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This is Daily Dangles, a column featuring our top expert’s NHL picks, predictions, and best bets.
Every day, one of our experts will provide you with some of the sharpest, high-value betting analysis on what the NHL schedule offers us.
For Sunday, October 18, Greg Liodice has us covered.
NHL Picks, Predictions Tonight
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Blue Jackets vs Wild Pick
Last night, the Blue Jackets took on the Rangers at home, and shortly after, hopped on a plane to Minneapolis to take on the Minnesota Wild.
Columbus has already proved that it has a tough time on back-to-back games where it started home and played a road game the day after.
Minnesota is no joke, with three wins in its past four games, and is now on two days' rest. Additionally, the Wild have been pretty strong at driving 5-on-5 play with a 16.75 expected goals share to Columbus' 13.62 xGF.
Apart from that, both of these teams are pretty similar at 5-on-5 play, though if you asked Jackets' coach Rick Bowness, he would tell you otherwise. I love Bones and have always felt like he's been more calculated when calling out his team, but it feels like since he took the job in the middle of last season, he's been quite disappointed.
Defensively, this team is strong, and having a goalie like Jet Greaves will help. But I've never been a fan of backup Cam Talbot, and I will likely fade him whenever the floodgates open.
Additionally, the special teams factor will play a big part. Columbus will be exhausted after a late night and it's brutal 61% success rate on the penalty kill will have the Wild licking their chops with their 33% power play.
Picks:
- Wild Moneyline (-210)
- Under 6.5 (-128)
- +157 Parlay (FanDuel)
Hurricanes vs Flames Pick
It feels like the Flames are the league's whipping boy this season, but can you blame us?
The experiment with head coach Ryan Huska has been proven to be a total disaster and they ended up waiving 25-year-old center Connor Zary, who hasn't been bad at all. Oh, to be a fly on the wall hearing the staff's discussions…
Calgary has the displeasure of taking on the defending Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes, who have hardly broken a sweat this season, with just one regulation loss. The other loss they suffered was in overtime against the Panthers on opening night.
Needless to say, this is a total mismatch, but I think this goes over the allotted 6.5 total.
For starters, the Canes are going to get theirs. Sebastian Aho and Andrei Svechnikov have each scored six times, while Mark Jankowski and Logan Stankoven each have at least four goals.
Secondly, because Pyotr Kochetkov started yesterday against Winnipeg, I anticipate Brandon Bussi to get the nod — a player I'm not totally sold on.
Bussi was the darling of last season, where the Hurricanes probably don't win without him, but he's definitely been shaky to start the season, with an .871 SV% and a -2.2 GSAx.
Pick: Over 6.5
