NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Here are today’s NHL predictions and best bets.
Minnesota Wild at New Jersey Devils (-140, 5.5)
7 p.m. ET
The Devils are coming off an impressive 5-2 win at Toronto last night and have matched the Jets and Red Wings with the longest current win streak in the NHL at five games. The Devils return home to face a rested Minnesota Wild team that has been off since defeating the Rangers on Monday, 3-1. I like this spot for Minnesota. Tonight, they get to face Nico Daws, the Devils’ third-string goalie. History is on the Devils’ side as they have won the last four meetings between the two teams. Three of the last four meetings in Jersey have gone past 60 minutes, and five of the last 10 overall have needed extra time. There’s very little mystery behind who to play for Wild player props. Both Kirill Kaprizov and Matt Boldy lead the team with 10 points, and no one else on the Wild roster has more than five points. The Wild has yet to confirm their goalie for tonight. If it is Filip Gustavsson, I will play Nico Hischier for an anytime goal. Hischier has four goals in four games against the Wild netminder. As always, follow me on Twitter (X) for updates throughout the day.
NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Minnesota Wild ML +120 – 1 unit
Kirill Kaprizov goal/Matt Boldy assist (+209) – .25 units
Matt Boldy goal/Kirill Kaprizov assist (+245) – .25 units
Detroit Red Wings at Buffalo Sabres (-110, 6)
7:30 p.m. ET
The Detroit Red Wings come into Buffalo on the heels of a five-game winning streak. After losing opening night to the Montreal Canadiens, the Wings have gone undefeated, led by captain Dylan Larkin. Larkin has points in all six games (five goals, six assists) this season and is coming off a four-point game on Sunday in the Wings’ 4-2 victory over Edmonton. It was the third time this season he has scored Detroit’s first goal, and he has now factored in on the Wings’ last six goals. John Gibson gets the start for the Wings tonight. He has won back-to-back games, stopping 47 of 50 shots.
Detroit rookie Emmitt Finnie scored his first two NHL goals on Sunday and added an assist. Playing on the top line with Larkin and still getting (+400) for an anytime goal provides tremendous value. Finally, Lucas Raymond makes his return to the Detroit lineup after missing the past three games and joins Larkin and Finnie on the top line as well as back on the number one power play unit. For Buffalo, I will continue to ride the Zach Benson assist train. Benson has six assists in three games since returning to the Sabres lineup.
When it comes to picking a winner for tonight, I can only go with Detroit. Buffalo has played better of late with wins over Ottawa and Florida at home, but we are getting a Detroit team, winners of five straight. The Sabres are starting Colten Ellis in goal, who will be making his NHL debut.
The Wings have won three straight and five of six versus Buffalo. When it comes to the total, the two teams are a combined 2-9-1 to the Under this season, though the past four games played in Buffalo between the Wings and Sabres have all flown Over the total with 11,8,10, and 8 goals. For now, I am holding off on the total, but I may have a change of heart as the day goes on. If so, I will post it on my Twitter (X) account.
NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Detroit Red Wings ML (-110) – 1 unit
Dylan Larkin goal/Lucas Raymond assist (+303) – .20 units
Lucas Raymond goal/Dylan Larkin assist (+238) – .20 units
Dylan Larkin to score Detroit’s 1st goal of the game (+600) – .10 units
Emmitt Finnie goal (+400) – .10 units
Zach Benson assist (+160) – .20 units
Montreal Canadiens (-125, 5.5) at Calgary Flames
9:30 p.m. ET
This game is looking to me like a Josh Applebaum “hazmat special”. The Habs are currently receiving 78% of the bets and 71% of the money (at DraftKings), yet this line is frozen pretty much across the board with the Canadiens a -125 road favorite. Tonight is just the seventh time in the past 127 road games that Montreal has been listed as a road favorite. They are 3-3 in their previous six games in this spot. Overall, Montreal has won five of their last six games.
The Flames have lost six straight and sit dead last in the NHL (32 out of 32 teams). They are also last in offense, averaging 1.57 goals per game, and they are 30th in goals allowed with an average of 3.86 goals per game. Their goal differential of -15 is the worst in the league. So, why would I even consider taking the Flames tonight to win the game? Two reasons. First, Calgary has won four straight over Montreal. Second, the Canadiens are on the front end of a back-to-back and play the Edmonton Oilers tomorrow. This sets up as a potential look-ahead game for Montreal.
With these games on consecutive days, who does Montreal start in goal tonight? Jakub Dobes is 3-0 to start the season with a 1.63 goals-against average and a .939 save percentage and is pushing Sam Montembeault for the number one job. Dustin Wolf is likely to get the start in goal tonight for Calgary and is coming off his best game of the season in a 2-1 loss to Winnipeg on Monday. Last season, Wolf was 3-0 against Montreal, giving up just four goals. He blanked the Habs in one of the starts.
On to the props. With the Canadiens, I will continue to parlay Cole Caufield and Nick Suzuki to each score a goal and an assist. Suzuki has just one goal on the season, but he does have nine assists on his current six-game point streak. Caufield’s five goals lead the Habs in scoring, and his eight points are second on the team. Caufield scored once in the three games he faced Wolf, with 16 shots on goal at the Flames’ netminder.
NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Calgary Flames ML (+105) – .50 units
Cole Caufield goal/Nick Suzuki assist (+209) – .25 units
Nick Suzuki goal/Cole Caufield assist (+310) – .25 units
