NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Here are tonight’s NHL predictions and best bets.
Washington Capitals at Ottawa Senators
Washington (+110) at Ottawa (-132) – Total 6 (Over, -120)
7 p.m. ET
For me, this game is all about Caps forward Ryan Leonard, who has had 2+ shots on goal in his last 25 games, dating to last season. The books have juiced his shots prop to over -200, so I will parlay Leonard with the Florida Panthers’ Matthew Tkachuk to pick up a point in the Panthers’ game at Columbus. Tkachuk is riding a 15-game point streak.
A couple of smaller plays. The Sens’ Jake Sanderson has had an assist in four straight games versus Washington and 11 points in 11 career games versus the Caps. Tim Stutzle has 10 assists in 12 games against Washington and assists in four of his last five against the Caps and overall this season. Finally, Capitals games have flown over the total in each of their last nine games and 12 of 15 overall.
NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Over 6 (-120) – 1 unit
Ryan Leonard 2+ shots/Matthew Tkachuk (Florida) 1+ point (+103) – 4 units
Jake Sanderson point/Tim Stutzle assist (+146) – 1 unit
Minnesota Wild at Montreal Canadiens
Minnesota (-130) at Montreal (+105) – Total (Over 6, -125)
7 p.m. ET
The Wild own the Canadiens, having won 19 of the last 21 meetings. Despite both teams having solid goaltending, I believe offense wins out tonight and right from the start. Minnesota is coming off a 4-3 overtime loss at home to Tampa and is 7-0 to the first-period Over after an overtime game dating to last season (3-0 this year). Minnesota has also won seven straight against Montreal after an overtime game. The Canadiens have gone Over the full-game total in six straight home games and eight of nine overall at home.
Lots of great player props to attack in this game. Wild defenseman Quinn Hughes leads the team with 20 assists and has had an assist in eight straight games against the Habs. Kirill Kaprizov, more known for his goal-scoring prowess (goals in 5 of 6 versus Montreal, 7 total), has seven assists in his last five games versus Montreal. Canadiens defenseman Lane Hutson has had an assist in five straight games (7 total). One other player prop for me is the Wild’s Maxim Shabanov to pick up a power-play point. He has earned a point with the extra man in three of the last four games, and nine of his 13 points have come on the power play.
NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
First-period Over 1.5 (-130) – ½ unit
Over 6 (-120) – ½ unit
Quinn Hughes/Lane Hutson/Kirill Kaprizov 1+ assist each (+308) – 1 unit
Kirill Kaprizov anytime goal (+105) – 1 unit
Maxim Shabanov 1+ power play point (+250) – ¼ unit
New Jersey Devils at Winnipeg Jets
New Jersey (-150) at Winnipeg (+125) – Total 6 (Over, -118)
7 p.m. ET
Hockey fans were looking forward to Connor Hellebuyck’s return to Winnipeg to face his old team, but the Devils put that one ice, and backup goalie Jake Allen will get the start. The Devils have won five straight and nine of their last 10, with their only loss coming in the second half of a back-to-back with Allen in goal. After losing nine straight games, the Jets have rattled off three straight wins and are 10-0 versus the Devils when coming off a home win (beat Tampa at home 4-3 on Sunday). The Jets have also played six straight Overs.
On to the player props. The Devils’ Jack Hughes and Jesper Bratt are both riding a six-game assist streak when the Devils are the betting favorite. Bratt is on a five-game assist streak overall and Hughes has had an assist in each of the Devils’ last four games. Nico Hischier has goals in four of his last five trips to Winnipeg. The Jets’ Gabriel Vilardi is on a three-game points streak and has scored four goals in five games versus Allen. Alex Iafallo has seven goals in 15 games against Allen and has opened the scoring for Winnipeg in three of the last four games versus the Devils. Morgan Barron has three goals in the last five games and three goals in the last four games when the Jets are the betting underdog.
NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Jets Money Line (+125) – ½ unit
Over 6 (-118) – ½ unit
Jack Hughes 1+ assist/Jesper Bratt 1+ assist/Nico Hischier 1+ point (+279) – 1 unit
Gabriel Vilardi anytime goal (+250) – ¼ unit
Alex Iafallo anytime goal (+550) – ¼ unit
Alex Iafallo first Jets goal (16/1) – .10 units
Morgan Barron anytime goal (+750) – .10 units
Neal Pionk 2+ SOG/Gabriel Vilardi, Kyle Connor, Mark Scheifele 1+ point (+312) – ½ unit
Florida Panthers at Columbus Blue Jackets
Florida (-120) at Columbus (+100) – Total 6 (Under, -115)
7:30 p.m. ET
Matthew Tkachuk loves playing against the Jackets, as he has a point in 15 consecutive games. His point prop is too rich for my blood, so I am parlaying him for a point with Ryan Leonard (Washington Capitals) to get 2+ shots and extend his streak to 26 games with at least two shots on goal.
When it comes to picking a winner, I will go with Columbus. The Panthers have dominated this series, winning nine of the last 10, including a 7-3 win earlier this season, but Florida has struggled of late, losing three of their last four games, and when you look at the Panthers’ last four wins, two have come against the Blackhawks and the other two were against the Jets during their nine-game losing streak.
I will go with one other player prop parlay. Sam Reinhart is riding a seven-game assist streak, Zach Werenski is on a six-game points streak, Kent Johnson has points in seven straight and why not add Matthew Tkachuk (15-game points streak)?
NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Columbus Blue Jackets Money Line (+100) – ½ unit
Matthew Tkachuk 1+ point/Ryan Leonard (Washington) 2+ shots – 4 units
Sam Reinhart, Matthew Tkachuk, Kent Johnson and Zach Werenski all for 1+ point (+341) – ½ unit
Colorado Avalanche at Toronto Maple Leafs
Colorado (-156) at Toronto (+130) – Total 6.5 (Over, -115)
7 p.m. ET
The Avalanche will look to avenge a 6-3 loss to the Maple Leafs earlier this season in Denver when they face off against Toronto at Scotiabank Arena. While I do like Colorado to win, I will grab their team total, Over 3.5 goals (-124) instead of laying the -156 on the money line. Colorado has scored 4+ goals in 10 of its 11 wins, and the Leafs have surrendered 4+ goals in eight of their 11 losses.
Nathan MacKinnon has had 2+ points in five of his last seven meetings against Toronto and three multi-point games in his last five overall. Auston Matthews has had 2+ points versus Colorado in three of his last games against the Avs. He has 14 goals in 19 games against Colorado and goals in three of the last four matchups. Toronto’s William Nylander has nine assists in his last five games versus Colorado, while the Avs’ Artturi Lehkonen has had 2+ shots on goal in each of his last seven games and 10 of 11 overall. The Leafs’ Nick Paul has had four goals in seven games versus Avs goalie MacKenzie Blackwood.
NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Colorado Avalanche Team Total Over 3.5 (-124) – 1 unit
Nathan MacKinnon 2+ points (+126) – ½ unit
Nathan MacKinnon and Auston Matthews 2+ points each (+493) – ½ unit
Artturi Lehkonen 2+ SOG/William Nylander 1+ assist (+188) – 1 unit
Nick Paul anytime goal (+650) – ¼ unit
Auston Matthews anytime goal (+150) – ½ unit
Brock Nelson anytime goal (+290) – ¼ unit
