NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Here are tonight’s NHL predictions and best bets.
Chicago Blackhawks at Florida Panthers
Chicago (+200) at Florida (-250) – Total 6 (-110)
7:30 p.m. ET
The Panthers are coming off a 5-3 home loss on Monday to the Detroit Red Wings. The Hawks gave up five unanswered goals to Colorado and were on the wrong end of a 5-2 score to the Avs. Chicago has struck first in each of the last three and five of the last six games. They are worth a shot again tonight (+190) to score the opening goal.
Connor Bedard is riding a six-game scoring streak (and eight of nine), and Roman Kantserov, who plays on the top line and top power play, has points in five straight. Florida’s Sam Reinhart has points in four straight, eight of his last 10 games and goals in back-to-back (both the Panthers’ first goal of the game). Carter Verhaeghe has points in four straight as well, and seven of the last nine. Former Blackhawks defenseman Seth Jones has an assist in eight of his last 10 games overall.
One shots-on-goal prop parlay for me. Sam Bennett has 2+ shots on goal in each of his last eight games and seven of eight against the Hawks. Connor Bedard has had at least two shots on goal in six of his last seven games against the Panthers, and to get some “plus money,” we’re adding Kings forward Artemi Panarin for 3+ shots on goal. Panarin has hit this number in 10 of his last 12 games and seven of his last eight against the Sharks.
NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Chicago Black Hawks 1st goal/1st period (+190) – ¼ unit
Bedard/Kantserov point parlay (+110) – ½ unit
Reinhart/Verhaeghe point parlay (-118) – ½ unit
Seth Jones Over ½ assist (-105) – 1unit
Sam Reinhart anytime goal (+145) – ¼ unit
Sam Reinhart 1st Panthers goal (+600) – .10 units
Reinhart 2+ shots/Bedard 2+ shots/Panarin 3+ shots (+161) – 2 units
Ottawa Senators at Buffalo Sabres
Ottawa (+105) at Buffalo (-130) – Total 6.5 (Over, -115)
7:30 p.m. ET
Tonight is the first of four meetings between a pair of Atlantic Division rivals. The visiting Sens are making the final stop on their five-game road trip that saw them play in Vegas and all three California teams. The Sabres are playing their first home game following a four-game road trip that also closed out with three games against the California teams.
It will be Colton Ellis between the pipes for the Sabres and Samuel Ersson for the visiting Senators. Ottawa has just two wins in the eight games that (injured) Linus Ullmark has not started and 7-1-0 when Ullmark starts. Not only is Ottawa not winning, but they have given up 4+ goals in seven of the eight games with either Ersson or Jonas Johansson as the starter. Buffalo forward Jack Quinn has torched Ersson in his career, scoring four times on just eight shots. Quinn has found the back of the net in each of the Sabres last two games. Ryan McLeod has points (10) in six of his last seven games versus Ottawa.
NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Buffalo Sabres Team Total Over 3.5 (+106) – 1.5 units
Jack Quinn anytime goal (+220) – ½ unit
Ryan McLeod 1+ assists (+150) – ¼ unit
Benson/Quinn point parlay (+133) – ¼ unit
Sabres TT Over 3.5/Kraken game Goal 1st 10 mins (+206) – 1 unit
San Jose Sharks at Los Angeles Kings
San Jose (+140) at Los Angeles (-170) – Total 6 (Over, -118)
10 p.m. ET
San Jose’s offense has dried up, scoring just five goals (three against Vancouver) over the past four games and posting only one win in that span. The Sharks’ scoring struggles may be tied to Macklin Celebrini, who has gone six games without a goal and has two assists over the past five.
The Kings are coming off a 3-2 home loss to Buffalo on Saturday and have now traded wins and losses over their past six games. Both the Sharks (16 games) and Kings (13 games) have just two regulation wins on the season (Vancouver is fewest with one), though the Sharks have picked up five additional wins in overtime or the shootout while the Kings have just four wins on the season. The Sharks have won each of the last three meetings (all in OT or shootout) and five of the last seven contests. Each of the last six meetings has had a combined 7+ goals. I will grab the money line value with Sharks (+140) as the Kings shouldn’t be this big a favorite against any team in the league. LA is expected to have Adrian Kempe back in the lineup after missing Saturday’s game against Buffalo.
A couple of player props. I am anticipating a big night for Celebrini, who had a three-point night on his last visit to LA. Celebrini has had more multi-point games (three) than single-point games versus the Kings (two), and in the eight games this season he has been on the scoresheet, five times he has had 2+ points. Kings defenseman Brandt Clarke has assists in back-to-back games and eight points in nine games versus San Jose.
NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Sharks/Kings Over 6 (-118) – 1 unit
San Jose Sharks (+140) – ½ unit
Reinhart 2+ shots/Bedard 2+ shots/Panarin 3+ shots (+161) – 2 units
Macklin Celebrini 2+ points (+164) – 1 unit
Brandt Clarke 1+ point (-105) – ½ unit
