NHL Predictions: Expert Picks on Tuesday, February 3

Here are today’s NHL predictions and best bets.

Columbus Blue Jackets (27-20-7) at New Jersey Devils (28-25-2)

Blue Jackets (-110) at Devils (-110) – Total 6 (Over, -120)

7 p.m. ET

This game opened with the Devils as a small -120 home favorite, but we have seen a line move to the Blue Jackets (both teams -110) with Columbus taking 58% of the bets and a whopping 82% of the money. I had Columbus on my betting card before the line moved, and for me, Columbus and the Puck Line (-1.5 goals) is my best bet in this game. 

Columbus has been a completely different team under new head coach Rick Bowness, and it starts in goal with Elvis Merzlikins. The Jackets are 8-1 since Bowness took over, and the money quote for me regarding their turnaround was Merzlikins’ response when asked what the difference was after their first win under Bowness. He said, “the coach.” Seven of the eight Jackets wins under Bowness have seen them score four goals or more, and six times they have covered the Puck Line. The Devils have lost by two goals or more in 20 of their 27 losses this season. 

The Jackets’ Sean Monahan has two goals in two games versus the Devils this season and 14 goals in 22 career games versus New Jersey. Isac Lundestrom slides into the top center role tonight with Kirill Marchenko out. His goal prop has tremendous value. His assist prop is not available (other than Betano in Canada). The Devils’ Evgenii Dadonov has five goals in eight games against Merzlikins.

NHL Predictions and Best Bets:Columbus Blue Jackets -1.5 goals (+220) – 1 unitColumbus Blue Jackets Team Total Over 3 (-120) – 1 unitSean Monahan anytime goal (+340) – .20Evgenii Dadonov anytime goal (+360) – .10

Toronto Maple Leafs (26-21-9) at Edmonton Oilers (28-20-8)

Maple Leafs (+150) at Oilers (-185) – Total 7 (Over, +102)

8:30 p.m. ET

The Maple Leafs are coming off a 4-2 win at Calgary on Monday night (fourth goal into an empty net) after a 3-2 shootout win Saturday in Vancouver. Maybe I am a little bitter after betting on Calgary to beat Toronto on Monday night, and the Leafs have done their best Harry Houdini the past two games in earning victories, but make no mistake, the playoffs are not in the cards for the Leafs this year. 

Edmonton is coming off a 7-3 pounding Saturday night at home to Minnesota. I am not interested in laying the -185 with the Oilers to win, but I will go with playing Edmonton at (-1 goal, +125) available at Bet365 and a few other spots as opposed to playing Edmonton on the Puck Line (-1.5 goals). This way, if the game goes to overtime and Edmonton wins, we get a “push.” 

I am not crazy about either goaltender, Anthony Stolarz for Toronto or Connor Ingram for Edmonton, though Ingram has won four of his last five starts and has given up one goal or less in two of the games. The total opened at 6.5 and quickly shot up to seven in most spots. If you want to play Over 6.5, you will have to pay a heavy tax (-155). Same with the first-period Over 1.5 (-155 best price at Bet365). I am going to split the Over 1.5 with the Over 2 (+110). 

Former Maple Leaf Zach Hyman has goals in three of his last four overall and three of his last four against Toronto. Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl both have enjoyed success against Stolarz (I guess you could say that about most NHL goalies), so I will parlay the two to each have a goal. I will also sprinkle on the second-period Over 2.5 goals and will try to see if I can get a better price at Over 1.5 if there is a slow start to the period. Both teams have covered the Over 2.5 goals in six of their last 10 games. The Maple Leafs are 6-2-2 to the Over 1.5 and Edmonton is 6-4 to the Over 1.5.

NHL Predictions and Best Bets: Edmonton Oilers -1 goal (+125) – 2 unitsEdmonton Oilers Team Total Over 4 (+100) – 2 unitsFirst-period Over 1.5 (-155) – .50First-period Over 2 (+110) – .50Zach Hyman anytime goal (+130) – .25Connor McDavid/Leon Draisaitl goal parlay (+252) – .25Second-period Over 2.5 (+134) – .25                                                                                                                                               

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