Over 3.5 (+100) – .75
Nashville Predators -1.5 goals (+170) – .25
San Jose Sharks Team Total Under 3 (-130) – .50
Filip Forsberg anytime goal (+150) – .25
Steven Stamkos anytime goal 9+170) – .25
Vegas Golden Knights (32-25-14) at Winnipeg Jets (29-29-12)
Golden Knights (-130) at Jets (+110) – Total 6 (Under, -118)
8 p.m. ET
The Golden Knights have won nine of their last 10 regular-season meetings against the Jets, including a 4-3 overtime win earlier this season. Two of the last three head-to-head contests have gone past regulation, and the Jets have gone to overtime in three of their last four overall.
Vegas captain and Manitoba native Mark Stone has enjoyed success against his hometown team and, in particular, goalie Connor Hellebuyck. Stone has five goals in nine games against the Jets’ netminder. Jack Eichel has 16 points in 20 career games against the Jets. Winnipeg’s Kyle Connor has had his share of success against the Golden Knights with 12 goals in 21 career games. Mark Scheifele has 18 points in 20 games against VGK.
NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Mark Stone anytime goal (+265) – .20
Kyle Connor anytime goal (+165) – .20
Stone/Eichel/Scheifele/Connor pt parlay (+186) – .20
Regulation Draw (+300) – .05
New Jersey Devils (35-32-2) at Dallas Stars (43-16-11)
Devils (+145) at Stars (-170) – Total 5.5 (Over, -130)
8 p.m. ET
The Stars have dropped three of their last four games overall and are looking to avoid back-to-back losses at home on the same homestand for just the second time this season. The Stars’ Wyatt Johnston is on a tear with four goals in his last six games and six goals in his last 10. He is also riding a four-game home goal streak and scored seven of the last 10 on home ice. Matt Duchene has 26 points in 26 games versus the Devils, while Miro Heiskanen has seven assists in 10 games against Jersey.
The Devils’ Timo Meier has four goals in the six games he has faced Dallas goalie Jake Oettinger. Jack Hughes, who has been feeling it since the post-Olympic break with 18 points in 11 games, has had success against Oettinger as well, with a pair of goals in the two games he has gone head-to-head against his US Olympic teammate. The Stars’ power play has also been clicking, scoring five goals in their last 12 opportunities.
NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Dallas Stars Over ½ power play goal (-120) – .25
Wyatt Johnston anytime goal (+150) – 1 unit
Timo Meier anytime goal (+275) – .15
Jack Hughes anytime goal (+180) – .15
Matt Duchene point/Heiskenen assist (+147) – .20
