NHL Picks

The Boston Bruins will take on the Pittsburgh Penguins Sunday. The Bruins come into this one ranking 8^th in the Eastern Conference. The issue for the Bruins is that they play very well at home and struggle in away games. On the season, they rank 15^th in away form with only 26 points through 29 games. Additionally, the Bruins have lost 7 of their last 8 away games with 4 of those coming by more than 1 goal. The Bruins also struggle with clean play. They currently lead the NHL with the most penalty opportunities against them. With so many chances, the opposing teams have scored 51 power play goals against the Bruins. As if the penalty kill struggles aren’t enough, the Bruins give up 30 shots per game which ranks them 5^th in the NHL. Overall, the Bruins defense can be a concern.

For the Penguins, they are riding a 3-game losing streak but still remain in 7^th in the Eastern Conference. On the season, they are averaging 3.34 goals while only allowing 2.82 goals per game. The Penguins also score on 25.3% of their power plays, which could be huge against a sloppy Bruins squad. Finally, these 2 teams have faced off twice this year with the Bruins coming away victorious both times. The interesting thing is that the Bruins were out shot in both of those games. Given all this information, I believe the Penguins offense will come alive after a difficult defeat in penalties last night. I am taking the Penguins on the money line.

Bruins vs. Penguins Prediction: Penguins ML (-125) available at the time of publishing. Playable at that number,

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The Washington Capitals head to TD Garden to tangle with the Boston Bruins in a matinee game on Saturday. The Capitals traded veteran defenseman John Carlson prior to the deadline on Friday, and replacement Timothy Liljegren isn’t likely to be available on such short notice. As such, the Caps figure to be a little shorthanded. They also acquired veteran forward David Kampf, who will replace the departed Nic Dowd. Washington has lost the past 2 games and it suffered a 3-2 setback in the first meeting with Boston on home ice in the regular-season opener.

The Bruins also made some moves prior to the deadline, although nothing major. Lukas Reichel was acquired for a pick, while they also made a minor trade with the Flyers for some organizational depth. Boston is secure with the personnel that has overproduced this season. Boston was dropped 6-3 in Nashville, but it is 14-3-2 across the past 19 games — grabbing 30 out of a possible 38 points since December 31. The Bruins have been humming along — and with Jeremy Swayman expected in the cage, let’s take Boston in the matinee game on home ice.

Capitals vs Bruins prediction: Boston ML (-120) available at time of publishing. Playable to -140.

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The New York Rangers and New Jersey Devils will meet 3 times in March, with the first matchup of the month coming on Saturday afternoon at the Prudential Center in Newark. The Devils have been among the lowest-scoring teams in the NHL all season long, but they seem to be finding a groove. New Jersey has potted 12 goals over its last 3 games, and the core forwards of Jack Hughes, Nico Hischier and Jesper Bratt have just 1 of those goals. They have still been involved, dishing out 8 assists in that span, but it’s only a matter of time before that group starts finding the back of the net again. The Rangers aren’t a strong defensive team, and this could be the right matchup to get things rolling.

On the other side, the Rangers have found much more offensive success on the road than at home this season. New York is averaging a league-low 2.17 goals per game at home, but that number increases by nearly a whole goal to 3.13 on the road. The Rangers also have a bit of offensive momentum on their hands, as they picked up their first home regulation win since November 24 with a 6-2 defeat of the Maple Leafs on Thursday. They have now scored 13 goals over their last 3 games and seem to have a favorable matchup against New Jersey goaltender Jacob Markstom, who owns a less-than-ideal .888 save percentage and 3.05 goals-against average on the season. Make it a small play, but look to the over.

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

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The Buffalo Sabres are on a 5-game winning streak and they are 11-2-1 in their last 14 overall as they prepare to host the Nashville Predators on Saturday evening. Since returning from the Olympic break, Buffalo has reeled off recent wins over New Jersey, Florida, Tampa Bay, Vegas and Pittsburgh — all in regulation. There is no reason to think that this red-hot team is about to slow down, so my Predators vs Sabres pick is for the home side to prevail. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen is expected to be in the net on Saturday, which would be great news for Buffalo. UPL is 14-7-2 this season with a 2.55 goals-against average and .910 save percentage. The Sabres have allowed a grand total of 8 goals during this 5-game surge.

