Top 2 NHL Odds, Picks & Predictions: Friday (12/2)
We have a mini three-game slate of hockey on Friday with some great matchups. Below, I give out my two best bets for Friday’s NHL slate.
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Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook.
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Ottawa Senators (+155) @ New York Rangers (-180) | O/U 6 (-120/+100)
We have an Eastern Conference tilt with the Metropolitan Division’s New York Rangers hosting the Atlantic Division’s Ottawa Senators. This game is a rematch from Wednesday’s contest as these two teams finish a “home-and-home†series.
In that contest, the Rangers grabbed a 3-1 victory in Ottawa. However, despite returning home, now could be a good time to sell high on New York.
Slated to take the crease for the Rangers is goaltender Igor Shesterkin. The reigning Vezina Trophy winner has been out-of-sorts lately, a trend that could continue into this matchup.
Over his last two starts, Shesterkin is 0-2 with a .884 SV% and 4.11 GAA. Shesterkin will return to form sooner rather than later, although it may not happen against a deep Ottawa offense.
At 5v5, the Senators rank fourth in the league in Expected Goals For per 60 minutes (xGF/60). After scoring first in two of their last three games, look for Ottawa to start strong once again in this revenge spot.
Best Bet: Senators Score 1st Goal (+110)
Nashville Predators (+135) @ New York Islanders (-155) | O/U 5.5 (-125/+105)
The Metropolitan Division’s New York Islanders host the Central Division’s Nashville Predators. Nashville enters this contest on the second half of a back-to-back following last night’s upset victory over the New Jersey Devils.
Since they are on the second half of a back-to-back, reserve goaltender Kevin Lankinen is slated to take the crease for the Preds. While he has been terrific in the backup role this season, now is the time to sell high on an otherwise replacement-level netminder.
Looking at the larger sample size, Lankinen is typically fade-worthy. Through 32 appearances between the pipes last season, he has posted a .891 SV% and 3.50 GAA.
Meanwhile, the defense in front of him is not going to make his life easy. At 5v5, Nashville ranks just 19th in the league in Expected Goals Against per 60 minutes (xGA/60).
However, their offense is due for positive regression as the Preds rank just 27th in the league in GF/60 but 15th in xGF/60. This offense may realize its expected positive regression against the Islanders, who rank second-to-last in the league in xGA/60 at 5v5.
While one of the best goaltenders in the world is backing up this defense, six goals should not be difficult to come by given all the other variables.
Best Bet: Over 5.5 (-125)
Best of luck!
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Tony Sartori is a featured writer at BettingPros. For more from Tony, check out his archive and follow him @tony_sartori.