The 2nd to last day of the NHL regular season (not counting the makeup game on Sunday) has 9 games on the schedule. With pretty much all playoff spots accounted for, we start to look at who can benefit from 2 points to better their seeding and 1st round playoff matchup. The biggest game of the night is the Calgary Flames vs Minnesota Wild at 8:00 pm EST. We have searched through all 9 games and have parlayed 3 teams with a payout of just under 11/1 at BetMGM sportsbook. But before we dive in, be sure to check out all of our picks and previews for every game tonight. You can also follow Pickswise on Twitter for plenty of daily betting content.
Florida Panthers -1.5 (-115)
Minnesota Wild -1.5 (+220)
Colorado Avalanche -1.5 (+100)
Parlay odds: +1096
Let’s break down each of the legs
Florida Panthers -1.5 over Ottawa Senators (-115)
The Florida Panthers 2nd game of their last road trip of the season has them in Ottawa to play the Senators on Thursday. After a 13-game winning streak and well on their way to the President’s Trophy for the best team in the regular season, the Panthers have stumbled with back-to-back losses. The Senators are trying to close out their season on a high note, coming into this game with a 4-game winning streak.
Regardless of streaks, there is still plenty for the Panthers to play for. The President’s trophy means the Stanley Cup playoffs have to go through Florida, which is a huge advantage for the Panthers as they were a significantly better team at home than on the road. At home, the Panthers have gone 34-7-0, while on the road they are 23-10-6. Look to back the best offensive team in the league against a bottom-10 defensive team in the Senators as they look to get home-ice throughout the playoffs and place your bet on the Panthers puck line.
Be sure to check out our full game preview for Florida Panthers vs Ottawa Senators
Minnesota Wild -1.5 over Calgary Flames (+220)
The Calgary Flames end their year on a road trip, with their 2nd to last game in Minnesota to play the Wild. The Flames have won 3 in a row and 8 of their last 10. They are currently locked into the top spot of the Pacific Division, with no chance of moving up or down and will play the top wild card team in round 1 of the playoffs. The Wild, on the other hand, are in a battle with the Blues for 2nd place in the Central Division and home-ice in the 1st round.
The advantage in this game comes from the Wild needing the win more than the Flames. The Wild are tied with the Blues in points but have 1 game in hand. They will also be looking to make up for the embarrassing loss on Tuesday in Arizona, when the Coyotes scored 4 goals in the 3rd period to beat the Wild, keeping both the Wild and Blues tied in the standings. Lean on the Wild to be the motivated team, searching for the better seeding against a Flames team already locked into their position and looking forward to the postseason. Place your bet on the Wild puck line.
Be sure to check out our full game preview for Calgary Flames vs Minnesota Wild
Colorado Avalanche -1.5 over Nashville Predators (+100)
The Nashville Predators’ last 2 games are on the road with the 1st of those games coming against the Colorado Avalanche. The Predators just clinched their playoff spot as one of the wild card teams on Tuesday, but backed their way into the playoffs, losing 7 of their last 10 games. The Avalanche just broke a rare 4-game losing streak on Tuesday and have been regarded as one of the best team in the league all season, including pre-season favorites to win the Stanley Cup.
The Avalanche have 2 advantages in this game, motivation, and goaltending. The Avalanche currently find themselves only 2 points back of the Panthers for the President’s Trophy and home-ice throughout the playoffs. The other edge is that Juuse Saros, the Predators starting goalie, was hurt on Tuesday and will miss the final 2 games of the regular season. This means back up David Rittich is projected to start, and he ranks 87th in goals saved above expected. Look for the Avalanche to take advantage of a backup goalie and place your wager on the Avalanche puck line.
Be sure to check out our full game preview for Nashville Predators vs Colorado Avalanche
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