NHL Picks

The Anaheim Ducks will be in Columbus to take on the Blue Jackets in the second half of a back-to-back situation. This game will feature two of the weaker defensive teams in the NHL. Heading into action on Monday night, the Ducks were averaging 3.34 goals against per game, while the Blue Jackets average 3.47 per game, which is fourth worst in the league. On the flip side of this, the Ducks are one of the best offensive teams in the league. Heading into action on Monday, they averaged 3.44 goals per game, good for second-best in the NHL. Prior to Monday’s game, the over was 5-1 in their last six games played. The Ducks are loaded with talent up front. They have three players with 30+ points, one of whom has eclipsed the 40-point mark in 32 games. The Blue Jackets have some players of their own who are no stranger to putting the puck in the net also.

With this being a back-to-back for the Ducks, they will have netminder Ville Husso starting in goal. He has a 3.17 GAA and .888 SVP on the season. With two of the weaker defensive teams in the league going at it, I think we are in for a high-scoring game. Give me the over in this one.

Ducks vs. Blue Jackets prediction: Over 6.5 (-115) available at time of publishing. Playable at that number.

Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers take on Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins for a huge Tuesday night showdown. These teams made headlines just days ago in major trade that included goaltenders Stuart Skinner and Tristan Jarry swapping teams, and now the organizations will battle on the ice. Here is our expert Oilers vs. Penguins prediction.

Both teams desperately need some consistency in their game. However, Pittsburgh’s game has been far more concerning overall. The Penguins have recently blown a number of leads that resulted in losses. Since November 3rd, the Penguins have blown three 3+ goal leads within a third period, which has happened in each of their last two games. Their ability to close games is clearly an issue, one that may spark some doubt to creep into the locker room. As for the Oilers, yes, they are coming off a 4-1 loss to the Montreal Canadiens, but this comes after a 4-0-1 run where they outscored opponents 28-14. Edmonton is clearly playing better than Pittsburgh, and as usual are lead by bigger stars in the matchup, especially with Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin still injured. For our Oilers vs. Penguins prediction, take Edmonton on the money line.

Oilers vs. Penguins prediction: Edmonton Oilers money line (-140) available at time of publishing. Playable to (-165).

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The New York Islanders and Detroit Red Wings are set to meet for the third time this season on Tuesday night in the Motor City. New York has taken each of the first 2 meetings, winning 7-2 on October 23 and 5-0 on November 20. The Red Wings are coming off a 4-0 shutout victory over the Blackhawks on Sunday, but they have a much tougher assignment in this one. It’s clear Detroit hasn’t had many answers for New York’s offensive attack so far this season. All 12 goals the Islanders have scored against the Red Wings this season have some at even strength. The New York power play is 0-for-7 in their 2 matchups against Detroit this season, but that could change when going up against a Red Wing penalty killing unit that has struggled in recent weeks.

The good news for the Red Wings is that they have found consistent offensive success all season long. They are coming off an extended road trip in which they scored 4 or more goals in 5 games of 6 games. Detroit boasts the 9th-best power play in the NHL with a conversion rate of 22.3%, but haven’t found a power play goal in 4 straight games. It’s only a matter of time before it starts clicking again. After getting blanked by Ilya Sorokin a few weeks ago, look for the Red Wings to come out firing. Both offenses should be able to find success in this one, which makes the over the play.

Islanders vs Red Wings prediction: Over 5.5 (-135) available at time of publishing. Playable at that number.

The Montreal Canadiens will be welcoming the Philadelphia Flyers to the Bell Centre on Tuesday night. They are hosting a Flyers team that is riding a three-game losing streak. Their offensive struggles seem to be continuing. They are averaging only 2.81 goals per game on the season. This is far less than the 3.22 goals per game that the Canadiens average. There is also a fairly big mismatch in the powerplay unit efficiency between these teams. The Canadiens unit is operating at 26.4% and is very lethal, while the Flyers unit is struggling, working at only 16.5%. This will be a significant advantage for the Canadiens as the Flyers are one of the most penalized teams in the NHL.

The Canadiens have some elite scoring talent at the top end of their lineup, led by Cole Caufield and Nick Suzuki. They have 37 and 33 points on the season, respectively. The Flyers do not have the fire power to keep up with the likes of these players. The Canadiens should be able to get it done on home ice on Tuesday. Give me the Canadiens on the money line.

Flyers vs. Canadiens prediction: Canadiens ML (-140) available at time of publishing. Playable at that number.

The Vancouver Canucks will take on the New York Rangers today. The Canucks are sporting a 12-17-3 record which ranks them last in the NHL. The Canucks are also giving up 3.50 goals per game, partly due to their shaky power play defense that has a 72% penalty kill rate. While these numbers are discouraging, the Canucks are significantly better away from Vancouver. Through 17 away games they have 18 points and have scored 51 goals. The Canucks have also won 3 of the last 5 games they have played against the Rangers in New York.

For the Rangers, they have been very disappointing this season. They currently rank 12^th in the Eastern Conference with a 16-14-4 record. What has been more disappointing, is the way the Rangers have played at home. In New York, they are 4-9-3 having scored 30 goals and given up 50 goals. The Rangers inability to score has been present in the last 5 games with them losing 4 of those games and only scoring a total of 10 goals. Overall, the Canucks play much better away from home, and I think they will steal a win from a Rangers team that is struggling to score. I am taking the Canucks on the money line.

Canucks vs. Rangers Prediction: Canucks ML (+115) available at the time of publishing. Playable at that number.

The Colorado Avalanche and Seattle Kraken meet on Tuesday in the NHL. These Western Conference foes have yet to meet this season, as this is the first of three meetings. They are also on completely different sides of the standings, as there is a whopping 23 points separating them. How will this one play out? Here is our Avalanche vs. Kraken prediction.

Colorado has won two-straight games, and have posted a 4-0-1 record in their last five games. They are on the road in this one, but I don’t expect them to stop rolling. This will be Seattle’s toughest task this season, as the Avalanche are the gold standard within the league. Recent play from the Kraken has produced no reason to believe they will have a shot. They are 1-7-1 in their last nine games (outscored 35-17) and have won just seven of 16 games on home ice. They are also missing their top scorer in Jared McCann to injury, and there is an illness running through the team that has key players like Vince Dunn, Mason Marchment, and Kaapo Kakko questionable for this game. The odds suggest Colorado will easily take this game, and we are keeping it simple and expecting the same. For these Avalanche vs. Kraken predictions, take Colorado on the -1.5 puck line.

Avalanche vs. Kraken prediction: Colorado Avalanche-1.5 (+100) available at time of publishing. Playable at that spread to (-115).

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