NHL Predictions and Best Bets:

Here are tonight’s NHL predictions and best bets.

Carolina Hurricanes (-125) at Ottawa Senators (+105)

Total 5.5 (Over, -120)
Hurricanes Lead Series 3-0

3 p.m. ET

The Ottawa Senators are one loss away from their season coming to an end. They will go into game four without their best defenseman, Jake Sanderson, injured in game three in what appeared to be from blocking a shot with his hand on the open side of the glove. Earlier, Sanderson took a high hit from Carolina’s Taylor Hall that resulted in a minor penalty, but one that Sens coach Travis Green felt warranted a five-minute major. 

Ottawa is already without blueliner Artem Zub, so they will now be without two key players on their backend as they face elimination. Just as problematic for Ottawa is that they have not been able to find a way to generate much offense. The Sens have scored just three goals through the first three games. Two of those goals, to no surprise, have come off the stick of Drake Batherson, who was one of my picks to lead the series. Batherson’s goals have opened the scoring for Ottawa in each of the last two games. He now has seven goals in 14 games against Carolina goalie Freddie Andersen. 

On the other side, Carolina’s Logan Stankoven has scored three of the Canes’ seven goals in the series, and all three goals have been the first goal of the game. His linemates, Jason Blake and Taylor Hall, each have a goal in the series. Do the math, and the trio has five of Carolina’s seven goals. I am once again anticipating a low-scoring game, but I will play the alternate total of Under 6.5 and parlay it with the Over in Dallas/Minnesota (Over 5.5).

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NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Blake/Hall/Stankoven point parlay (+268) – 1 unit
Canes/Sens Under 6.5-Dallas/Minnesota Over 5.5 (+176) – 1unit
Logan Stankoven anytime goal (+250) – 1 unit
Logan Stankoven 1st goal of the game (+1600) – .05
Logan Stankoven 1st Carolina goal of the game (+800)
Drake Batherson anytime goal (+250) – .50
Drake Batherson 1st goal of the game (+1600) – .05
Drake Batherson 1st Ottawa goal of the game (+800) – .05

Dallas Stars (+115) at Minnesota Wild (+135)  

Total 5.5 (Over, -130)
Stars Lead Series 2-1

5:30 p.m. ET

The Stars will look to take a commanding three games to one series lead after their 4-3 double overtime win Wednesday night at Minnesota. Wyatt Johnston scored the game-winner on the power play for Dallas. The Stars scored three of their four goals with the extra man in game two and have scored six power play goals through the first three games (at least one PPG in each game). Wyatt Johnston is leading the way with four of his five points coming with the extra man. 

The Stars’ Jason Robertson has scored in all three games as he continues to torment the Wild. Robo has 17 goals in 22 career games versus Minnesota. Prior to game three, he had scored the first goal of the game in his three previous visits to Grand Casino Arena. Minnesota’s Joel Eriksson-Ek leads the Wild with three goals and five points. His 13 shots on goal are second on the team, just behind the 17 by Matt Boldy.

NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Boldy/Eriksson Ek each 3+ SOG (-115) – 1.5 units
Joel Eriksson Ek anytime goal (+200) – .25
Jason Robertson anytime goal (+140) – 1 unit
Jason Robertson 1st goal of the game (+950) – .05
Jason Robertson 1st Dallas goal of the game (+440) – .05
Wyatt Johnston Over ½ a Power Play point (+190) -.50
Dallas Stars Over ½ power play goal (-105) – 1 unit

Pittsburgh Penguins (+100) at Philadelphia Flyers (-120)

Penguins Lead Series 3-0

8 p.m. ET

The Penguins were not expected to be one of the 16 teams to punch a ticket this season to the playoffs, but here they are, and just as surprising, they find themselves down three games to none. They face the first of what they hope are four elimination games. Flyers rookie Porter Martone is tied with four others with a team-leading three points (2 goals, 1 assist) and has points in all three games. He is the only Flyers player with two goals. 

Sidney Crosby, who is tied with Geno Malkin with 15 career goals versus Philly, is still looking for his first of the series. Malkin has goals in back-to-back games. Crosby’s 10 shots on goal lead the team. He has had at least three shots on goal in all three games. At the time of this writing, saves props were not available, but I will add Dan Vladar’s saves to my portfolio.

NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Porter Martone assist (+150) – .25
Porter Martone anytime goal (+190) – .25
Martone 2+ SOG/Crosby 3+ SOG (+114) – 1 unit
Sidney Crosby anytime goal (+200) – .25
Geno Malkin anytime goal (+270) – .25

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