Here are tonight’s NHL predictions and best bets:

New York Islanders (33-21-5) at Columbus Blue Jackets (29-21-7)

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Islanders (+115) at Blue Jackets (-130) – Total 6 (Over, -140)

6 p.m. ET

This is the third of four meetings between the Metro Division rivals, each team defending their home ice in the first two games. The Islanders are coming off a 4-3 overtime win at Montreal and will be at Florida tomorrow. The Islanders are (4-5) this season on the front end of back-to-backs. Overall, New York has given up four goals or more in 21 of their 26 losses. Columbus has scored four goals or more in 21 of their 29 wins this season. 

The Blue Jackets are coming off just their second loss under new head coach Rick Bowness despite outshooting Boston 40-22. The Jackets opened as a (-115) home favorite and have been bet up to as high as (-152) in some spots. Columbus has been an outstanding home betting favorite with a 12-3 record. Conversely, they are 1-7 in the role as a home underdog.

NHL Predictions and Best Bets: Columbus Blue Jackets Team Total Over 3 (-134) – 1.75 unitsColumbus Blue Jackets Team Total Over 3.5 (+116) – .25 unitsKirill Marchenko anytime goal (+190) – .10 unitsMatthew Schaefer anytime goal (+420) – .10 units  Fantilli point/Marchenko point/Monahan assist (+485) – .10 unitsHorvat/Barzal/Schaefer point parlay (+198) – .10 unitsDeAngelo and Jenner each Over 1.5 shots/Schaefer Over 2.5 shots (+286) – .10 unitsBoone Jenner anytime goal (+475) – .10 unitsJet Greaves Over 24.5 saves (-110) – .50 units

Buffalo Sabres (34-19-6) at Tampa Bay Lightning (38-15-4)

Sabres (+200) at Lightning (-250) – Total 6 (Over, -120)

7 p.m. ET

In watching the Sabres win last night against the Florida Panthers, it sure looked to me that Buffalo emptied the tank to earn the victory. Now they face arguably the best team in the Eastern Conference, the Tampa Bay Lightning, less than 24 hours later. It’s the second time this month that the Sabres are playing the same back-to-back (Florida and then Tampa). The first go around, they defeated the Panthers (like they did last night) and then lost to Tampa in overtime. Buffalo is 6-2 in the second half of back-to-backs this season, with one of those losses coming at the hands of Tampa. 

I like the Lightning in this spot, but not at the money line price. I grabbed the Tampa team total Over 3.5. I also grabbed the Sabres team total Under 2.5, as I believe Vasilevskiy shuts the door on the Sabres offense. 

On to the player props. Buffalo’s Tage Thompson has five goals in six games against Vasilevskiy and Jason Zucker has seven goals in 13 games against Vasilevskiy. On the Tampa side, give me Brandon Hagel, Brayden Point and Gage Goncalves all to score. Hagel has opened the scoring for Tampa in three of the last five games. Point scored in six of the last 11 games versus Buffalo and has three goals in five games against Sabres goalie, Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen. Can’t pass up the birthday boy, Darryn Raddysh.

NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Darren Raddysh anytime goal (+370) – .05
Darren Raddysh Over 2.5 SOG (-135) – .25 units
Tampa 1st period Puck Line (+115) – .25
Buffalo TT Under 2.5 (-117) – .25 units
Tampa TT Over 3.5 (-130) – .25 units
Tage Thompson anytime goal (+160) – .05
Jason Zucker anytime goal (+335) – .05
Peyton Krebs anytime goal (+625) – .05
Gage Goncalves anytime goal (+475) – .05
Brandon Hagel anytime goal (+170) – .05
Brandon Hagel 1st Tampa goal (+700) – .05
Brayden Point anytime goal (+175) – .05

Washington Capitals (31-23-7) at Montreal Canadiens (32-17-9)

Capitals (-130) at Canadiens (-150) – Total 6 (Over, -130)

7 p.m. ET

Washington is coming off a 3-2 win over the Vegas Golden Knights on Friday. The Caps have been great on the front half of back-to-backs (8-2) but have struggled on the back end (3-6). Charlie Lindgren gets the start for Washington, his first since a 4-3 shootout win over Detroit (January 29) when he hung in despite being injured in the shootout and having to be eventually helped off the ice. Three of Lindgren’s last four starts have had a combined seven goals or more. Of the last 11 games played in Montreal between these two teams, 10 have had six goals or more. 

When it comes to props, it starts with Cole Caufield, “Mr. Saturday Night”. The Habs forward has 13 goals in 16 Saturday games, including seven on the last three Saturdays. He has had five shots on goal or more in five of his last six home games against Washington and four shots on goal or more in six of his last nine home games overall. Montreal’s Nick Suzuki has 10 goals in 17 games versus Washington. 

NHL Predictions and Best Bets: Cole Caufield anytime goal (+140) – .50 unitsCole Caufield 2+ goals (+900) – .05 unitsNick Suzuki anytime goal (+210) – .15 unitsCole Caufield Over 3.5 shots on goal (+130) – 2 unitsCole Caufield Over 4.5 shots on goal (+275) -.25 unitsMontreal Canadiens Team Total Over 3.5 (-118) – 1 unitWashington Capitals/Montreal Canadiens Over 6 (-130) – 2 units

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