NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Here are tonight’s NHL predictions and best bets:
Pittsburgh Penguins (34-18-15) at Carolina Hurricanes (42-19-6)
Penguins (+125) at Hurricanes (-150) – Total 6 (Over, -120)
7 p.m. ET
The Penguins will wrap up their five-game road trip in the same place they started. They head into Carolina looking to snap a nine-game losing streak at the Lenovo Center. The Pens scored a pair of goals in the final 128 seconds before losing in a shootout (5-4), eight days ago. Carolina is coming off a 5-1 loss last night at Columbus and are 5-6 this season on the second half of back-to-backs.
With Brandon Bussi getting the start last night, Freddie Andersen should be between the pipes for tonight’s game. The Pens scored nine goals on Andersen in the two games this season that they have faced him. Carolina opened as a (-170) favorite last night. We are seeing this line move towards the Penguins, as Carolina is now a (-150) favorite. I moved on the Penguins last night and grabbed their team total and laddered it up to Over 3.5.
The Hurricanes are not in the best form of late, having lost three of their past five games. If you factor in Pittsburgh’s success this season against Andersen, along with the statistic that the Penguins have scored four goals or more in 31 of their 34 wins this season, their team total provides far more value than the money line.
On to the props. Pittsburgh’s Anthony Mantha has goals in back-to-back games, four of his last five, and three goals against Andersen this season. Noel Acciari has goals in back-to-back games and three of his last four games. Canes defenseman Alexander Nikishin had a goal and an assist in the first meeting between the two teams this season. He anchors Carolina’s top power play. Mark Jankowski has scored in both games this season against the Pens.
Late-breaking news for this game: All signs are pointing to Sidney Crosby returning to the Penguins lineup. I will add Crosby props when they become more widely available.
NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Pittsburgh Penguins Team Total Over 2.5 (-130) – 2 units
Pittsburgh Penguins Team Total Over 3 (+130) – 1 unit
Pittsburgh Penguins Team Total Over 3.5 (+190) – .50 units
Anthony Mantha anytime goal (+295) – .10 units
Noel Acciari anytime goal (+950) – .05 units
Mark Jankowski anytime goal (+750) – .05 units
Alexander Nikishin Over ½ assist (+220) – .05 units
Alexander Nikishin anytime goal (+650) – .05 units
Yegor Chinakhov Over 2.5 SOG (+198) – .25 units
Note: Penguins Team Total wagers are based on goals being scored in regulation (BetRivers).
New Jersey Devils (34-31-2) at New York Rangers (28-31-8)
Devils (-120) at Rangers (+100) – Total 6 (Over, -120)
7 p.m. ET
I grabbed the Over 5.5 (-135) last night and would still play the full game Over at 6. The Devils have gone Over the full game total in six of their last seven games. Rangers games have had at least six goals in six of their last eight games (five of the eight had 7+ goals).
These two teams met 11 days ago, with the Devils coming away with a 6-3 win, led by Jack Hughes, who had a hat trick and added an assist. He now has four consecutive multi-point games against the Rangers to go along with 19 goals in 24 games versus the Blueshirts. The Devils scored three times in the lone meeting with the Rangers this season and are 8 for 13 in the last five games with the extra man.
NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Jack Hughes Over 1.5 pts (+155) – .50 units
Jack Hughes anytime goal (+140) – 1 unit
New Jersey Devils Over ½ Power Play Goal (-105) – .25
New Jersey Devils Team Total Over 29.5 SOG (-114) – .25
New Jersey Devils/New York Rangers Over 6 (-120) – 1 unit
Ottawa Senators (34-23-9) at Washington Capitals (33-27-8)
Senators (-130) at Capitals (+110) – Total 6 (-110)
7:30 p.m. ET
This game opened with the Sens as a small (-115) road favorite and has been bet up to (-130). Ottawa is 13-5 this season as a road favorite and just 4-9 as a road dog. The Senators have won both meetings this season, 4-3 and 7-1.
Shane Pinto has points in nine of his last 10 games he has faced the Capitals. Dylan Cozens has three goals in five games versus Logan Thompson. The Capitals’ Tom Wilson has six goals in 12 games against Ottawa goalie Logan Thompson.
NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Ottawa Senators Money Line (-130) – 1 unit
Shane Pinto Over ½ assist (+240) – .25
Shane Pinto anytime goal (+280) – .25
Dylan Cozens anytime goal (+240) – .25
Tom Wilson anytime goal (+240) – .10
Dallas Stars (42-15-10) at Colorado Avalanche (44-13-9)
Stars (+125) at Avalanche (-145) – Total 6 (-120)
9:30 p.m. ET
The game of the night. Tonight is the third meeting this season between the two Central Division heavyweights, with the road teams winning both games in a shootout by identical 5-4 results. Each of the last three meetings has gone past regulation. A win by Dallas tonight in regulation and they would be within one point of the Avs for the top spot in the division. High-scoring games in the regular season have been the norm. The last 11 head-to-head matchups have had six or more goals, and 10 of the 11 have had seven or more goals. The Over 6 is by far my favorite play for tonight’s betting card.
The Stars’ Wyatt Johnston has goals in three straight and seven of the last 10 overall. He also has goals in three straight and four of the last five against Colorado. The Stars’ Martin Necas has goals in eight of the last 11 overall and three of the last four against Dallas. He also has three or more shots on goal in each of the last four meetings against Dallas. Nathan MacKinnon has assists in eight of his last 11 games (2+ vs Dallas in four of five). Jason Robertson has assists in three straight and seven of the last nine games.
NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Dallas Stars/Colorado Avalanche Over 6 (-120) – 3 units
Nathan MacKinnon 2+ assists (+255) – .10
MacKinnon/Robertson assist parlay (+176) – .50
Wyatt Johnson anytime goal (+175) – .50
Martin Necas anytime goal (+130) – .50
Martin Necas Over 2.5 SOG (-132) – .50
Dallas Stars ML (+125) – .20
St. Louis Blues (27-30-10) at Calgary Flames (26-34-7)
Blues (-125) at Flames (-105) – Total 5.5 (Over, -115)
9:30 p.m. ET
Despite being back on home ice (where they are 16-12-4) compared to the road (10-22-3), this is a horrible spot for the Flames for two reasons. One, it is the first game back after five on the road. Second, they are facing a Blues team that Calgary has dropped their last eight meetings and nine of the last 10 overall. I like the Blues to jump out quickly and score the first goal of the first period and then cruise on to victory. The Blues’ Robert Thomas has earned an assist in nine of the last 10 meetings against the Flames and has 17 assists in 20 career games against Calgary.
NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
St. Louis Blues first goal, first period (+125) – .50
St. Louis Blues Money Line (-130) – .50 units
Robert Thomas Over ½ assist (-105) – 1 unit
St. Louis Blues TT Over 27.5 SOG (-114) – .25
