NHL Odds, Picks & Predictions: Tuesday (1/6)
We’ve got 10 games on the docket for this evening, including some juicy matchups to look at. Let’s dive in.
Tuesday’s NHL Best Bets & Picks
Nashville Predators @ Edmonton Oilers
The Oilers (20-16-6) host the Predators (19-18-4) later tonight in what should be a high-scoring affair. There are always multiple ways to attack Oilers games at home, and even after a strong push of late, they still have a -4 goal differential on the season. Nashville sits right around .500 and plays the same way. Connor Ingram is scheduled to be in net for Edmonton, which gives the Preds a leg up when it comes to offense. But after a historic month of December, betting against Connor McDavid’s ability to drag his team to wins feels like a fool’s errand. Therefore, we’re going with Ol’ Reliable and a point parlay in this one.
Pick: OVER 6.5 (-108)
Pick: Zach Hyman + Filip Forsberg Point Parlay (+107)
Vancouver Canucks @ Buffalo Sabres
And then we blinked, and the Sabres decided to go on a run. They are 9-1 in their last 10 games thanks to a stifling defense that has led to them going UNDER the total at the same rate. Vancouver allows the third-highest number of goals per game in the league, and all season long, the Sabres have been an entirely different, more dominant team at home. While the under makes the most sense, I like Buffalo’s chances of covering the puck line at much better odds.
Pick: Buffalo -1.5 (+156)
Nathan MacKinnon Anytime Goal (+102)
On paper, the game of the night should be the Avalanche going into Tampa to play the Lightning. Colorado remains far and away the NHL’s best team, with 69 points, 11 more than the second-closest teams (all of which are in the same division). The Lightning are facing less of a gauntlet in the Eastern Conference and sit in second place in the Atlantic Division, one point behind the Red Wings.
Speaking of dominant, Nathan MacKinnon leads the NHL in goals by a wide margin; he has 35, which is nine more than Matt Boldy in second place. At this point, taking his ATG at plus money is a good play until he turns into a pumpkin, which he is absolutely not going to do.