The Predators, on the other hand, were playing poorly prior to the break and nothing has changed upon the resumption of play. They have lost 3 of their last 4 contests and 10 of their last 15. It is expected to be an all-Finnish goalie showdown this weekend, with Nashville likely to start Juuse Saros. He has thoroughly underwhelmed in 2025-26 to the tune of a 3.18 goals-against average and .892 save percentage. The Sabres are 18-8-3 at home this season; the Predators are 11-13-5 on the road. The price on the money line is rather steep, so let’s go with Buffalo to get the job done in regulation.

Predators vs Sabres prediction: Buffalo 3-way ML (-115) available at time of publishing. Playable to -125.

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The Montreal Canadiens are continuing their trip out West with a stop in Los Angeles to face the Kings. This trip has been challenging, to say the least. Despite scoring 10 goals in 2 games, they have allowed 12 goals and hold a record of 0-2. It’s frustrating to lose games when you score 5 goals, but inconsistency in goaltending and a lack of defensive effort have been issues. Montreal has a solid road record of 16-7-7 and ranks in the top 5 in road goals scored, but none of that matters if it cannot defend effectively.

The Kings are coming off a 5-3 victory against the New York Islanders, but don’t let that victory mislead you; they are still a below-average team that struggles to score. Although they have shown slight improvement since making a coaching change, they are still far from performing at the level they need. Historically, the Kings have performed well at home against the Canadiens — but they have struggled as home favorites, with a record of 9-15. Conversely, Montreal has done well against teams that allow more than 2.90 goals per game — with a record of 24-15 in such matchups. Given the dynamic nature of their offense, we’ll give the Canadiens the edge in this matchup.

Canadiens vs Kings prediction: Montreal ML (+105) available at time of publishing. Playable at that number.

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The Toronto Maple Leafs and Tampa Bay Lightning meet for an Atlantic Division matchup in the NHL on Saturday. This is the  third of 4 meetings this season, and while each team has a win each, these franchises are in much different positions. Here is our Maple Leafs vs Lightning prediction to get you set for the action.

Toronto has been in an absolute slump and has not won since February 3 (6 games). Even though the Leafs sold at the trade deadline, you have to imagine they are desperate for a win. Any commendable effort and home-ice advantage may not take down a powerhouse like Tampa Bay, but I do expect a strong level of offense to take place. The team can feel a sigh of relief now that the deadline is over, which should make a difference on the ice. Even with their struggles, Toronto scores well over 3 goals per game and this could be an excellent game for captain Auston Matthews to break his surprising 10-game goalless drought. Tampa Bay’s offense goes without saying, as it owns the league’s fifth-highest goals per game average (3.45) and boasts a powerplay performing well over 20%. A very underwhelming Maple Leafs defense will have an extremely tough time. In a spirited division battle, I expect a high-scoring affair — so take the over 6.5 for our Maple Leafs vs Lightning prediction.

Maple Leafs vs Lightning prediction: Over 6.5 (-110) available at time of publishing. Playable at that total to (-125).

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On Saturday night in the NHL, the Utah Mammoth and Columbus Blue Jackets hit the ice. Part of a massive 11-game slate, these 2 teams meet for the second and final time this season, as Columbus goes for the sweep. It is time for our expert Mammoth vs Blue Jackets prediction.

Utah has put together a decent season and looks poised to make the playoffs. The Mammoth have been playing excellent hockey of late, winning 2 straight and posting a record of 5-2-0 in their last 7 overall. They are a sneaky strong team in this league and filled with young up-and-coming talent, making them a threat any night. Columbus has been one of the best NHL teams in recent weeks (14-2-1 in its last 17), but recent matchups against elite teams have been tough. I believe the Jackets will be caught off guard in this one against a hungry opposition they are not used to seeing. Utah will need to utilize its excellent defensive play — it is fourth overall in goals against per game (2.73) — and take advantage of a Columbus team that is far worse in the category, giving up 3.15 per game. In what will be an underrated matchup, I am siding with Utah on the money line for this Mammoth vs Blue Jackets prediction.

Mammoth vs Blue Jackets prediction: Utah ML (-115) available at time of publishing. Playable to -130.

