The NHL is slowing down as it heads to its All-Star break. For the next three days, we don't have more than three games on the schedule. Tonight, there's only one game. That's the Nashville Predators visiting the Ottawa Senators.
So here are three picks for tonight's only game.
Odds Shark's NHL Betting Resources
NHL Expert Picks - Nashville Predators vs Ottawa Senators (7 PM ET)
Pick 1: OVER 1.5 Goals P1 (-166)
Per our NHL betting reports, the Ottawa Senators are 25-11-1 (69.4%) against the first period OVER this year while the Preds are 27-14 (65.9%). At this point of the year, that record has a deep enough sample size to know that these results are repeatable.
When these two sides play (independently of one another) the total usually goes OVER. Now with both of them playing each other, it's almost a guarantee.
Pick 2: OVER 6.5 (-122)
The Ottawa Senators are awful defensively, even after appointing Jacques Martin as head coach. Since Martin's appointment, Ottawa has allowed an average of 4.00 goals per game. Ouch.
But that's good for us when it comes to betting. Ottawa is 15-8-2 against the OVER at home when the total is set at 6.5 goals (like tonight). The total went OVER 6.5 goals in four of their last five home games.
For Nashville, when they're away from home and the total is 6.5 they're 6-4 against the OVER.
Pick 3: Ottawa Scores First (-115)
Even with Ottawa's poor defensive record, they don't allow the first goal often. They've allowed the first goal 18 times this year, which is the second-lowest total in the league. And most of those 18 games occurred on the road. Ottawa has only allowed the first goal at home seven times.
Meanwhile, Nashville has allowed the first goal in 12 of 24 road games this year. The Sens score first tonight.
Nashville Predators vs Ottawa Senators: Same-Game Parlay Option
If you want to combine all three into a same-game parlay you're looking at a +320 ticket. That's $32 of profit on a $10 bet instead of $22.90 for betting on all three individually.
