Predictions & Picks, NHL Best Bets for Monday, Oct 20

Minnesota Wild vs. New York Rangers 7:00 p.m. EST

The WIld continue their road trip through the Metropolitan Division as they visit the New York Rangers Monday night.  The Wild have been struggling as they’ve lost three straight games and have only been only three times in that stretch.  And now they face one of the league’s best netminders, Igor Shesterkin.  WIld goaltender Filip Gustavsson opened the season with a shutout but has been shaky including giving up 5 goals in Friday’s loss to the Capitals and has an .859 SV% across 3 games since the opener.

The Rangers will try to do something they haven’t done all season, score on home ice.  They have been held off the scoresheet in three games but seem to have found their offensive spark after potting in 4 against the Canadiens and the most important thing, star forward Artemi Panarin finished that game with four points.  If Panarin can continue with the hot hand and Shesterkin with his stellar play, the Rangers should not only finally score at home but earn their first victory at MSG.  

Predictions

The Wild are playing their third game in four days and the last time they were in this situation, 3 in 4 days, they lost to Dallas. New York is 5-1 over the last 6 series meetings. The Rangers are due at home and also hold the edge in recent games vs. Minnesota going 5-1 in the last 6. BEST BET:  Rangers ML -135

Seattle Kraken vs. Philadelphia Flyers 7:00 p.m. EST

The Philadelphia Flyers take on the Seattle Kraken Monday night at Xfinity Mobile Arena. The Kraken started 2-0 this season winning both games at home before hitting the road for a 6-game eastern swing.  This is the fourth stop and so far Seattle is 1–0-2 with their most recent game, a 4-3 SO win against the Maple Leafs.  The Kraken remain one of four teams in the NHL without a regulation loss.  Seattle has been getting offensive help across all lines as 8 players have at least 4 points this season with Vince Dunn leading the way with 2 goals and three helpers.  Joey Daccord should start in goal and is coming off a game where he stopped 26 out of 29 shots, an .897 save percentage.  The Flyers wrap up a four game homestand tonight and are 2-1 through 3 games including wins against the Panthers and Wild with a loss to the Jets. 

While they are 2–2-1 this season, the Flyers have scored just 13 goals with Owen Tippett leading the team with 3.  

Prediction 

Seattle has been on a great run to start the season but the Flyers look like they will have enough to end the Kraken run.  Dan Vladar is very good in net and should give Seattle all types of fits.  Despite Seattle winning five of the last six meetings, let’s go with the home side.  BEST BET: Flyers ML -126

Carolina Hurricanes vs. Vegas Golden Knights 10:00 p.m. EST

It’s a possible Stanley Cup Final preview as two of the NHL powerhouses meeting on Monday night in Las Vegas.  The Carolina Hurricanes are the only team to not have a regulation loss going 5-0 to start the season.  Frederik Andersen has been rock solid for the Canes  (3-0-0, 2.27 GAA, .899 SV%) and stopped 23 of 24 shots in Thursday’s 4-1 win against the Ducks.

The Canes are well balanced and have dominated Vegas, winning 7 of the last 10 meetings.  Carolina averages nearly 5 goals a game with Seth Jarvis leading the team with 6 goals.  The Canes will try to take advantage of the Golden Knights poor penalty kill which is 30th in the NHL.   Vegas is 4-0-2 to start the season coming off a 6-1 routing of the Flames Saturday night.

The Golden Knights have the NHL’s leading scorers as Jack Eichel has 15 points and Mark Stone sits second with 13 while Pavel Dorofeyev has a team high 6 goals.

Predictions 

With so much firepower on both sides, the smart play is taking the over.  Carolina has seen at least 6 goals in 4 of its five games while Vegas has hit that number in five of its 6 games.  BEST BET:  OVER 6 Goals