NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Here are today’s NHL predictions and best bets.
Chicago Blackhawks (22-25-9) at Columbus Blue Jackets (28-20-7)
Blackhawks (+125) at Blue Jackets (-150) – Total 6 (Over, -120)
7 p.m. ET
The Blue Jackets have been transformed under new head coach, Rick Bowness. Since taking over from the fired Dean Evason, the Jackets have won eight of nine under Bowness, which includes a 4-2 win over these same Chicago Blackhawks five days ago in the “Windy City”.
Chicago has covered the puck line in six of their eight wins under Bowness have scored four goals or more seven times. The Jackets’ third line with Charlie Coyle, Mike Sillinger and Mathieu Olivier, leading the way with 13 goals and 25 points over the past 10 games. Starting on time for the Jackets under Bowness has also been a trend, going 6-2-1 in the opening 20 minutes, and they are 8-1-1 in their last 10 at home after the 1st period. They scored the first goal of the game in nine of their last eleven overall.
The Blackhawks Connor Bedard has goals in three straight and three of the last five against Columbus. The Jackets have won six straight versus the Blackhawks, scoring four goals or more in all six wins and covering the Puck Line in all six wins.
NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Columbus Blue Jackets 1st goal/1st period (+110) – .35 units
Columbus Blue Jackets 1st period -1/2 goal (+150) – .35 units
Columbus Blue Jackets 1st period (-1 goal) +370 – .35 units
Columbus Blue Jackets -1.5 goals (+170) – 1 unit
Columbus Blue Jackets Team Total Over 3.5 (+120) – 1 unit
Cole Sillinger Over ½ point (+175) – 1 unit
Mathieu Olivier anytime goal (+700) – .05
Blackhawks/Blue Jackets Over 6 (-120) – 1 unit
Connor Bedard anytime goal (+180) – .20 units
Montreal Canadiens (31-17-8) at Winnipeg Jets (22-25-8)
Canadiens (-110) at Jets (-110) – Total 6 (Over, -120)
7 p.m. ET
The Canadiens will look to rebound from a 4-3 overtime loss at Minnesota on Monday. The Canadiens have won nine of their past 11 games following a loss and take on a Jets team that they defeated 3-2 in a shootout back in December in Montreal.
Winnipeg returns home following a tough four-game road trip (Jersey, Tampa, Florida, Dallas) that saw them win two and lose two. My best bet for this game is for both teams to score two goals. The Canadiens have scored two goals or more in 11 straight and the Jets have done so in 13 of their last 17 games. Winnipeg has scored two goals or more versus Montreal in five straight and nine of their past 10 meetings. The Canadiens have also scored two or more goals against the Jets in nine of the last ten meetings as well.
A couple of player props on my card. The Habs Josh Anderson has goals in back-to-back games against the Jets in Winnipeg and has 10 goals in 17 games (on 31 shots) versus Connor Hellebuyck. Mike Matheson has points in seven of his last eight games and back-to-back games in Winnipeg.
The Jets’ Kyle Connor has 14 goals in 23 games against the Canadiens, including six goals in the past six games (goals in five of six games) versus the Habs and five goals in six games versus tonight’s starting goalie for Montreal, Samuel Montembeault. Four of the last seven and two of the last three meetings in Winnipeg have gone past regulation.
NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Canadiens/Jets, Wild/Predators all to score 2 goals (+120) – 2 units
Kyle Connor anytime goal (+160) – 1 unit
Josh Anderson anytime goal (+750) – .15 units
Mike Matheson Over ½ point (+175) – .25
Draw (+310) – .05 units
Minnesota Wild (33-14-10) at Nashville Predators (26-23-6)
Wild (-125) at Predators (+105) – Total 6.5 (Over, -110)
8 p.m. ET
The Minnesota Wild are on a 17-2 run to the full game Over and 20-5 to the Over since acquiring Quinn Hughes from the Vancouver Canucks. One of those games that fell Under the full game total was against these same Nashville Predators (3-2 Nashville OT win).
The first period Over in Minnesota Wild games is also on a run as well, cashing in 10 straight and 12 of the last 13 games. While the full game Over did not cash in the previous meeting between the two teams, the first period Over (1.5 goals) did hit with Nashville jumping out to a 2-1 lead after the opening 20 minutes. Nashville is coming off a 6-5 win over St. Louis on Monday, scoring five unanswered goals and sending the home crowd into a frenzy. Eight of Nashville’s last 10 games have had a combined seven goals or more. Both meetings this season went past regulation, but I will point out that those games were in Minnesota, where four of the last five meetings in Minnesota were decided in overtime. Only one of the past four games in Nashville has gone beyond 60 minutes.
Finally, here’s a parlay for you if you have FanDuel available. Both teams to score two goals or more with a Quinn Hughes assist. Hughes is on a nine-game assist streak (14 total).
NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
1st period Over 1.5 (-138) – 1 unit
Over 6.5 (-110) – 3 units
Both teams to score 2+ goals/Hughes assist (-113) – 2 units
Kirill Kaprizov anytime goal (+115) – .50
Kirill Kaprizov 2+ goals (+950) – .05
Vancouver Canucks (18-32-6) at Vegas Golden Knights (25-16-14)
Canucks (+240) at Golden Knights (-310) – Total 6.5 (Under, -120)
10 p.m. ET
The Golden Knights are hoping that a visit from the Vancouver Canucks, with the NHL’s worst record, is a get-right spot for the Knights. Wins have been hard to come by for the Golden Knights, who have lost seven of their last eight and have had to chase games of late as well, trailing after the opening 20 minutes in eight of their last 10 games. The Canucks have dropped 16 of their past 18 games, scoring just two goals in each of their past five games and scoring two goals or less in 12 of their past 18 games.
A couple of props that are on my card for tonight. With Vegas being a (-300+) favorite, I am on the Canucks to score a first period goal. This season, games with a favorite of (-300+) have seen the underdog score a goal in the first period in 14 of the 18 games. I will grab the Vegas team total Over 3.5 (-145 at Circa Sports) as Vancouver has given up four goals or more in 16 of their past 21 games. One Vegas player who has tremendous value for a goal tonight is Alexander Holtz. Holtz is playing on the top line tonight with Jack Eichel and Ivan Barbashev. BetMGM has his goal prop at (+900).
NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Vancouver Canucks 1st period Over ½ goal (-112) – 1 unit
Vegas Golden Knights Team Total Over 3.5 (-145) – 2 units
Alexander Holtz anytime goal (+900) – .25
