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Top NHL Odds, Picks & Predictions: Tuesday (Opening Night)

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It feels like just yesterday that the Golden Knights lifted the cup for the first time in franchise history. Vegas will relive the memories of the historic run before tonight’s game against Seattle as they raise the banner to the rafters. Prior to the nightcap, we have two highly-anticipated matchups as the Predators open up the year against the Lightning, while the middle game features a battle between the Blackhawks and Penguins.

From a betting perspective, I have action on all three games! Let’s dive into each tilt and check out how I’m betting on the 2023 opening night in the NHL.

Today’s NHL Best Bets

Odds courtesy of BetMGM Sportsbook

Nashville Predators (+135) vs. Tampa Bay Lightning (-160) | 6.5 (+100/-120)

The season gets underway with a cross-conference showdown between the Predators and Lightning. Nashville missed the playoffs last year by three points while Tampa saw a first-round exit against Toronto (4-2). This matchup is slated for 5:30 p.m. ET from Amalie Arena in Tampa, FL. 

There’s a glaring hole in the Bolts’ lineup to start the season, and that’s goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy. The two-time champion is expected to miss at least the first 8-10 weeks after undergoing back surgery in September. He’ll be replaced by Jonas Johansson in net, who has just 27 career starts under his belt. Over 35 total games played, the 28-year-old owns a 3.35 GAA and .886 SV%. 

On the flip side, we have a bonafide star in Juuse Saros getting the nod between the pipes. The Finnish netminder is coming off of a year where he posted a 2.69 GAA (17th) and .919 SV% (6th). The goaltending edge clearly favors the Preds, so I’ll ride with them as slight underdogs. They have plenty of talent up front as well with Filip Forsberg and Ryan O’Reilly, along with up-and-comers Cody Glass and Thomas Novak. Ultimately, considering the mismatch in the crease, I can’t pass up a +135 payout with the Predators. 

Bet: Nashville Predators Moneyline (+135)

Chicago Blackhawks (+195) vs. Pittsburgh Penguins (-250) | 6.5 (-120/+100)

Neither the Blackhawks nor the Penguins made the playoffs last season. And, if you’ll take a trip down memory lane, it was the Hawks that pulled off a late-season upset over the Pens and essentially knocked them out of the running. The two sides get underway tonight at 8:00 p.m. ET from PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA. 

If you haven’t heard by now, one of the biggest storylines entering the season is the first-overall pick from this year’s draft, Connor Bedard. The 18-year-old will slot in as the top-line center, and he’ll have Taylor Hall and Ryan Donato on his sides. Even if everything you hear about Bedard (his professionalism, his talent, etc.) comes true, you still have to remember that this is a bottom-of-the-barrel roster overall. Adding veteran presences in Corey Perry and Hall can only take you so far. And don’t even get me started on the defense, which features only one notable player in Seth Jones. 

It’s going to be a long season for the Hawks, and I’ll take this opportunity to fade them on the road in the opener. The Penguins are looking to make one last push toward a Stanley Cup and they’ve bolstered their lineup by adding Erik Karlsson and Ryan Graves on the backend. These two, along with the usual suspects of Sidney Crosby, Jake Guentzel, and Evgeni Malkin should have no issue cruising to a win on home ice. I’ll lay the 1.5 goals in this spot.

Bet: Pittsburgh Penguins -1.5 (+110)

Seattle Kraken (+145) vs. Vegas Golden Knights (-175) | 6.0 (-120/+100)

The night wraps up out west as the Golden Knights raise their 2022-2023 Stanley Cup banner. After the ceremony, Vegas will host Seattle, who made some waves in the playoffs last year. The second-year franchise was eventually sent home by the Stars (4-3) in the second round. This Pacific Division clash is slated for 10:30 p.m. ET from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, NV. 

There are still a couple of 6.5s floating around on the board, but you have to play an insanely high price. I’ll instead opt for the +100 payout that comes with the under on 6.0 goals. Starting with the champs, they’ll return Adin Hill in net this season. The 27-year-old was excellent at The Fortress last year, posting a 2.67 GAA while knocking aside 90.9% of shots. He’ll be without a couple of his key defensemen in front in Zach Whitecloud and Alec Martinez, but the netminder will be able to rely on Nicolas Hague, Alex Pietrangelo, Shea Theodore, and Brayden McNabb. This is a physical, veteran defensive core that should be able to put the clamps on a Kraken offense that was 20th in shots per game last season (30.5). 

As for Seattle, they’ll ride with Philipp Grubauer in net for a third consecutive campaign. The 31-year-old German is coming off of a season where he posted a 2.85 GAA (19th) and .895 SV% (39th). Interestingly, those numbers moved in a better direction away from home, where they were 2.59 and .904, respectively. I think there’s a chance we see a slow start from the Golden Knights in this game (from the ceremony), which should allow the Kraken to settle in. I’m playing the under in the nightcap. 

Bet: Under 6.0 (+100)

Make sure to check out our other best bets for Tuesday:

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