NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Here are tonight’s NHL predictions and best bets.
Philadelphia Flyers at Washington Capitals
Philadelphia (+185) at Washington (-225) – Total 6 (Over, -120)
7:30 p.m. ET
The Flyers battled back from down 3-0 after 20 minutes and forced overtime thanks to Jamie Drysdale’s tying goal with 11 seconds left in regulation. They lost in overtime on Kent Johnson’s second goal of the game, 2:22 into the extra session. Now, 24 hours later, they go into Washington and face a well-rested Capitals team that has had three days off since their 4-3 overtime win over the Buffalo Sabres. Back-to-backs haven’t been favorable for the Flyers, who are 0-5 on the front and back end in back-to-backs (0-3 on the front, 0-2 on the back). The Caps have won five straight at home over the Flyers, and four of the five have been by two goals or more. Logan Thompson starts tonight for Washington. With Dan Vladar starting last night for the Flyers against Columbus, Joseph Woll will be between the pipes for Philly.
Two prop plays for me in this game. Washington’s Ryan Leonard has registered 2+ shots on goal in all 10 games this season and in 20 consecutive regular-season games (and 23 of 24) dating back to last season. Alex Tuch has points in each of his last seven and nine of ten against the Flyers. His linemate Jordan Kyrou is on a four-game assist streak and has points in six of his last eight games.
NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Ryan Leonard 2+ shots on goal (-152) – 3 units
Tuch/Kyrou 1+ point each (+158) – ½ unit
Calgary Flames at Edmonton Oilers
Calgary (+150) at Edmonton (-180) – Total 6.5 (Over, -118)
8:30 p.m. ET
The Calgary Flames enter tonight’s “Battle of Alberta” tied for the NHL’s longest current win streak (4 with Jersey), thanks in part to stellar goaltending and outstanding post-game interviews from Devin Cooley. Cooley has given up two or fewer goals in all four wins and now faces an Oilers team that Cooley has given up three and eight goals against (win and loss). The Flames have won each of the last two and three of the last four head-to-head meetings.
The Oilers have dropped two in a row, and three of their last four games have gone past regulation. Their shootout loss to Detroit on Monday was the first time Edmonton dropped back-to-back games this season. The money line value tonight is all on Calgary, but I have a hunch the win streak for the Flames comes to an end tonight (I don’t bet on hunches though).
I will target a couple of player props on the Flames. Defenseman Zayne Parekh has four points this season, all on the power play, and Edmonton ranks 26th on the penalty kill and 31st at home. Parekh for a power play point (+325) is on my card for tonight. Flames forward Joel Farabee has points in six consecutive games, and his linemate Matt Coronato has scored points in each of the last five games. Matvei Gridin scored goals in each of the Flames’ last two games and has two goals in his two career games versus the Oilers. Flames captain Mikael Backlund has registered 2+ shots on goal in 11 of his last 14 games against the Oilers.
On the Edmonton side, Connor McDavid has been treating the NHL as a video game. McDavid has points in all 12 games this season (34) and for just the third time this season he was held to just one point. In the two previous games after being held to a single point, Connor followed up with four- and five-point games. McDavid has also had great shots on goal numbers against the Flames in recent head-to-head meetings, putting up 8,7,6,5 and 5 in the last five contests. Calgary gives up the fourth most shots on goal per game (30.4) in the NHL. Leon Draisaitl is second in the NHL with 12 goals and has opened the scoring for Edmonton in five of their last seven games (should be six times; see Detroit game), has two goals in two games versus Cooley, goals in six of his last eight contests against the Flames and three multi-goal games in the last four meetings.
NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Zayne Parekh 1+ power play point (+325) – ¼ unit
Coronato/Farabee 1+ point each (+141) – ¼ unit
Matvei Gridin anytime goal (+325) – ¼ unit
Connor McDavid 4+ shots on goal (-102) – 2 units
Connor McDavid 5+ shots on goal (+205) – ¼ unit
Connor McDavid 6+ shots on goal (+425) – .10 units
Connor McDavid 2+ points (-130) – 1.5 units
Connor McDavid 3+ points (+220) – .15 units
McDavid 4+ shots/Backlund 2+ shots (+202) – ½ unit
Leon Draisaitl 1st Oilers goal (+400) – .10 units
Leon Draisaitl anytime goal (-110) – 1.5 units
Leon Draisaitl 2+ goals (+500) – .10 units
New Jersey Devils at Colorado Avalanche
New Jersey (+120) at Colorado (-145) – Total 6 (Over, -134)
9 p.m. ET
The Devils made Connor Hellebuyck a winner in his New Jersey debut last night with a 5-1 win at Dallas, but 24 hours later they play in Denver and have very little time to adjust to the altitude. With Hellebuyck starting last night, it will be Jake Allen between the pipes for New Jersey. In fact, Hellebuyck won’t even be on the bench tonight to serve as the backup. Allen was on the winning end when these two teams met eight days ago in Jersey (4-3 win). But this is a bad spot for the road team: back-to-back, with the second game in the thin air of Colorado. With that in mind, I’ve got the Avs to score the first goal of the first period and the first-period puck line (-1/2 goal).
Nick Roy returns to the Avalanche lineup for the first time since October 13. He plays on the second line with Brock Nelson and Gabe Landeskog. Roy has four goals and nine points in 11 career games against the Devils, and three goals on nine shots in six games against Jake Allen. Artturi Lehkonen scored twice when the two teams met eight days ago in Jersey (against Jake Allen) and now has seven goals in 10 games versus Allen. On the Devils side, it is hard to pass up the plus value on Arseny Gritsyuk to get a point. Gritsyuk has points in six straight and eight of nine.
NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Colorado Avalanche 1st goal/1st period (+115) – ½ unit
Colorado Avalanche 1st period -1/2 goal (+160) – ½ unit
Colorado Avalanche Team Total Over 3.5 (-134) – 1 unit
Nick Roy 1+ assist (+310) – ¼ unit
Nick Roy anytime goal (+525) – ¼ unit
Arseny Gritsyuk 1+ point (+135) – ½ unit
Artturi Lehknonen anytime goal (+250) – ¼ unit
Lehknonen/Necas/MacKinnon each 2+ points (+1039) – .10 units
