NHL Picks

The Chicago Blackhawks will take on the New York Islanders Tuesday night. The Blackhawks have struggled this season and currently sit at 15^th in the Western Conference. They have also lost 4 of their last 5 games only scoring a total of 8 goals over that time. On the season, they are scoring 2.57 goals per game while allowing 3.14 goals. The Blackhawks also rank last in the NHL in total shots on target this season, while ranking 5^th for total shots against them. The struggles for the Blackhawks are on both ends of the ice and the Islanders will look to take advantage of that.

For the Islanders, they currently occupy the final spot in the playoffs. They are coming off a hard fought 1-0 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets. The Islanders have also won 7 of their last 10 at home. Through those games, they are averaging 3.7 goals per game showing their dominant home form. On the season, the Islanders goaltenders are stopping 90.1% of shots while only allowing 2.78 goals per game. Overall, the Islanders are looking to secure their playoff spot and the Blackhawks offense should struggle against the tough Islander defense. I am rolling with the Islanders on the puck line.

Blackhawks vs. Islanders Prediction: Islanders -1.5 (+140) available at the time of publishing. Playable at that number.

The Columbus Blue Jackets will take on the Philadelphia Flyers Tuesday night. The Blue Jackets are 7^th in the Eastern Conference. They had a 12-game point streak going before their most recent loss against the New York Islanders. The Blue Jackets are motivated to remain in the playoffs and are averaging 3.6 goals per game over the past 10 games. Even more impressive, in those 10 games they have only allowed a total of 24 goals. On the season, the Blue Jackets also rank 5^th in shots on target averaging 30 shots per game. The Blue Jackets will look to continue this playoff form.

For the Flyers, they currently sit 5 points out of the playoffs. Their form has also improved as they have won 7 of their last 10 games overall. The issue for the Flyers is that they are only averaging 2.8 goals per game and 25.2 shots on target. This lack of offense will be tough against a well-improved Blue Jackets defense. Additionally, the Blue Jackets have won both meetings so far this season. I am rolling with the Blue Jackets to pull the season sweep against the Flyers. Blue Jackets on the money line.

Blue Jackets vs. Flyers Prediction: Blue Jackets ML (-135) available at the time of publishing. Playable at that number.

The Seattle Kraken will be hoping to halt a 3-game losing streak when they visit the Florida Panthers on Tuesday night. Seattle is coming off consecutive setbacks against Tampa Bay, Nashville and Columbus while falling to 2-7-0 in its past 9 outings. Defensive woes have been the culprit for this team, which is why my Kraken vs Panthers prediction is Over 5.5. Seattle has allowed at least 5 goals in 2 of its past 3 contests. During this 2-7-0 stretch it has also surrendered 5, 4 and 7 goals to the opponent. Philipp Grubauer is expected to be in the net for this matchup after most recently starting against Tampa Bay last Tuesday, when he yielded 5 goals during a 6-2 loss.

Florida is generous defensively, as well. The Panthers have dropped 3 of their last 4 games in those 3 losses they allowed a total of 15 goals. It remains to be seen whether Sergei Bobrovsky or Daniil Tarasov gets the nod on Tuesday. Neither inspires any confidence. Bobrovsky is 37 years old and slowing down to the tune of a 3.00 goals-against average and .879 save percentage; Tarasov is 9-11-2 with a 3.01 goals-against average and .896 save percentage. Tarasov has given up 10 goal in his past 2 appearances. On the bright side for Florida, Matthew Tkachuk is healthy and has delivered 15 points (6 goals, 9 assist) in the last 12 contests.

Kraken vs Panthers prediction: Over 5.5 (-130) available at time of publishing. Playable at that number.

The Boston Bruins and Toronto Maple Leafs have a very interesting matchup on Tuesday night. The Maple Leafs need to lose as many games as they can down the stretch to get a top-five draft pick. If they don’t, they’ll relinquish their first-round pick to the Bruins, meaning that if Boston wins this game, they’ll be helping their playoff chances but hurting their chances of getting a draft pick in the 6-10 range. If the Maple Leafs win, they’ll hurt their bitter rival’s chances of making the playoffs a year after retooling, but they’ll also increase the chances of giving them an elite prospect at sixth overall. It is a bit of a confusing time for both teams.

The only thing everyone knows is that Toronto has completely fallen off this season since losing Mitch Marner. The team’s culture was already teetering on the brink, but something shifted this season that completely threw the landscape off. The result is one of the worst-looking Maple Leafs teams of this generation.

The Bruins have been defying the odds all season, but their offense has been inconsistent at times, and Joseph Woll always plays Boston well. If Anthony Stolarz were the projected starter, it’d be a bit more concerning for the under, but he is likely still out after taking an errant William Nylander warmup shot to the throat.

If you’re looking for one goaltender who hasn’t been causing their fans to pull their hair out this season, it is Jeremy Swayman. His performance on Saturday night against the Detroit Red Wings was a massive one for the team’s playoff chances this season, and it furthered the belief that if the Bruins make the postseason, Swayman has to be under consideration for the Vezina Trophy.

Two sputtering offenses, a Bruins goaltender who has been the best in the league since the Olympic break, and a Leafs goaltender who has the potential on any given night to steal the show. It feels like Tuesday night’s meeting at TD Garden could be a stringy, defensive outing.

Maple Leafs vs Bruins prediction: Under (-130) available at time of publishing. Playable at that number. 

The New Jersey Devils and Dallas Stars  clash as part of a massive Tuesday in the NHL. This is the second and final meeting for the two this season, after a 3-0 takedown by Dallas in December. How will this one play out? Here is our expert Devils vs. Stars prediction.

