Here are tonight’s NHL predictions and best bets:

Florida Panthers (30-29-3) at Detroit Red Wings (35-20-7)

Embed from Getty Images

Panthers (+128) at Red Wings (-154) – Total 5.5 (-138)

7 p.m. ET

I believe the Red Wings win this game, but I am not interested in laying the (-154), so I will parlay the Wings on the Money Line and the total Over 5.5. Florida has dropped nine of their last 11 games. Seven of their last nine losses have had a combined six goals or more, and nine of their last 11 overall have seen a combined six goals or more. 

Wings rookie Emmitt Finnie has goals in back-to-back games, and both goals have opened the scoring for Detroit. His linemate, Mason Appleton, has four goals and eight points in nine games against the Panthers. All four of those goals have been against Panthers’ goalie, Sergei Bobrovsky. As of now, Bobrovsky is still a Florida Panther. There have been rumors of a possible trade, and Florida has still not confirmed a starting goalie for tonight’s game. Check @goaliepost and @GameDayLines for updated game day roster lines and what goalie will be starting. 

One Florida player prop for me tonight is an Anton Lundell to score a goal. Lundell has value as the team’s number one center and centers the second power play unit. Jesper Boqvist has two goals in three games versus Detroit goalie John Gibson.

NHL Predictions and Best Bets: Detroit Red Wings ML/Over 5.5 (+172) – 2 unitsAnton Lundell anytime goal (+410) – .15 unitsJesper Boqvist anytime goal (+1100) – .05 unitsMason Appleton anytime goal (+850) – .15 unitsEmmitt Finnie anytime goal (+700) – .15 unitsEmmitt Finnie 1st Detroit goal (+2000) – .05 unitsAndrew Copp Over ½ assist (+200) – .15 units

Colorado Avalanche (41-10-9) at Dallas Stars (38-14-9)

Colorado Avalanche (-120) at Dallas Stars (+100) – Total 6 (-110)

8 p.m. ET

A battle between two of the Central Division heavyweights as Colorado rolls into Dallas. This is the second meeting this season between the two teams, with Dallas taking round one in a 5-4 shootout as former Avs star Mikko Rantanen scored the game-winner in the shootout. Nine of the last 10 meetings have had a combined six goals or more, and all 10 have had at least six goals. 

This is just the second time this season the Dallas Stars have been a home underdog, and they lost that game to Tampa, 4-1. The goaltending matchup is likely Jake Oettinger for Dallas and Mackenzie Blackwood for Colorado. Blackwood is still looking for his first win over Dallas (0-4-1, 3.60 GAA) in his career.

Lots of player props that have appeal in this game. Always hard to find value on Avalanche players, but I will go back to a parlay that cashed for me in Colorado’s win over Los Angeles earlier this week with MacKinnon and Makar to each earn an assist. On the Dallas side, Wyatt Johnston continues to roll. Johnston has three goals in three games versus Blackwood, three goals in his last four games overall and against Colorado as well. 

NHL Predictions and Best Bets: Colorado Avalanche/Dallas Stars Over 6 (-110) – 2 unitsWyatt Johnston anytime goal (+175) – .20 unitsMacKinnon/Makar assist parlay (+134) – .25 units

Best of the Rest:
Oilers/Canes Over 6.5 (-140) – 2 units – Edmonton 11 consecutive games of seven combined goals or more
Oilers/Canes -both teams to score 3 goals (+135) – 1 unit (available at BetMGM)

Note: Additional plays will be posted on my Twitter (X) feed once the NHL trade deadline concludes at Noon Pacific/3 p.m. ET

The post NHL Predictions: Expert Picks on Friday, March 6 appeared first on VSiN.