NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Here are tonight’s NHL predictions and best bets
San Jose Sharks (38-34-8) at Chicago Blackhawks (28-39-14)
Sharks (-125) at Blackhawks (+105) – Total 6 (Over, -130)
8:30 p.m. ET
I do like goals in this game, and I grabbed the Over 6 last night at (-120). BetRivers is still offering the Over 6 at a playable (-130). Bottom line for tonight is that with nothing on the line for either team, it’s a game for a cardio workout and padding personal stats.
It also features two of the game’s brightest and young stars with Macklin Celebrini of the San Jose Sharks and Connor Bedard of the Chicago Blackhawks. Both Celebrini and Bedard have been held to one goal in the two head-to-head meetings this season. It’s been an MVP season for Celebrini, who leads the team with 44 goals and 112 points and has 55 more points than his linemate Will Smith, who is second on the team in scoring (I know Smith has played only 67 games due to injury). I would think that 45 goals sounds way better than 44 goals, so I expect Celebrini to shoot the puck every chance he gets.
Rookie Igor Chernyshov has taken advantage of his recent bump to the top line, with Celebrini and Will Smith scoring goals (three) in back-to-back games and opening the scoring for the Sharks in each game. The Blackhawks’ Ryan Greene, like Chernyshov, has goals in each of the last two games, and his goals have opened the scoring each time.
NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Over 6 (-120) – 1 unit
Celebrini/Bedard 4+ shots on goal parlay (+139) – .50
Ryan Greene anytime goal (+450) – .05
Ryan Greene 1st Chicago goal (+1400) – .05
Seattle Kraken (34-35-11) at Vegas Golden Knights (38-26-17)
Kraken (+240) at Golden Knights (-300) – Total 6 (Over, -120)
10 p.m. ET
The firing of Bruce Cassidy and the hiring of John Tortorella has had the desired effect the Golden Knights were looking for. Vegas is 6-0-1 under Torts and has points in nine consecutive games (6-0-3). The nine-game points streak is the longest of the season, surpassing the three previous seven-game points streaks. When the Knights made the coaching change, they were in third place in the Pacific Division, six points back of the then Division-leading Anaheim Ducks.
Tonight, with a win or overtime loss, Vegas will win the Pacific Division and face the Utah Mammoth in round one. A regulation loss tonight opens the door for a multitude of first round opponents.
Mark Stone has opened the scoring for Vegas in each of the last three games and has goals in four of his five games overall. He is two goals shy of his first 30-goal season in his NHL career.
I have zero interest in laying the (-300) on Vegas to win tonight, but I did grab at BetRivers the Knights to win and parlayed it with the alternate full game total of Over 5.5 to get me some plus money. With this being a game with (-300+) favorite, our system play is triggered. The Underdog has scored a first period goal in 24 of the 34 games this season with a (-300+) favorite.
Mitch Marner has six goals in 11 games versus Seattle in his career. The Kraken’s Bobby McMann has goals in nine of the 16 games he has played for Seattle since being acquired at the trade deadline and is one goal away from his first career 30-goal season.
NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Vegas Golden Knights ML/Over 5.5 (+108) – 1 unit
Mark Stone anytime goal (+189) – .50
Mark Stone 2+ goals (+1300) – .05
Mark Stone 1st Vegas goal (+700) – .05
Seattle Kraken 1stperiod Over ½ goal (-118) – .20
Bobby McMann anytime goal (+260) – .25
Bobby McMann 1st Seattle goal (+650) – .05