New Jersey owns the fifth-lowest goals per game average of 2.65 goals per game, and are taking on an elite defensive team in Dallas that owns the second-best goals against average of 2.66. The Devils have produced a decent power play of 22.7%, but expect that to be diminished against a Stars penalty kill succeeding at 80.7%. New Jersey also has the second-worst shooting rate of 8.8%, while Dallas as a team has produced a top-ten save percentage of .904. The numbers are one thing and they spell disaster for New Jersey, but Dallas is in the thick of a race to the lead in the overall NHL standings. Therefore, I expect their strengths to show in full light, shutting down any New Jersey offense. Dallas has an elite offense as well, but New Jersey hasn’t been completely lost defensively, so they will not be able to carry the goal total alone. We saw just three total goals the last time these two met, and I am expecting yet another low-scoring finish. Take the under 5.5 for our Devils vs. Stars prediction.

Devils vs. Stars prediction: Under 5.5 (+100) available at time of publishing. Playable at that total to (-115).

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Both the Vegas Golden Knights and Winnipeg Jets enter this matchup struggling to score goals. The Golden Knights have been held to 2 or fewer goals in 6 of their last 9 games, and have managed to score just 4 total goals in their last 4 games. That has resulted in the Under cashing in 6 of Vegas’ last 7 games, including the last 5 in a row. The Jets have been among the lowest-scoring teams in the NHL all season long, and enter this matchup ranked 24th in the league averaging 2.81 goals per game. Winnipeg led the NHL in power play percentage last season with a conversion rate of 28.9%, but that number has dropped down to 18.0% so far this season which puts them at 23rd in the league.

Winnipeg goaltender Connor Hellebuyck has been better since the Olympic break. He posted a goals-against average of 3.07 in January and 4.34 in February, but has improved to own a 2.86 goals-against average through 10 games so far this month. With the way the Vegas offense is struggling, Hellebuyck should be able to put forth a solid performance in this one. Vegas goaltender Adin Hill is projected to get the starting nod in this one, and he has allowed 2 goals or fewer in 5 of his last 6 games. He also owns a strong 2.58 goals-against average in March, so he appears to be in quite the groove between the pipes. Given the recent success of both goaltenders and the offensive struggles on both sides, the under is the play here.

Golden Knights vs Jets prediction: Under 5.5 (+110) available at time of publishing. Playable at that number.

Part of a busy Tuesday night in the NHL brings us matchup between the Washington Capitals and St. Louis Blues. These teams have both put together unimpressive season, but they each still have an outside chance at the playoffs and are not ready to back down yet. To get you set for the action with our Capitals vs. Blues prediction.

When looking at the leaders in team offense, Washington and St. Louis is nowhere near the top. Especially for St. Louis, who sits 29th at 2.61 goals per game.

Both have mightily struggled on the power play, as they are each within the bottom-seven in success rate, both below 17%.

Not only have their offenses been shaky, but this game should have a playoff-like atmosphere. I expect minimal mistakes, high effort, and great sacrifice and physicality. This play style should result in minimal offense. Washington has had game total go under in six-straight games and in 10 of their last 12. As for St. Louis, the total has stayed under in five-straight games, and  in 10 of their last 11. Take the under 5.5 for our Capitals vs. Blues prediction.

Capitals vs. Blues prediction: Under 5.5 (+105) available at time of publishing. Playable at that total to (-110).

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It’s clear that the Edmonton Oilers are still adjusting to life without Leon Draisaitl in the lineup. Draisaitl sustained a lower body injury last week against the Predators, and was placed on lone term IR last week. The Oilers are 1-2-0 without him, and have scored just 2 total goals over their last 2 games. This will be Edmonton’s first road game without Draisaitl available, and a tough assignment awaits in Salt Lake City going up against the Mammoth. Andre Tourigny’s squad is 19-12-3 on home ice this season, and enter this matchup with wins in 3 of their last 4 games overall.

Utah continues to play solid defense, as they are allowing just 26.1 shots on goal per game to their opponents, which ranks 5th in the NHL. That kind of solid defensive structure has helped goaltender Karel Vejmelka rack up 32 wins so far this season, which is the 2nd-most in the league. Utah’s offensive attack has been fairly up-and-down this season, but they appear to be up right now by scoring 4 or more goals in 3 of their last 4 games. Clayton Keller and company have a favorable matchup in this one, as Edmonton’s goaltending situation continues to be an utter disaster. The move to acquire Tristan Jarry has not panned out as planned, which has led to Connor Ingram getting the majority of the starts lately. He owns a save percentage of .890 through 22 starts, and has allowed 11 goals over his last 3 starts. Playing on home ice, back the Mammoth on the moneyline.

Oilers vs Mammoth prediction: Mammoth ML (-135) available at time of publishing. Playable at that number.

The Vancouver Canucks will be hosting the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday night. The Ducks will be looking to follow up a thrilling comeback overtime win against the Buffalo Sabres on Sunday with a win against the Canucks. The Ducks hold a four-point lead over the Vegas Golden Knights in the NHL’s weakest division. They will be looking to maintain or add to this lead with the Golden Knights also in action on Tuesday. They will have a great opportunity to do so against the Canucks, who only have eight wins on home ice all season long. Their record at Rogers Arena is 8-23-5. The Canucks are completely out-matched in this game as they are the second-worst offensive team and the worst defensive team in the league.

I expect the Ducks to come out with a strong performance against an inferior opponent. The young talent of the Ducks should be able to take over and dominate this game as the Canucks simply don’t have a match for it. Give me the Ducks on the puck line in this one.

Ducks vs. Canucks prediction: Ducks -1.5 (+140) available at time of publishing. Playable at that number.