NHL Predictions – Expert Picks on Thursday, April 3:
Here are tonight’s NHL predictions:
Boston Bruins at Montreal Canadiens (-200, 5.5)
7 p.m. ET
The Montreal Canadiens are coming off back-to-back wins over the Florida Panthers and will look to create some breathing room from the Rangers, Blue Jackets and Red Wings. “The pressure is on us, and you want that pressure,” Canadiens defenseman Kaiden Guhle said. “I think we’re thriving with it right now, and when the fans are how they (were on Tuesday), and the energy that’s in the building, and you score with eight seconds left to tie it and win in overtime, it’s pretty unbelievable.”
Tonight, Montreal looks to make it three wins in a row against a Bruins team that has lost nine straight but has won five consecutive games and nine of the last 10 meetings against Montreal. Two of those wins came earlier this season but the Bruins are just a shadow of the team that started the season. The trades of Brad Marchand, Charlie Coyle, Trent Frederic and the injuries on the blueline to Charlie McAvoy and Hampus Lindholm have seen Boston plummet to the bottom of the league standings.
I have no doubt that the Canadiens win this game tonight, and I believe they do it in regulation. Props to look at for this game include the first period Over 1.5 goals. Games involving the Canadiens have cashed the first period Over 1.5 in nine straight and ten of the last 11. Lane Hutson has six assists in his last two games and Nick Suzuki who scored the tying and winning goals against Florida this week are a strong parlay piece. Bruins defenseman Nikita Zadorov has two goals in two games against Habs goalie Samuel Montembeault.
NHL Predictions: Canadiens in Regulation (-125) – 1 unit
Lane Hutson assist/Nick Suzuki point +113 – ¼ unit
1st period Over 1.5 (-122) – 1 unit
Nikita Zadorov anytime goal +1300 – .10 units
Pittsburgh Penguins at St. Louis Blues (-245, 5.5)
8 p.m. ET
The Blues ran their winning streak to 10 games with a 2-1 overtime win over Detroit on Tuesday as Jordan Kyrou tied the game in the final minute and Cam Fowler had the winner with 93 seconds left in overtime. The last time the Blues won 11 straight was 2019 when they won the Stanley Cup. Tonight, they face a Penguins team that they have dropped seven of their last meetings against, including a 5-3 setback earlier this season. Pens goalie Tristan Jarry has won seven of his eight starts against the Blues. The Blues will turn to Joel Hofer tonight. Hofer has won his last four starts. I am going to take a shot with the Penguins tonight to put an end to the Blues’ win streak.
A couple of player props to look at for tonight. Pittsburgh’s Sidney Crosby has goals in back-to-back games and has eight goals in his last 10 games. I am also going to take a shot with rookie, Rutger McGroarty, who plays alongside Crosby on the top line and gets power play time. The Blues’ Robert Thomas continues to be an assist machine. Thomas has 11 assists in his last five games and has had two or more assists in four of his last five.
NHL Predictions: Sidney Crosby anytime goal +210 – ¼ unit
Rutger McGroarty anytime goal +440 – .10 units
Robert Thomas Over 1.5 assists +360 – ¼ unit
Jimmy Snuggerud anytime goal +350 – .10 units
Penguins ML +195 – 1 unit
Winnipeg Jets at Vegas Golden Knights (-152, 5.5)
10 p.m. ET
With the announcement that Winnipeg is turning to backup goalie Eric Comrie for tonight, the Golden Knights have shot up from a (-120) home favorite up to (-152). Comrie did face the Knights earlier this season in a 4-3 loss back in November at T-Mobile. Vegas is one of three teams (Kings and Ducks are the others) that the Jets have yet to defeat this season. In fact, Winnipeg has lost the last eight regular-season meetings to the Golden Knights and have given up four or more goals in six of the eight games. Scoring in bunches on home ice has been the story for the Knights of late. Prior to their 3-2 loss to Edmonton on Tuesday, Vegas scored four or more goals in six consecutive home games. I will pass on playing the Knights to win the game, but I will play their team total Over 3.5 goals. I do have one Winnipeg player prop. The Jets’ Cole Perfetti has goals in consecutive games and has a pair of goals against the Knights this season. His teammate, Brandon Tanev, has four goals in six games against Vegas goalie Adin Hill. For Vegas, Jack Eichel, Ivan Barbashev and Brett Howden all have scored two goals against Comrie in limited action.
NHL Predictions: Vegas TT Over 3.5 (+134) – 1 unit
Jack Eichel anytime goal +170 – ¼ unit
Ivan Barbashev anytime goal +340 – ¼ unit
Brett Howden anytime goal + 600 – ¼ unit
Cole Perfetti anytime goal +330 – ¼ unit
Brandon Tanev anytime goal + 850 – ¼ unit
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