NHL Picks

The Columbus Blue Jackets will take on the Florida Panthers Thursday night. The Blue Jackets are making an extreme push for the playoffs and have gotten a point in their last 7 games. The Blue Jackets have also won 7 of their last 8 away games On the season, they average 3.19 goals per game while allowing 3.19 goals per game. These numbers do not tell the story of the new Blue Jackets though. Through their last 15 games, they are outscoring their opponents 60 to 41. This means that the Blue Jackets are averaging 4 goals per game over the past 15 games. Additionally, the Blue Jackets rank 5^th in total shots on target this season. The Blue Jackets offense is something to keep an eye on.

For the Panthers, they currently rank 13^th in the Eastern Conference with playoff hopes slowly fading. The Panthers have won their last 2 games but lost the 4 games before that. On the season, the Panthers are scoring 2.98 goals per game while allowing 3.31 goals. The defense has been a struggle for the Panthers and having the 2^nd highest opponent power plays on the season has not been helpful. Additionally, the Panthers have the 31^st ranked save percentage this season only stopping 87.4% of shots. Overall, the Blue Jackets offense has been on fire, and the Panthers have struggled to stop goals this season. I am taking the Blue Jackets on the money line.

Blue Jackets vs. Panthers Prediction: Blue Jackets ML (-110) available at the time of publishing. Playable at that number.

The Detroit Red Wings and Tampa Bay Lightning are set for an Atlantic division matchup on Thursday night at Benchmark International Arena in Tampa. These teams have met twice earlier this season, with the most recent meeting resulting in a 6-3 win for the Lightning on November 28 in Detroit. Like that contest, Thursday night’s contest could also be of the higher-scoring variety. The Bolts have scored 14 total goals over their last 3 games, which included a wild 8-7 loss to the Sabres on Sunday night. Nikita Kucherov continues to post other-worldly numbers, as he’s up to 104 points on 34 goals and 70 assists in 59 games this season. Kucherov has torched the Red Wings in his career, totaling 54 points on 21 goals and 33 assists in 41 career games against Detroit. With key contributors like Jake Guentzel and Brandon Hagel also rolling, Kucherov should be able to lead the Bolts to a solid offensive effort.

The Red Wings have been without captain Dylan Larkin over the last 2 games, as he is dealing with a lower body injury. However, they’ve scored 6 total goals in those 2 games, and it seems that there’s a decent chance he is able to suit up for this one. But even if he isn’t able to, Detroit forwards Lucas Raymond, Alex DeBrincat, and Patrick Kane are more than capable of picking up the slack. Tampa Bay goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy has not been great since the Olympic break, as he’s allowed 3+ goals in 4 of 5 games since February 28. All in all, both offensive attacks seem to have the edge in this matchup.

Red Wings vs Lightning prediction: Over 6 (-110) available at time of publishing. Playable at that number.

Macklin Celebrini and the San Jose Sharks take on David Pastrnak and the Boston Bruins on Thursday. The two met in November where the Sharks defended home ice in a 3-1 win, but how will this one shake out? Here is our Sharks vs. Bruins prediction to get you set.

Boston has been quite a back-and-forth team of late, as they are 4-2-2 in their last eight games dating back to February 1st, and have not won or lost multiple games in a row during that span. However, they are 4-0-0 on home ice during that span and have won an unbelievable 13-straight times at their home TD Garden. This now has them with a 25-8-1 record on home ice, and in the thick of a tight playoff battle, I don’t see this success slowing down. San Jose doesn’t come into this game particularly hot, as they have now lost three-straight games and will be suiting up for their second of a gruelling five-game road trip. The Sharks are also taking on a strong offense that beats them in goals per game (3.31 vs. 3.06), power play (24.9% vs. 20.0), and shooting percentage (12.2% vs. 11.8%). This will be a fun battle between teams gunning for the playoffs, but our Sharks vs. Bruins prediction sides with Boston on the money line.

Sharks vs. Bruins prediction: Boston Bruins money line (-170) available at time of publishing. Playable to (-180).

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The St. Louis Blues will be in Carolina on Thursday to take on the Hurricanes. The Hurricanes are sitting atop the Metropolitan Division with a comfortable lead over the Pittsburgh Penguins in second place. The Hurricanes have been playing well lately; they come into this game with an 8-2 record in their last 10 games. They are one of the best home teams in the league with a 24-8-2 record on home ice. On top of this, they are one of the best defensive teams in the game. They average 2.88 goals against per game which is eighth best in the NHL, and they limit their opponents to only 24.3 shots on goal per game, which is best in the league. On the flip side of things, they are averaging 3.5 goals for per game, good for sixth best in the league. They are a far better offensive team than the Blues who average only 2.63 goals for per game.

The Hurricanes have four solid lines and play a relentless forechecking style of game that is difficult for opponents to defend for 60 minutes. I think the Hurricanes will get it done on home ice.

Blues vs. Hurricanes prediction: Hurricanes -1.5 (-110) available at time of publishing. Playable at that number.

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The Winnipeg Jets will continue and 8-game home-stand when they entertain the New York Rangers on Thursday night. It has been a mixed bag for Team USA Winter Olympics hero Connor Hellebuyck since the break. Hellebuyck is a decent 3-1-2 in 6 starts since returning from Milan, but he allowed 4 goals in his most recent appearances and surrendered 5 to Anaheim in late February. With a high-flying New York offense coming to town on Thursday, my Rangers vs Jets prediction is Over 5.5.

I would probably back the under at 6.5, but 5.5 is too small of a number when the Rangers are involved. They have scored at least 4 goals in 4 of their last 5 games and they have not lit the lamp fewer than 3 times since February 26, a span of 6 contests. Mika Zibanejad, who scored a tying goal against the Americans in Sweden’s quarterfinal loss, has delivered 3 goals and 5 assists in the past 4 outings. For the Jets, Mark Scheifele also has 3 goals and 5 helpers in the last 4 games. It’s only a slight lean mainly because you never know when the Milan version of Hellebuyck is going to show up during the NHL season, but the over feels like the way to go.

Rangers vs Jets prediction: Over 5.5 (-115) available at time of publishing. Playable at that number.