Mark Lammey
We had an incredible weekend with 23 NHL games, so it’s only fitting that we start the new week with a light 3-game slate. Even with fewer games, things are still heating up as we approach the postseason. Five of the 6 teams in action tonight look playoff-bound and will be out to solidify that. Having motivated teams can certainly help when looking at the best way to play matchups. Therefore, we’ve come up with our favorite way to play each of the 3 games on tonight’s card.
Along with our NHL mega parlay, be sure to check out all of our NHL picks for today’s action.
Colorado Avalanche -1.5 (-110) over Montreal Canadiens
After a not-so-dominant start to the season, the defending Stanley Cup champions have been figuring things out. They’re 6-3-1 in their last 10 games and have put themselves in good position to earn a top-3 spot in the Central Division. The same cannot be said for the Canadiens. The franchise that was once the class of the NHL has been the 2nd-worst team in the Eastern Conference for most of the season.
Montreal has now dropped 6 straight games, including a loss to arguably the worst team in hockey in the Anaheim Ducks. Admittedly, the Canadiens have been putting up more of a fight recently, but Colorado is simply too talented for a Montreal squad without Cole Caufield. We especially expect the Avs to take advantage on the power play, as they have the 8th-best unit compared to Montreal’s 4th-worst penalty-kill unit. Colorado hasn’t lost to the Canadiens in over 4 years, and that streak should continue.
Be sure to check out our Colorado Avalanche vs Montreal Canadiens prediction
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Buffalo Sabres ML (+210) over Toronto Maple Leafs
This is easily the most valuable play in our NHL mega parlay. Simply put, the Sabres should not be this significant of underdogs. Their playoff chances are getting slimmer by the day, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t a talented bunch. Any team that scores the 3rd-most goals per game is a threat to any opposition on any given night. Tage Thompson continues to have a breakout season and the Leafs have been known for playing down to the level of their competition and getting upset.
For example, they’ve lost both of their games against the Arizona Coyotes this season, allowing 10 goals in the process. It also doesn’t help Toronto that newcomer Ryan O’Reilly is already injured. Along with that, youngster Michael Bunting has the Leafs line in flux after being demoted from Auston Matthews’ line. There’s no denying that Toronto is the more complete team, but the Sabres have the skating talent to compete. Buffalo upset the Leafs 5-2 exactly a year ago today and have developed into a stronger team this season.
Dallas Stars ML (-125) over Seattle Kraken
The third and final game of the night will be a rematch of Western Conference teams that faced off on Saturday. The Stars needed overtime to win that game, but they still got the job done. That also came on the heels of an incredible 10-4 victory. Not long before that was an impressive 7-3 win over the Avalanche. Therefore, it’s no surprise that Dallas is atop the Central Division and in striking distance of the #1 seed in the Western Conference.
The Kraken are certainly impressing in the second year of the franchise, but they’ve had some breaks go their way this season. Seattle has faced the Stars 4 times but have won just once. They can be stingy when it comes to keeping pressure off their net, but with guys such as Jason Robertson and Joe Pavelski, Dallas has enough to fight through it. The Stars have also been a very balanced team, scoring the 8th-most goals per game while also allowing the 4th-fewest. We’d also consider playing the under for this game, but we’ll back the superior team at a reasonable price instead.
Monday’s NHL mega parlay (3/13)
Avalanche -1.5 (-110)
Sabres ML (+210)
Stars ML (-125)
Parlay odds +965
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