NHL Predictions – Expert Picks on Sunday, April 6:
Here are tonight’s NHL predictions:
Columbus Blue Jackets at Ottawa Senators (-155, 5.5)
5 p.m. ET
It was a rough night for the Jackets last night as they were shut out for the fifth time in 14 games, as they were blanked 5-0 in Toronto. Now they head to Canada’s capital on the back end of a back-to-back, a spot where they have been horrendous this season. Columbus is 1-9 in the second half of a back-to-back, and they are 2-6 in the next game after being shut out. The Jackets have surrendered four or more goals in eight of the 10 games while scoring two or fewer in nine of the 10 games when playing on consecutive days. It’s a bad scheduling spot for both teams. Ottawa is playing their sixth game in nine days while the Jackets are playing their sixth game in 10 days.
As always, there are some player props that I have on my bingo card. Ottawa’s Jake Sanderson has goals in three straight, Ridley Greig has two goals in two games against Jackets projected starter, Danill Tarasov and Nick Jensen has a pair of goals as well in the three games he has faced the Blue Jackets netminder.
NHL Predictions: Senators Team Total Over 3.5 (+114) – 1 unit
Jackets Team Total Under 2.5 (+102) – 1 unit Â
Ridly Greig anytime goal (+290) – .20 units
Nick Jensen anytime goal (+1000) – .20 units
Florida Panthers (-120, 5.5) at Detroit Red Wings
5:30 p.m. ET
The Florida Panthers have dropped four straight, scoring two goals or less in each of the losses. They face a Detroit team that is fighting for their playoff lives. The Panthers are still missing key players both upfront and on the back end with Barkov, Tkachuk, Kulikov and Ekblad (suspended). The Panthers opened as a (-135) road favorite and have been bet down to (-120). With Sergei Bobrovsky playing Saturday against Ottawa, Vitek Vanecek gets the start today against Detroit. The Wings will go with Cam Talbot. A couple of Detroit player props that I like for today. Dylan Larkin scored four goals in seven games against Vanecek while Marco Kasper and Elmer Soderblom made some noise playing on Detroit’s second line.
NHL Predictions: 1st Period Over 1.5 (-116) – 1 unit
Red Wings Team Total Over 2.5 (-144) – 1 unit
Dylan Larkin anytime goal (+200) – .20 units
Marco Kasper anytime goal (+410) – .20 units
Elmer Soderblom anytime goal (+500) – .20 units
Montreal Canadiens at Nashville Predators (-110, 6.5)
7 p.m. ET
My favorite play of the day comes from this game. Montreal is on the back end of a back-to-back. With Samuel Montembeault starting last night against the Flyers, it will be Jakub Dobes likely in the net for the Canadiens. If Dobes does, in fact, get the start, then I will go with Nashville to score the first goal of the game. If it is Montembeault who ends up getting the start, then this is a NO PLAY. Regardless of who gets the start, I do have some player props. The Canadiens’ Brendan Gallagher has scored in consecutive games and has three goals in his last five games against Nashville. There is great value on Lane Hutson to record an assist, and I can’t pass up on Nick Suzuki, who has goals in four straight. On the Nashville side, I will take a shot with former Canadiens player, Michael McCarron, Montreal native Zachary L’Heureux, and finally Ryan O’Reilly, who has six assists in his last four games versus the Habs.
NHL Predictions: Nashville to score 1st goal (+120) – 1.5 units
Nick Suzuki anytime goal (+200) – .10 units
Brendan Gallagher anytime goal (+300) – .10 units
Ryan O’Reilly Over ½ assist (+150) – .10 units
Michael McCarron anytime goal (+700) – .10 units
Zachary L’Heureux anytime goal (+460) – .10 units