NHL Predictions: Expert Picks for Wednesday, January 15th

On By Littum

NHL Predictions – Expert Picks for Wednesday, January 15:

Here are tonight’s NHL predictions:

6 p.m. ET

First note the early kick-off time for today’s match as we have a rare mid-week match at 18.00. Carolina is coming off a 3-2 home loss to Anaheim on Sunday and heads on the road where it has lost five of its last six games and is just (7-9) as a road favorite. Slow starts for Carolina have been a major factor in their road woes. The Hurricanes have had just one first-period lead in their last eight road games (1-6-1). Although Buffalo has just three wins in their last 10 home games, they are 7-2-1 in the first 20 minutes. The first period Over 1.5 goals in Sabers games has allowed five in a row and 12 of 14 overall.

Let’s talk about player props for today’s game. Carolina’s Sebastian Aho has 15 goals in 19 career games against the Sabres, Eric Robinson has three goals in five games and Martin Necas has a combined six goals in eight games against the two Buffalo goaltenders.

Buffalo’s Rasmus Dahlin has an assist in five consecutive games. Jack Quinn has three goals in the last two games.

Two of the last three meetings have gone to overtime.

NHL Predictions: Buffalo Sabers 1St period ML (+130) – 1 unit
Carolina Hurricanes/Buffalo Sabers 1St Period Above 1.5 (-125) – 1 unit
Rasmus Dahlin Over ½ assist (+110) – ½ unit
Jack Quinn anytime goal (+360) – ¼ unit
Sebastian Aho to score anytime (+175) – ¼ unit
Martin Necas anytime goal (+215) – ¼ unit
Eric Robinson Anytime Goal (+500) – ¼ unit
Adjustment draw (+340) – ¼ unit

8:30 p.m. ET

This will be the third and final meeting between the two Western Conference foes, with the road team winning the previous two games. Minnesota continues to be without key players in their lineup. There is a slight chance forward Kirill Kaprizov can return from injury, but Brock Faber, Jared Spurgeon and Jonas Brodin are not ready to return. Even with the Wild missing key players, the cost of Edmonton is too rich for my blood. The Oilers are (15-7) as home favorites, but only (9-8) as road betting favorites.

Looking at the totals, these teams have combined for six or more goals in both meetings this season and 11 of their 13 games. The goal in the first 10 minutes of stoppage time and the first period Over 1.5 goals have been conceded in both meetings this season. Oilers games have had a goal in the first 10 minutes in 10 of their last 13 games.

Edmonton’s Leon Draisaitl, who leads the league in goals (31), has gone back-to-back scoreless games (fourth time this season) and has yet to go three straight games without finding the back of the net. Draisaitl has scored twice against the Wild this season and has 16 goals in 25 career games against Minnesota. If Marc-Andre Fleury gets the start between the pipes, then I’ll jump on Corey Perry for a goal anytime. Perry has 15 goals in 19 games against “The Flower.”

Minnesota’s Matt Boldy has six goals in nine games against the Oilers (one this season). Freddy Gaudreau has six goals in nine games against the Oilers, including three in the two games this season.

NHL Predictions: Edmonton Oilers/Minnesota Wild Goal in 1stSt 10 minutes (-145) – 1 unit
Edmonton Oilers/Minnesota Wild 1St Period Above 1.5 (-125) – 1 unit
Edmonton Oilers/Minnesota Wild Over 5.5 (-135) – 1 unit
Leon Draisaitl to score anytime (+125) – ½ unit
Corey Perry to score anytime (+750) – ¼ unit – only if Fleury is Minnesota goaltender
Freddy Gaudreau to score anytime (+550) – ¼ unit