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NHL Goal in First Ten (GIFT) Odds, Picks & Predictions: Thursday (3/2)

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Here are our top NHL Goal in First Ten (GIFT) bets and picks for today’s hockey action.

Also, take a look at our other best bets for Thursday:

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Thursday’s Best NHL Goal in First Ten Bets

(Odds courtesy of DraftKings)

Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Pittsburgh Penguins

Pittsburgh should be feeling good coming into tonight, knowing they have both wins in this series with a +7 scoring differential.

After all these years, Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby continue to play well. Why the Penguins are playoff contenders each year has to do with the supporting cast they are surrounded by. The lines run deep with players like Jake Guentzel and Rickard Rakell, each with 20+ goals.

It more than makes up for the struggling defense. That side has continually dealt with injuries, but the blue line allows over 34 shots per game, and the goaltending has been inconsistent.

You can say very similar things about the Lightning. They also have a deep forward unit leading with Brayden Point’s 37 goals, Nikita Kucherov is second in the league with 63 assists, along with Steven Stamkos and Brandon Hagel who have a combined 48 goals.

They also have a weak blue line, and the Penguins have proven they get through Andrei Vasilevskiy.

The GIFT has gone over in both games, and I expect it again.

Pick: OVER 0.5 (-160)

Buffalo Sabres vs. Boston Bruins

Buffalo will note the Penguins’ game because they are just three points behind for the last Wild Card spot. The league’s second-best scoring offense is minus their second-leading scorer Alex Tuch, but rookie Jack Quinn moved to the first line and had a goal and an assist in the last game.

Boston has won eight straight and is on pace to have the most regular-season wins and points. This team is so dominant on each side of the puck, and it’s tough to find any flaws on this team.

Sabres have the best GIFT record this year, including a 72% hit rate on the road.

Pick: OVER 0.5 (-165)

Nashville Predators vs. Florida Panthers

In the last matchup, the Panthers took an upset loss in Nashville 7-3. Lucky for Florida, this Nashville team will look very different from the one in the previous game.

The Predators were busy during the trade deadline sending Nino Niederreiter to the Jets and their breakout star from last season, Tanner Jeannot, to the Lightning for a hefty return of picks.

Their offense has been horrendous all season, with defenseman Roman Josi leading the team in points and no one having 20 goals.

Florida’s offense isn’t as dynamic as last season but hasn’t taken a significant dip. The team couldn’t have asked for a better first year from Matthew Tkachuk, as he leads the team with 79 points. The mainstays from last season’s President Trophy winner are having another great year with Carter Verhaeghe’s 31 goals, Sam Reinhardt having 21, and Aleksander Barkov and Brandon Montour having 30+ assists.

Nashville is top ten in GIFT cash-ins, but Florida is in the middle. I like the Panthers in general, but it’s going to take them longer to get goals.

Pick: UNDER 0.5 (-175)

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