NHL Predictions – Expert Picks on Wednesday, April 16:
Here are tonight’s NHL predictions:
Carolina Hurricanes (-110, 5.5) at Montreal Canadiens
7 p.m. ET
Despite dropping three in a row, the Montreal Canadiens still control their destiny in their quest to return to the playoffs for the first time in four seasons. The Canadiens’ three-year playoff drought matches their longest in the storied franchise history. A Habs win or overtime loss and they will secure the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference and a first-round matchup against the Washington Capitals.
With the Hurricanes locked into a first-round playoff series with the New Jersey Devils, head coach Rod Brind’Amour has stated that he will give some of his players dealing with nagging injuries the night off. “Hey, we’ve gotta be as healthy as can be,” Brind’Amour said. “That’s the kind of decisions, and I think we’re leaning more on, Let’s get our guys healthy.”
Sebastian Aho, Jackson Blake, Jalen Chatfield, Seth Jarvis, Jordan Martinook, Jaccob Slavin and Jordan Staal were absent from this morning’s skate for Carolina. It’s not clear if all seven players will not play tonight. The Hurricanes did recall four players from their top minor league team. This line keeps moving with the uncertainty of who will be in the Hurricanes’ lineup tonight.
Montreal certainly won’t complain about the Hurricanes resting key players. The teams split their two meetings this season, but the Canes have won nine of the last 10 and seventeen of the last 20 meetings. A couple of Montreal player props that are on my card for tonight include Montreal’s Nick Suzuki, who scored in the Canadiens 4-0 win over Carolina earlier this season. Suzuki is also one goal shy of back-to-back 30-goal seasons. I will also come back with Ivan Demidov to score a goal and an assist. Demidov, who made his NHL debut on Monday, scored a goal and had an assist. It’s interesting that Demidov was (+230) on Monday, and despite scoring a goal in the game, he is at an even more favorable price tonight (+300). The Regulation Draw is also in place with the
NHL Predictions:
Montreal Canadiens ML +102 – .50 units
Regulation Draw +320 – .25 units
Nick Suzuki anytime goal +210 – .25 units
Ivan Demidov anytime goal +290 – .25 units
Ivan Demidov Over ½ assist +186 – .25 units
Anaheim Ducks at Winnipeg Jets (-300, 5.5)
7 p.m. ET
The only deep dive necessary for tonight’s game between the Ducks and the Jets is where the best value is when it comes to player props. Anaheim’s Alex Killorn is one goal shy of his fourth career 20-goal season. Killorn has scored two goals on four shots in the five games he has gone up against Winnipeg’s projected starting goalie, Eric Comrie. Troy Terry scored three goals in the two previous meetings this season versus the Jets and has six goals in 14 career games against the Jets. Sam Colangelo has goals in back-to-back games. Cutter Gauthier plays on the Ducks’ top line and power play unit. One Jets player on my card tonight is Alex Iafallo, who was rewarded today with a new three-year contract. Iafallo plays on the Jets’ top line.
NHL Predictions:
Alex Killorn anytime goal +360 – ¼ unit
Cutter Gauthier anytime goal +400 – ¼ unit
Troy Terry anytime goal +310 – ¼ unit
Sam Colangelo anytime goal +650 – ¼ unit
Alex Iafallo anytime goal +240 – ¼ unit
Vegas Golden Knights (-115, 5.5) at Vancouver Canucks
10 p.m. ET
This game is all about Vancouver Canucks goal props. The Vegas Golden Knights are coming off a 5-4 shootout loss at Calgary last night. Their biggest focus for tonight is to get through the game healthy and be ready to go for round one of the Stanley Cup playoffs against the Minnesota Wild. The Canucks’ Conor Garland and Kiefer Sherwood are both one goal away from 20. For Sherwood, it would be his first career 20-goal season. Pius Suter has already established a career high with 24 goals, but round numbers like 25 look a lot better when it comes to contract negotiations, and Suter is an impending UFA. Jake DeBrusk has goals in four straight games and is two points shy of matching his career high of 50 points. On a personal note, DeBrusk is one point shy of his projected point total for the season of 48.5. I have the Over, so please, Jake, help me out. Before I decide to add any Golden Knights player props, I need to see who starts in goal for Vancouver.
NHL Predictions:
Conor Garland anytime goal +300 – .25 units
Kiefer Sherwood anytime goal +360 – .25 units
Jake DeBrusk anytime goal +260 – .25 units
Pius Suter anytime goal +260 – .25 units
Edmonton (-225, 6.5) at San Jose Sharks
10:30 p.m. ET
The Oilers will once again bring their “B Team” for their game tonight against the Sharks as they prepare for their first-round matchup against the Los Angeles Kings. In addition to resting Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl and Zach Hyman, Mattias Ekholm is out due to injury. Darnell Nurse is serving a one-game suspension for his cross-check to the back of the head of Quinton Byfield in Monday’s game against the Los Angeles Kings. With all this star power out of the lineup for Edmonton, it now becomes a “fair fight” for the Sharks, and at this price, I am on the home team. There are two Oilers props that I will have on my betting card for tonight. Evan Bouchard is one goal away from 15. Connor Brown has four goals in the last four games.
NHL Predictions:
San Jose Sharks ML +185 – 1 unit
Evan Bouchard anytime goal +360 – .20 units
Connor Brown anytime goal +310 – .20 units
Macklin Celebrini anytime goal +215 – .20 units
Will Smith anytime goal +280 – .20 units
