NHL Picks

The New York Islanders’ decision to fire Patrick Roy with four games remaining in the season didn’t work as planned. Management felt like bringing in Pete DeBoer could give the team a bump that would lead to a four-game winning streak to end the season and put them in the best position to make the playoffs. However, back-to-back losses to the Ottawa Senators and Montreal Canadiens have left them searching for answers as they enter the offseason after being buyers at the trade deadline.

The Carolina Hurricanes now have the first seed in the Eastern Conference secured, giving them home-ice advantage through the first three rounds if they make it that far. They could also guarantee home ice in the Stanley Cup Finals against any team other than the Colorado Avalanche with a win on Tuesday. It has quietly been a great season for the Hurricanes, and despite some playoff shortcomings in the past, Rod Brind’Amour feels that this year’s team might have what it takes.

Brind’Amour decided to value resting down the stretch once first in the Metropolitan Division was secure. Still, his minor leaguers and usual scratches picked up some massive wins over the past week. The Hurricanes nearly knocked off the Philadelphia Flyers on Monday night, with a few regulars out of the lineup, which would have put the Eastern Conference playoff picture in doubt over the final few nights, but fell 3-2 in the shootout, clinching a spot for the Flyers.

While the rosters for tonight’s game are still unknown, this feels like a spot where Brind’Amour ices his playoff lineup for one final tune-up before it all starts on Saturday. One question is whether the recall of Pyotr Kochetkov signals that he will get a surprising start after recovering from hip surgery much earlier than his timeline suggested, which would make me feel much less comfortable with a rusty goalie.

Nevertheless, the Islanders can’t be too thrilled to have to play one more game after watching their playoff chances slip away, while the Hurricanes are in preparation mode for what they hope is finally a breakthrough this spring.

Hurricanes vs Islanders prediction: Hurricanes ML (+100) available at time of publishing. Playable at that number. 

The New Jersey Devils have been playing the role of spoiler over the last few weeks, which has ironically helped the Boston Bruins be where they are in the playoff race. The Devils were the team that finally knocked out the Detroit Red Wings with a come-from-behind victory last week, before coming back again to defeat the Ottawa Senators in overtime on Sunday and give the Bruins full control of their destiny.

The path is quite clear for the Bruins on Tuesday in their final game of the regular season: Defeat the Devils in any fashion, and they play the Buffalo Sabres in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. If they lose in regulation, the Senators will pass them with a point in their game against the Toronto Maple Leafs, and if Boston loses in overtime or a shootout, Ottawa will need a win.

There were some questions about how Marco Sturm would deploy his roster on Tuesday night. Boston looked extremely fatigued over a six-game losing streak, and the assumption was that when the Devils put them in the playoffs with the win on Saturday, a lot of their top players wouldn’t see much time over the final two games. However, after sitting some of them in Sunday’s win over the Columbus Blue Jackets, Sturm plans to ice something very similar to his playoff lineup on Tuesday night.

The Devils are a scary team, and considering they are third in the Metropolitan Division in wins, they likely deserved a better fate this season. However, after playing spoiler with a couple of late comebacks, I think they drop their final game here against a team motivated to play the Sabres in the first round rather than the Carolina Hurricanes.

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

Both the Washington Capitals and Columbus Blue Jackets wrap up their regular seasons at Nationwide Arena in Ohio’s capital city, and it might be the final time we see Alexander Ovechkin on the ice in the NHL. Both teams are eliminated from playoff contention despite 93 points for the Capitals, and 92 points for the Blue Jackets. If these teams were in the Western Conference, particularly in the Pacific Division, they’d be smack dab in the middle of the postseason hunt. But, of course, they’re not.

The Capitals have won all three regular-season meetings, including a 2-0 win on Dec. 7 in the nation’s capital as heavy favorites (-185) as the Under (6) cashed. On Nov. 24, also in D.C., Washington posted a 5-1 win as moderate favorites (-170), while the total (6) pushed. And, in the first and only meeting in Columbus, the Caps routed the Jackets 5-1 as slight favorites (-114) as the Under (6.5) cashed. Washington has won eight of the past 10 in this series, while the Under is 3-0-1 in the past four in the series, and 4-1-1 in the previous six meetings. With nothing to play for, it’s tough to handicap this matchup, but we’ll go with the series dominant team, and that’s Washington, who could look to send Ovi8 off with a win, if this is, indeed, his final NHL appearance.

Capitals vs Blue Jackets prediction: Capitals ML (-105) available at time of publishing. Playable to -110.

The Anaheim Ducks will take on the Minnesota Wild Tuesday night. The Ducks currently sit at 3rd place in the Pacific Division. Though they still have a chance to win the division as they are only 1 point behind the 1st-place Vegas Golden Knights. The Ducks have now lost 7 of their last 8 games. Through their last 5 games, they have scored 14 goals while giving up 21 goals. On the season, they are averaging 3.23 goals per game but allowing 3.51 goals per game. Allowing 3.51 goals per game is wild for a team that will be advancing to the playoffs. Part of the reason for this lack of defense is that the Ducks rank 3rd for most power play chances against them. The Ducks may be taking some time off before the playoffs, and this break started 8 games ago.

For the Wild, they will finish the season 3rd in the Western Conference. Opposite the Ducks, the Wild defense is the reason they are in the playoffs. On the season, they only allowed 2.84 goals against with their goaltenders stopping 90.3% of the shots they faced. The Wild have also won their last 3 home games. While this game does not matter, the Wild defense should be able to shut down the Ducks fading offense. I am taking the Wild on the money line.

Ducks vs Wild prediction: Wild ML (-115) available at time of publishing. Playable at that number.

With the Flyers beating the Hurricanes in a dramatic shootout on Monday night, the Penguins and Flyers are set to meet in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. In what will be an entertaining series to watch unfold, but the Penguins still have one more regular season game left on Tuesday night against the Blues. Given the fact that their postseason matchup is already set, it would be a bit surprising to see the Penguins play with a maximum effort in this one. Furthermore, don’t be alarmed if Pittsburgh head coach Dan Muse rests some of his top guys. Pittsburgh’s only objective in this game is to make it through as healthy as possible. With that in mind, don’t expect the Penguins to be super aggressive on either end of the ice.

The Blues are outside of the playoff picture and are looking to end the campaign with a home win before heading to Utah to face the Mammoth on Thursday. The Blues are playing on the second half of a back-to-back as they defeated the Wild 6-3 on Monday night. Thus, fatigue may be an issue. Furthermore, the Blues have struggled to score goals on a consistent basis this season, as they enter this matchup ranked 27th in the NHL scoring just 2.68 goals per game. All things considered, this has the makings of a low-scoring game. That makes the under the play.

Penguins vs Blues prediction: Under 6.5 (-125) available at time of publishing. Playable at that number.