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The Vancouver Canucks conclude their 2-game road trip with a game against the Winnipeg Jets. Despite averaging only 2.54 goals per game this season, the Canucks have managed to score 10 goals in their last 2 outings. While this is a small sample size, it’s a positive sign. However, they are still allowing too many goals against them — and that trend is unlikely to improve tonight.

Winnipeg currently leads the season series against the Canucks 2-0 and is looking to complete the sweep. The Jets are coming off a strong 4-1 victory against Tampa Bay and will want to carry that momentum into this game. This matchup is favourable for the Jets, as they are up against a team playing the second game of a back-to-back and allowing an average of 3.73 goals.

Kevin Lankinen is expected to start in goal for the Canucks, and his season statistics are not encouraging. He has a record of 7-20-4 with an .873 save percentage. If the Jets can shoot frequently and create pressure on Lankinen, it’s likely that he will concede several goals. We may need an empty-net goal to secure a favorable outcome, so we’ll lean slightly toward betting on the puck line.

Canucks vs Jets prediction: Winnipeg -1.5 (-105) available at time of publishing. Playable at that number.

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The Carolina Hurricanes conclude their 4-game road trip with a matchup against the Calgary Flames. Coming off an impressive 6-3 victory over the Oilers less than 24 hours earlier, the Hurricanes limited one of the league’s best offenses on home ice to just 16 total shots — a significant achievement. Carolina is known for its strong defensive play, and it excels at generating shots on the road, currently sitting at the top of that category. The ‘Canes are up against a Calgary team that tends to concede numerous scoring chances.

The Flames made notable roster changes before the trade deadline, moving on from key players such as MacKenzie Weegar and Nazem Kadri without acquiring any immediate-ready replacements. As a result, they are in a rebuilding phase — which often leaves them outmatched in games. This matchup could be one of those scenarios. Calgary lacks the talent to effectively limit scoring chances, and if they fall behind, they don’t possess the offensive firepower to make a comeback. With Carolina scoring 12 goals in its last 2 games, it should find it relatively easy to fill the net and secure a win in regulation.

Hurricanes vs Flames prediction: Calgary 3-Way ML (-120) available at time of publishing. Playable at that number.

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The New York Islanders will be in San Jose on Saturday night to take on the Sharks. This will be the first game for the Islanders following the trade deadline, and newly acquired Brayden Schenn is expected to be in the lineup. He is projected to center the second line, which adds depth to this team down the middle of the ice with Jean-Gabriel Pageau sliding down to the third line center role. The Islanders will be catching the Sharks on the second half of a back-to-back, as they played Friday night in a game that went to overtime. The main difference between these teams is the quality of their defensive play and goaltending. The Islanders are the fifth-best defensive team in the league, averaging 2.81 goals against per game. A large part of this can be credited to the play of netminder Ilya Sorokin. He is 22-14-2 on the season with a 2.53 GAA and .913 SVP. He is projected to get the start.

The Sharks are the third-worst defensive team in the league, averaging 3.48 goals against per game. Their offensive production isn’t strong enough to outscore their defensive mistakes on a nightly basis. The Islanders are a more complete team, and I will be siding with them in this game.

Islanders vs Sharks prediction: New York ML (-135) available at time of publishing. Playable at that number.

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The Ottawa Senators are set for the fourth game of their current 5-game road trip with a matchup against the Seattle Kraken at Climate Pledge Arena on Saturday night. The trip has been successful so far, as Ottawa is 2-0-1 with wins over the Maple Leafs and Flames — with the lone loss coming to the Oilers in overtime. The Senators are still in the playoff mix, as they are currently 4 points behind the Bruins for the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference. With that in mind, I expect Ottawa to enter this matchup with a heightened sense of urgency.

The Kraken are 2-3-0 since returning from the Olympic break, and goal-scoring continues to be an issue. The Kraken rank 24th in the NHL at 2.82 goals per game, and they have been held to 2 goals or fewer in 4 of their 5 games since the Olympic break. On the other side, the Senators have potted 4 or more goals in 3 straight games — and their offensive attack as a whole is more trustworthy than Seattle’s. The Senators have won the last 3 meetings between these teams with a goal differential of 10-3, and I expect that trend to continue in this one.

Senators vs Kraken prediction: Ottawa 3-Way ML (+110) available at time of publishing. Playable at that number.

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