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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 Saturday, November 7, Greg Liodice has us covered.
NHL Picks, Predictions Tonight
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Canadiens vs Maple Leafs Pick
The Montreal Canadiens got a big boost when captain Nick Suzuki returned to the ice on Thursday's win against the Mammoth. Suzuki picked up right where he left off with a three-point game, including a secondary assist on the game-winner in overtime.
The Habs are one of my favorite teams to watch this season. Aside from the injury to Ivan Demidov, there's so much young talent with Suzuki, Lane Hutson, Cole Caufield, and Juraj Slafkovsky.
But clearly, the Suzuki injury didn't affect them that much. After he went down, the Habs went 5-0-1, and then stayed on the horse after a win against Utah.
Toronto, I'm a little more wary of. The Leafs started the season in the gutter with a 3-4-2 record, but since then, have gone 5-3. For as talented as the Leafs are, goaltending will continue to be the biggest concern for me.
I thought signing Sergei Bobrovsky to a three-year deal at a $7 million AAV, and trading Joseph Woll, was a big mistake. Bobrovsky is way past his prime with an .889 SV% and a 1.1 GSAx. Toronto does seem to get better results with Anthony Stolarz as its netminder, but the overall preference seems to be Bobrovsky as the guy.
I think no matter who starts in net for Toronto, I like Montreal to come out on top. Ride the hot hand.
Pick: Canadiens ML
Lightning vs Wild Pick
Nothing like the comfort of your own home, eh? The Minnesota Wild can enjoy a back-to-back and be able to sleep in their own beds.
Last night, the Wild took the San Jose Sharks to the cleaners by winning 4-1. Jesper Wallstedt has been a total brick wall this season, but the problem is that Calvin Pickard will likely assume the net tonight.
Pickard is what he is. Serviceable enough to hold down the fort for a game, but bad enough not to be trusted for more than that. Minnesota came into this season with one of the best goaltending duos in the league, but with the hip injury to Filip Gustavsson, that leaves Pickard in.
Meanwhile, the Tampa Bay Lightning have enjoyed a solid stretch by registering points in five straight games. Despite the drama surrounding the team and Nikita Kucherov's trade request, the Bolts are still playing at a high level. Kucherov leads the team in scoring, while Jake Guentzel, Brayden Point and Brandon Hagel aren't far behind.
In the last 10 games, Tampa has been playing like one of the more efficient offenses in hockey, with a 24.6 xGF% and a stout 20.39 xGA on the defensive front.
Because of how strong Tampa is on the offensive front, and Pickard's volatility, I think this is a great opportunity for the over.
Pick: Over 6.5
Penguins vs Kings Pick
We're 16 games into the season, and this has already been a rough go for the Pittsburgh Penguins, who are currently tied for last in the Eastern Conference.
They've been through a stretch where injuries have decimated their roster, and while they've gotten a little healthier, they're still missing a pair of defensemen, as well as Bryan Rust, who's still out for a few more weeks.
On the other side, the Los Angeles Kings understand the struggles that Pittsburgh is going through. However, they've been running into good fortune as of late. After starting the season 0-4-2, the Kings have gone 5-3 to even out the playing field, most recently dominating the Sharks 7-2.
Kings star Artemi Panarin is still so incredibly good, and Adrian Kempe is fresh off a hat trick after dealing with a dry spell.
Current season-wide rankings suggest that the Kings are pretty anemic on the offensive end, but I don't think that tells the whole story. Since that brutal start to the season, Los Angeles is actually averaging 3.88 goals per game, and while its expected goals share could be a little bit better, its defense has held down the fort.
Now, goaltending is an issue. Darcy Kuemper is not the goaltender he once was, and it's shown in his .885 SV% and -3.1 GSAx. Because of his age, I'm going to give Kuemper some grace. He's been the winning goalie in five straight games, and it seems like he's getting into a groove, along with the team in front of him.
I'm going to ride with the hot hand here and take the Kings to win outright. I'm pretty bearish on the Penguins currently, and they've been horrible on the road. Their only road win came on Opening Night. Since then, they've lost every road game.
Pick: Kings ML
