NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Here are today’s NHL predictions and best bets.
Dallas Stars (13-5-4) at Edmonton Oilers (10-9-5)
Betting Line: Dallas (-120) at Edmonton (-140) – Total 6 (Over, -120)
9 p.m. ET
The Edmonton Oilers return home after a grueling road trip that saw them play seven games in 11 days. The road trip capped off with an important 6-3 win over the Florida Panthers, the team that ended the Oilers’ season in defeat in the last two seasons. Now they face a rested Dallas Stars team, off since Saturday’s 3-2 shootout loss to the Calgary Flames.
The Stars will be without forward Mikko Rantanen tonight, suspended for one game, following back-to-back games with a game misconduct. But the Stars do have the league’s hottest goal scorer in Jason Robertson, 10 goals on his current six-game goal streak. For his career, Robertson has eight goals in 13 games versus the Oilers, goals in three of his last four meetings with Edmonton, and four goals in eight games against the Oilers’ projected starting goalie, Stuart Skinner. Over the six games, Robertson has had 33 shots on goal, including five shots on goal or more in five of the six games (one game, three shots on goal). In addition to his six-game goal streak, he also has a seven-game point streak (10 goals, five assists). Robertson’s teammate Jamie Benn still sits one shy of career goal 400. With Rantanen out of the lineup, Benn gets the bump to the second line and second power play. He has 25 goals in 46 career games against the Oilers.
The first game back from an extended road trip, better known as a “Malinksy Special” (look it up if you don’t know), is not an ideal spot for any team. Players come home, the kids want their time, the wife/girlfriend wants to hang out, you get the idea. In saying that, the Oilers will look to build off their win against Florida and try for their fourth two-game win streak of the season.
Edmonton has yet to win three consecutive games this season. I am going to lay off wagering on either side to win this game, but I do like Dallas to score the first goal of the first period. The Stars have scored a first-period goal six times in the last nine games and five times it was the game’s first goal. Wyatt Johnston leads the way for Dallas by scoring their first goal of the game four times, twice it was the first goal of the game, and he has opened the scoring on the road for Dallas twice. Mavrik Bourque has scored the opening goal for Dallas twice in the last eight games (both on the road) and three times this season.
On to the Oilers props. Leon Draisaitl is on a six-game point streak (four goals, 10 points) and a five-game assist streak. He has 19 assists in 27 games versus the Dallas Stars. Evan Bouchard has 10 assists in 13 games versus Dallas. Jack Roslovic has goals in five of his last eight games and points in 10 of his last 13 games.
NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Jamie Benn anytime goal (+550) – .15 units
Jason Robertson anytime goal (+140) – .15 units
Jason Robertson 2+ goals (+800) – .05 units
Jason Robertston Over 3.5 SOG (-105) – 1.5 units
Jason Robertson Over 4.5 SOG (+210) – .50 units
Stars 1st goal of the 1st period (+145) – .25 units
Wyatt Johnston anytime goal (+170) – .15 units
Wyatt Johnston Dallas first goal (+500) – .05 units
Wyatt Johnston first goal of the game (+1000) – .05 units
Mavrik Bourque anytime goal (+490) – .05 units
Mavrik Bourque first Dallas goal (+1400) – .05 units
Mavrik Bourque first goal of the game (+5500) – .05 units
Jack Roslovic point/Draisaitl assist (+169) – .25 units
Leon Draisaitl assist/Bouchard assist (+155) – .25 units
Jack Roslovic anytime goal (+250) – .10 units
