NHL Predictions – Expert Picks on Wednesday, December 11:
After 11 games last night, we can decompress with a pair of early games on the NHL card tonight. While the games themselves are not the most compelling, the battle between the Rangers and Sabres in Buffalo is like getting ready to watch a train wreck. Both teams are free-falling and are in dire need of a win. The Rangers were booed off the ice at MSG on Monday after losing to Chicago, 2-1 and are probably happy to hit the road. The Sabres have lost seven straight and blown multi-goal leads in back-to-back games. In Ottawa, the Senators have been a model of inconsistency and face an Anaheim team tonight that should be a scheduled win, but they have already lost their only meeting to the Ducks this season. It’s time for Ottawa to string some victories together and quiet down the Brady Tkachuk trade rumors. Enjoy the games. Here are tonight’s NHL predictions.
New York Rangers (-140, 6) at Buffalo Sabres
7:00 p.m ET
Two teams meet tonight in Buffalo that are in desperate need of a win. The visiting Rangers have just two wins in their last 10 games and haven’t been able to get any of the games they have lost to overtime to at least earn a “loser” point, now find themselves out of the top eight in the Eastern Conference. The Blueshirts are coming off a 2-1 loss on home ice to the 31st-ranked Blackhawks and rightfully so, were booed off the ice by the MSG faithful. From a betting perspective, getting out on the road could be a good thing. The Rangers first period Over (1.5) on the road has cashed in eight of their 12 games and that is a good match with the Sabres, whose home games have cashed the Over 1.5 goals in 10 of 16 games. Early goals have also been a trend in games involving New York. Nine of the last 11 Rangers games have had a goal in the first 10 minutes of the opening period.
Sometimes, numbers do lie or don’t tell the entire story. Numbers will tell you that Buffalo has earned nine of a possible 20 points over the past 10 games which is far better than what their opponent tonight has accomplished. The Sabres have gone to Overtime in two of their last three games and three times in total during this seven-game skid. Buffalo has lost 7 consecutive games and has blown multi-goal third-period leads in back-to-back games. Monday’s 6-5 shootout loss to the Red Wings was the fifth time the Sabres “chased” a goalie this season, yet they have only one win (1-2-2) to show for it. Just as bizarre during this seven-game losing streak is that Buffalo has only trailed once after the opening 20 minutes (5-1-1). For the season, the Sabres have trailed only twice (10-2-4) on home ice after one period of play.
The Sabres won the only meeting this season, blasting the Rangers 6-1 at MSG. Seven of the last 10 meetings at the Garden have featured six goals or more while it’s been just the opposite for the games played in Buffalo. Nine of the last 10 have had six goals or less. Five of the last eight contests have gone to Overtime.
Buffalo’s JJ Peterka has three goals in six games against New York goalie, Igor Shesterkin. The Rangers’ Will Cuylle has goals in back-to-back games and scored New York’s only goal when the teams met in November.
NHL Predictions: Rangers/Sabres 1st Period Over 1.5 (-125) – 1 unit
Rangers/Sabres Goal in the 1st 10 – Yes (-145) – 1 unit
Sabres 1st Period ML (+105) – 1 unit
Rangers/Sabres Regulation Draw (+320) – ¼ unit
JJ Peterka anytime goal (+235) – ¼ Unit
Will Cuylle anytime goal (+320) – ¼ unit
Anaheim Ducks at Ottawa Senators (-245, 6)
7:30 p.m. ET
These two teams met 10 days ago in Anaheim with the Ducks victorious in a 4-3 shootout win. Frank Vatrano had a pair of goals for the Ducks. Brady Tkachuk scored twice for Ottawa, just two of his 12 shots on goal for the game. Yes, 12 shots on goal. It’s the second time this season Tkachuk has had 12 shots on goal in a game. It has been the Ducks’ only win in their past five games. Anaheim ranks 30th in offense and has scored two goals or less in six of their last eight games.
The Senators are coming off a 4-2 loss at home to the New York Islanders despite outshooting New York, 31-13. Tim Stutzle assisted on both Ottawa goals and has three goals and 13 points in his last nine games and is coming off back-to-back multi-point games. His 34 points and 24 assists lead the team in both categories.
Let’s get into some numbers that matter. The Ducks (6-0-5) are the only team in the NHL yet to trail after 20 minutes. The Ducks are coming off a loss to Montreal and teams following a loss to the Canadiens this season have gone 7-3. Ottawa’s Adam Gaudette is tied with Brady Tkachuk for the team lead in goals for the Senators, yet Gaudette is (+375) for anytime goal, and Tkachuk is (+120). Must grab the value with Gaudette. One Anaheim player has value when it comes to the Shots on Goal prop. Defenseman, Olen Zellweger has had three shots on goal in four consecutive games. He is available today at a big plus money price.
NHL Predictions: Anaheim Ducks 1st period ML (+150) – 1 unit
Adam Gaudette anytime goal (+375) – ½ unit
Olen Zellweger Over 2.5 SOG (+160) – 1 unit
Tim Stutzle Over ½ assist (-145) – 1 unit
Brady Tkachuk Over 4.5 SOG (+105) – 1 unit
