DailyFaceoff/Corsica NHL Bets (February 1st)

The Corsica NHL betting predictions takes aim at tonight’s eight-game slate as the NHL schedule resets back into normality. I’ve highlighted Corsica’s most probable and valuable bets below. You can find predictions for all of tonight’s games here. Good luck!

Highest Value

Senators @ Penguins – Over/Under | Under 6.5 (+118)

As we’ve already seen this week, teams tend to struggle to create offense coming off their bye weeks. The Senators haven’t played since January 22 and will have to shake off some inevitable rust against the Penguins tonight. Pittsburgh is in fine form having already played twice this week, but their top-nine got a major shakeup after today’s trade with the Panthers. Nick Bjugstad and Jared McCann are reportedly on route to Pittsburgh and are expected to be in the lineup tonight. Without even a single practice to get acclimated to their new team and system, don’t expect McCann and Bjugstad to make much of an impact tonight. The production of Pittsburgh’s bottom-six should take a hit as a result.

Evgeni Malkin and Phil Kessel will have a hard time generating their normal rate of offense in their matchup with Ottawa’s second line. Ottawa’s surrendering just 24 scoring chances per 60 when Colin White, Brady Tkachuk, and Mark Stone are on the ice. On paper, the only real threat to produce in this game is the Sidney Crosby line. Their biggest challenge will be the opposing goaltender. Anders Nilsson is expected to be in goal for the Senators tonight. He’s been outstanding since being acquired via trade from the Canucks, posting a .931 SV% and 2.14 GAA in seven appearances. Corsica gives the under a likelihood of 63.65%, giving it tremendous value at +118.

Highest Probability

Blackhawks @ Sabres – Spread | CHI +1.5 (-170)

According to Corsica, with a probability of 73.26%, the Blackhawks covering a +1.5-goal spread against the Sabres is by far the safest bet on the slate. After looking at the projected matchups, the Sabres look to have a slight advantage at 5v5. The Jack Eichel line routinely out-possesses and out-chances the opposition at even strength. Chicago’s top-six generates a respectable amount of offense but tends to surrender a lot of quality chances in the process. Thankfully for Chicago, Buffalo is not without defensive issues of their own, and any disadvantage they have to endure at even strength is negligible compared to the lopsided matchup on special teams.

The Blackhawks own the league’s best power-play since the turn of the calendar year, and it’s not even close. Chicago’s converted on an absurd 40.0% of their power-play opportunities since January 1. Buffalo owns the league’s third-worst PK% over that same span, killing off just 73.9% of their penalties. Look for their lackluster penalty-kill to be exposed by the NHL’s hottest power-play tonight. If you’re looking for a dog to target tonight, Chicago is it. Corsica gives them a 46.07% chance of winning the game outright.