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This is Daily Dangles, a column featuring our top expert’s NHL picks, predictions, and best trades.
Every day, one of our experts will provide you with some of the sharpest, high-value analysis on what the NHL schedule offers us.
For Friday, October 23, Tony Sartori has us covered.
NHL Picks, Predictions Tonight
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- Blackhawks ML (40c, Polymarket)
- Lightning/Avalanche Over 6.5 Goals (48c, Polymarket)
Canadiens vs Blackhawks Pick
The Canadiens are expected to start goaltender Jakub Dobes, and he is a good fade candidate. Arguably the worst goaltender in hockey so far this season, Dobes enters this matchup with a 0-1-2 record over his first five starts.
Dobes owns a fade-worthy .847 save percentage and 4.47 goals-against average over that stretch. The clear goaltending advantage goes to the Blackhawks, who are expected to start Spencer Knight.
This season, Knight outranks Dobes in wins, save percentage, goals-against average and goals saved above expected per 60 minutes. To make matters worse for Montreal, Nick Suzuki is expected to miss multiple weeks after suffering an upper-body injury.
That's a monumental loss for the Habs' forward group, and his linemate Cole Caufield agrees: "It's a huge loss … Nobody can fill Suzy's shoes. We know that as a group. Everybody has to step up." (Associated Press)
It will be Montreal's first game without Suzuki this season, and going on the road against an improving Hawks team will be a tougher test than the odds indicate.
Pick: Blackhawks ML (40c, Polymarket)
Lightning vs Avalanche Pick
Simply put, these are two of the best offenses in hockey. Entering this matchup, both teams rank in the top 10 in goals scored per game, shots on goal per game and expected goals for per 60 minutes.
However, goaltending has not been as strong for either side. The Lightning's Andrei Vasilevskiy enters this contest with a save percentage below .900.
Meanwhile, Mackenzie Blackwood has allowed three or more goals in three of his past five starts for the Avalanche. Blackwood is 2-3 over that stretch with a .878 save percentage.
It's doubtful he turns things around against this difficult Lightning offense. In his past three meetings with Tampa Bay, Blackwood is 0-2 with a troubling .815 save percentage and 5.65 goals-against average.
Pick: Over 6.5 Goals (48c, Polymarket)
