NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Here are tonight’s NHL predictions and best bets.
New York Rangers (+110) at Detroit (-130) – Total 5.5 (Over, -135)
6:30 p.m. ET (TNT)
We’re four days into the season, and the Rangers are playing their third game while the Detroit Red Wings are playing game one of their 2026-27 season. Following a trade request last summer, the Red Wings removed the “C” from Dylan Larkin. Larkin is still a Red Wing, but an upper-body injury will keep him out tonight. Defenseman Simon Edvinsson (restricted free agent) is still out of contract and has returned home to Sweden, leaving a big hole on the blueline. Last season, Edvinsson played alongside Moritz Seider on the Wings’ top blueline pair and was a key member of the Wings’ penalty kill.
The Rangers are coming off a 5-1 win over Tampa last night that saw goalie Igor Shesterkin score his first career goal. With this being the back-end of a back-to-back and the third game in four nights, look for Dylan Garand to start between the pipes for New York while Joonas Korpisalo has been placed on injured reserve due to an injury sustained in the preseason.
I’m going to move away from the edge and the whole in this game and instead focus on some player props. Rangers defenseman Adam Fox is coming off a two-assist night last night against Tampa and has 16 assists in 17 games against Detroit that includes three multi-assist games. New York’s new $11 million man, Pavel Dorofeyev, scored his first goal as a Ranger last night and led the team with 10 shots on goal. Until the “books” adjust to his Over 2.5 shots on goal prop, I’ll take the “plus money” that’s still available. Finally, Mika Zibanejad, who led the Rangers last season by opening the scoring for New York 15 times, got the Rangers on the board first last night. A couple of Red Wings player props for me. Andrew Copp is centered on Detroit’s top line and top power. I would split a unit into his point prop and power play point prop. Finally, defenseman Moritz Seider, who led the Wings in ice time last season (25:40) is more optimistic about his partner Simon Edvinsson who is still unsigned. Give me more than 2.5 shots on goal.
NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Moritz Seider Over 2.5 shots on goal (+128) – 1 unit
Andrew Copp More than ½ point (-105) – ¾ unit
Andrew Copp More than ½ power play point (+380) – ¼ unit
Adam Fox Over ½ assist (-110) – ¾ unit
Adam Fox 2+ assists (+540) – ¼ unit
Pavel Dorofeyev Over 2.5 shots on goal (+100) – 1 unit
Mika Zibanejad 1St Rangers Goal (+650) – ¼ unit
Mika Zibanejad Anytime goals (+210) – ¼ units
Washington (+120) at Carolina (-145) – Total 6 (Over, -120)
7 pm ET
This is the game of the night as the Washington Capitals are the one team that I believe can challenge the Hurricanes for the top spot in the Metropolitan Division. The Caps have become one of the deepest teams in the league with the additions of forwards Alex Tuch (acquired from Buffalo) and Jordan Kyrou (acquired from St. Louis), giving Washington three legit lines that can put the puck in the net.
Carolina is coming off a 1-0 overtime loss to start the season, and losing back-to-back home games on the same homestand is something that rarely happens. In the past four seasons, the Canes have lost just three times on the same homestand. The Capitals took two of three games against Carolina last season, and I’d like to take the “extra money” on Washington tonight, but I’m hesitant about the Hurricanes’ history of not losing back-to-back games on the same homestand.
On props. I expect the Canes to come out fast and jump the Capitals. I like Carolina to score the first goal in the first period, and after putting up just 15 shots on goal in their loss at Florida, I expect the Canes to look more like the team that finished in the top two in shots on goal in each of the last four seasons (32 shots). With that, give me a Logan Thompson Over 26.5 save. I’ve always been one to like his shots on goal props, and here’s a staggering number when it comes to Alexander Ovechkin. Ov has 449 career shots on goal (96 games) against the Canes. Washington’s next is Boone Jenner with 85. The “Great 8” has had three shots on goal or more in six of his last seven and 12 of his last 16 games against Carolina. Finally, give me Alex Tuch for a point. Tuch has points in five of his last six and nine of his last 11 against Carolina.
NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Carolina Hurricanes 1St purpose/1St period (+110) – ½ unit
Logan Thompson Over 26.5 saves (-130) – ½ unit
Alex Ovechkin Over 2.5 shots on goal (+100) – 1 unit
Alex Tuch more than ½ point (+115) – ½ unit
Best of Others:
JJ Peterka (Boston) +260 anytime goals, +196 assists (1/4 unit each)
David Pastrnak (Boston) Over 3.5 shots on goal +104 – 1 unit
Vegas Golden Knights Team Total Over 3.5 (-134) – 2 units
Vegas/Anaheim Over 6.5 (-122) – 1 unit
Mitch Marner (Vegas) Over 1.5 points (+230) – ½ unit
Tomas Hertl (Vegas) anytime goal (+230) – ¼ unit
Trevor Connelly (Vegas) anytime goal (+400) – ¼ unit
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