NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Here are tonight’s NHL predictions and best bets
Vancouver Canucks (21-44-8) at Colorado Avalanche (49-14-10)
Canucks (+365) at Avalanche (-490) – Total 6.5 (Over, -114)
8:30 p.m. ET
If you want to wager on the Canucks tonight because the idea of getting almost four to one on your money, it’s not a bad bet to throw some “pizza money” on the Canucks. I have zero interest in laying almost five dollars to win a dollar on Colorado, but as I laid out in today’s VSIN’s Daily, there are many creative ways to bet on the Avalanche at “plus money”.
The Avalanche are no strangers this season to being overwhelming favorites. Tonight is the 13th time this season Colorado has been a favorite of (-300) or greater, and the fourth time that the Avs have been a favorite of (-400) or greater. The Avalanche has won nine of the 12 games and covered the Puck Line (-1.5 goals) as a favorite of (-300) or greater, and has won all three previous games as a favorite of (-400) or greater.
Colorado has outscored the opposition 20-5, scored at least two first-period goals in all three games, and each time they scored a goal in the first five minutes of the opening period. In their most recent meeting, it was Vancouver who cashed the goal in the first five prop and in their first meeting, the Avalanche cashed the goal in the first ten prop, as well as cashing their alternate team total prop Over 1.5, scoring a pair of first-period goals.
Nathan MacKinnon is just one goal shy of his second career 50-goal season, and two goals shy of tying his career best 51 in the 2023-24 season. He scored two goals in each of the two prior meetings this season against Vancouver. MacKinnon’s linemate, Martin Necas, has picked up at least two points in four of his last six games.
Defenseman Cale Makar is out tonight with an upper body injury (left Monday’s game early), and Sam Malinski is expected to take Makar’s spot on the top pairing and top power play. In Monday’s win over Calgary, Malinski finished with a goal and an assist along with four shots on goal. Colorado’s Parker Kelly has goals in back-to-back and three of the past four games.
NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Nathan MacKinnon anytime goal/Necas Over 1.5 points (+185) – .25
MacKinnon/Macklin Celebrini each Over 1.5 pts (+284) – .50
Nathan MacKinnon anytime goal (-118) – 1 unit
Nathan MacKinnon 2+ goals (+480) – .20
Colorado Avalanche 1st period (-1) goal (+165) – .20
Colorado Avalanche 1st period Team Total Over 1.5 (+160) – .20
Sam Malinski Over ½ assist (+160) – .20
Sam Malinski anytime goal (+600) – .05
Sam Malinski Over 2.5 shots on goal (+110) – .25
Parker Kelly anytime goal (+625) – .05
Goal 1st5 minutes (+160) – .10
Colorado Avalanche goal 1st 10 minutes (+105) – .50
Anaheim Ducks (41-28-5) at San Jose Sharks (34-31-7)
Ducks (-115) at Sharks (-105) – Total 6.5 (Over, -125)
9 p.m. ET
If you like offense, you have come to the right place. These teams have met twice this season and combined to score 22 goals. Instead of playing the Over 6.5, I am on both teams to score 3 goals (+150) and both teams to score in the first period. The two meetings this season have seen both teams score in the opening 20 minutes, and five of the last seven overall. I just don’t envision where either team shuts the other down.
When it comes to player props, there are a few that interest me. Anaheim’s Mikael Granlund, a former San Jose Shark, and current Sharks forward Colin Graf are both one goal away from 20 on the season. The Ducks will be without leading goal scorer Cutter Gauthier, who was injured in the loss to Toronto on Monday, and that should lead to more opportunities for Troy Terry (leads Anaheim with five points vs San Jose this season), who is on the Ducks’ top line and top power play.
Defenseman Jackson LaCombe has points in four of his last five,14 of his last 20 overall and six of his last seven against the Sharks. Beckett Sennecke has points in four of his last six games. If he cashes, playing both the goal and the assist, and even if you split, it gives you plus money and saves you from laying juice on his point prop. Igor Chernyshov is on the Sharks’ top line with Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith and has great value for both a goal and an assist. When it comes to Will Smith, he has registered at least three shots on goal in three consecutive games against the Ducks and five of his last six overall.
NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Macklin Celebrini Over 1.5 points (+134) – 1 unit
Both Teams to score 3+ goals (+150) – 1 unit
1st period Both Teams to score (+150) – .50
Troy Terry/Jackson LaCombe point parlay (+122) – .50
Will Smith Over 2.5 shots on goal (+105) – .50
Mikael Granlund anytime goal (+290) – .10
Colin Graf anytime goal (+475) – .10
Igor Chernyshov anytime goal (+360) – .10
Igor Chernyshov Over ½ assist (+230) – .10
Bennett Sennecke Over ½ assist (+175) – .10
Bennett Sennecke anytime goal (+240) – .10
