NHL Predictions – Expert Picks on Saturday, February 8:
Here are tonight’s NHL predictions:
Chicago Blackhawks at St. Louis Blues (-250, 5.5)
7 p.m. ET
The Chicago Blackhawks are the “GIFT” and first-period Over team that keeps on giving. Following last night’s 6-2 win over Nashville, Chicago games have now had a goal scored in the first 10 minutes in 14 of the last 17 games and the first period Over 1.5 goals is on an even better 18-3 run.
The Blues have dominated this matchup of late, winning three straight, five of six, nine of eleven, and 15 of the last 20 meetings. In their last nine wins over Chicago, the Blues have covered the puck line.
NHL Predictions: Goal 1st 10/Yes (-145) – 2 units
1st Period Over 1.5 (-125) – 2 units 1st period BTTS (+198) – ½ unit
St. Louis Blues PL (-1.5 goals) +105 – ½ unit
Chicago Blackhawks TT over 2.5 (+105) – 1 unit
Jordan Kyrou anytime goal (+160) – ¼ unit
Jake Neighbours anytime goal (+280) – ¼ unit
Ryan Donato ATG (+370) – ¼ unit
NY Rangers (-148; 6.5) at Columbus Blue Jackets
7 p.m. ET
It’s a battle of Metro Division rivals tonight in Columbus with the Jackets and Rangers both chasing a playoff spot. Columbus is just one point back of a wild card spot and four points ahead of the Rangers, who have played one fewer game. In their only meeting this season, the Rangers outlasted the Jackets 1-0 in a shootout as Igor Shesterkin outlasted Daniil Tarasov. The Rangers have won six of the last eight meetings between the two teams but have dropped the last two in Columbus.
Tonight, we have a completely different goaltending matchup as the Rangers are likely to start Jonathan Quick after Shesterkin started last night against the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Jackets are expected to go with Elvis Merzlikins. Quick is coming off a win over the Golden Knights in his last start (at home) but has lost his last four on the road, giving up three goals or more (19 total) in all four games.
Chris Kreider is one Rangers player in particular who enjoys seeing Elvis Merzlikins at the other end of the ice. Kreider has six goals in seven games versus Elvis. The Jackets Zach Werenski extended his home point streak on Thursday to 20 games but was held to just one shot on goal despite seven directed at the net. In Werenski’s last three home games, when he is held to three shots or less, he has followed up with six, seven and five shots on goal. Justin Danforth, who scored in the loss to Utah, has two goals in four games against Jonathan Quick. Ivan Provorov has goals in the last three Jackets games.
NHL Predictions: Columbus Blue Jackets TT over 2.5 (-150) – 1.5 units
Chris Kreider anytime goal +220 – ¼ unit
Justin Danforth anytime goal +480 – ¼ unit
Ivan Provorov anytime goal +850 – ¼ unit
Zach Werenski Over 3.5 SOG +126 – 1 unit
Zach Werenski Over 4.5 SOG +285 – ½ unit
Pittsburgh Penguins at Philadelphia Flyers (-148, 5.5)
7 p.m. ET
It’s the dad’s trip for the Pittsburgh Penguins, and it got off to a good start with a 3-2 win over the Rangers on Friday at MSG despite both Sidney Crosby and Geno Malkin being out with injuries. Malkin is week to week, and the status of Crosby is likely a game-time decision. The Pens have scored three goals in three of their last four games. Pittsburgh has won seven of the last 10 meetings against the Flyers and scored four or more goals in all seven wins.
The Flyers have lost their last five, giving up three goals or more in four of the five losses and four or more goals, three times. Samuel Ersson is expected to get the start today for Philadelphia. When you go inside the numbers, you find that the Penguins Rickard Rakell and Philip Tomasino each have three goals in two games versus the Flyers netminder. Michael Bunting scored twice when the Penguins beat Ersson and the Flyers.
NHL Predictions: Pittsburgh Penguins TT over 2.5 (-125) – 1 unit
Pittsburgh Penguins TT over 3.5 (+190) – ½ unit
Rickard Rakell anytime goal (+210) – ¼ unit
Michael Bunting anytime goal (+320) – ¼ unit
Philip Tomasino anytime goal (+490) – ¼ unit
Buffalo Sabres (-122, 6.5) at Nashville Predators
8 p.m. ET
The Predators have given up three or more goals in eight straight games and four or more in six of those games. Keeping it simple. Sabres team total tonight is the way to go in this game.
NHL Predictions: Buffalo Sabres TT over 2.5 (-165) – 2 units
Buffalo Sabres TT over 3.5 (+145) – ½ unit
Seattle Kraken at Calgary Flames (-130. 5.5)
10 p.m ET
Chicago Blackhawks games get all the talk about how the first period Over 1.5 goals has been a huge money maker (18-3). Right behind them are the Seattle Kraken (15-3). I will once again jump on the first period Over tonight. It’s also a good spot for the Flames tonight, who are 10-3 as a home favorite as opposed to 6-8 as a home underdog. I am aware that the Flames are just 1-4 in their last five home games, but three of the four losses came as the home underdog. If the first period Over does not cash, I will double down on the second period Over.
NHL Predictions: 1st Period Over 1.5 (-120) – 1.5 units
Calgary Flames ML (-130) – 1 unit
