NHL Picks

The Vancouver Canucks and Winnipeg Jets play each other in the final regular season game of the year, as they use this as one more test before the playoffs begin. These Canadian teams will look to have a long playoff road ahead of them, where they may even meet up against each other for a series. First up, is this final tuneup session.

We may see lots of players sitting in this game, and backup goaltenders take to the net. Many depth players are going to see much more ice time in this game, and will be fully motivated to perform well. However, I don’t think this will translate to a lot of goals being scored, as the star, offensive talent will not be at full display. Both teams play great team defense, which has been a major factor in both of their season-long push for a President’s Trophy. This trend should continue in this game. Don’t expect much fireworks here as both teams look to healthily enter the playoffs, so we’ll take the under.

Under 5.5 (+100) available at time of publishing. Playable to -110.

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The San Jose Sharks and Calgary Flames close out their 2023-24 season with a battle in Alberta. These Pacific Division opponents will be looking to the draft lottery in hopes of winning the first overall pick, but first is game 82. The two have faced off twice this season and have won one game apiece, so this will be the deciding game of the regular season series.

The Sharks have lost 62 times this season, and I am adding one more to the list. This was a disaster of a season for Calgary, which resulted in selling lots of valuable assets as they prepare for a rebuild. With one final home game, they will at least look to please their fans by winning this game. They definitely have a better roster than San Jose, which isn’t saying much, but should allow them to own this game. Calgary should come out with energy as they look to empty the tank, and push the pace for most of this game. San Jose doesn’t have the firepower to match Calgary, and shouldn’t have too much motivation as they are on the road and finally finishing what likely felt like an extremely long and trying season. I’ll take the Flames to win this one in regulation.

Flames 3-Way ML (-150) available at time of publishing.

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The Edmonton Oilers travel to Colorado to take on the Avalanche for the 3rd time this season. Edmonton won their last meeting 6-2, but things could be very different tonight. They are playing the tail end of a back-to-back and their 3rd game in 4 nights. This game is meaningless for them, so the team could elect to sit some of their regular players, including Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. This game is also meaningless for Colorado, but considering it’s a home game, they may decide to not rest some of their superstars and give the fans a show.

Colorado has lost 4 of their last 5 games and is trying to get back into a rhythm. They have been elite all season on home ice– posting a 30-9-1 record and scoring well over 4 goals per game. They are rested and could very well dominate a team without their best players. Even if they do decide to rest some players, or even if no one takes the night off, the Avalanche are just too good of a team at home. They are more than capable of winning this game in regulation.

Avalanche ML (-110) available at time of publishing. Playable to -120.

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The total for this game opened at 6.5 and could decrease to 6.0 or even 5.5 as the day moves on. This game is meaningless for both teams, so there is a chance we see some elite players sit this one out. Edmonton is playing their second game in as many nights and their 3rd in 4. They are the team most likely to sit some regulars.

Colorado has been elite on home ice–scoring over 4 goals per game– and there is a chance that they don’t rest any of their players considering they are the home team. They may want to have everyone in the lineup for the fans or to help them finish the season on a strong note. They have lost 4 of their last 5 games, so maybe they want to end things on a winning note. With so much uncertainty, it’s hard to picture a ton of goals being scored. If both teams do decide to rest their best players, then the line will most probably drop. Let’s get in early and hope both teams just take this one easy.

Under 6.5 available at the time of publishing. Playable at that number or better.

This is as far as the Anaheim Ducks will go, as they wrap up the regular season at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The defending champion Vegas Golden Knights have much more at stake, however, as a win over the Ducks would mean third place in the Pacific Division, and a battle with the Edmonton Oilers. If VGK were to lose this game, and the Los Angeles Kings score a win or overtime loss against the Chicago Blackhawks, then the Golden Knights would fall into a wild-card spot, and have to play the Dallas Stars. Either way, it’s going to be a difficult first-round matchup for Vegas.

Vegas is streaking int this game, winning three in a row, including an emotional 4-3 overtime win over the Colorado Avalanche on Sunday. The Golden Knights are also an impressive 9-3-1 in the past 13 games, while cashing the Over at a 5-1-1 clip in the past seven games, for those interested in a Same-Game Parlay. The Ducks are skidding, losing two in a row, while going 2-7-2 in the past 11 games. On the road, the Ducks have won just once in the past 10 tries, while losing eight of those games by at least two goals. So, if you like Vegas to win, you should also like it to cover the puck line.

Golden Knights PL (-1.5, -140) at time of publishing. Playable to -150.

We say good-bye to the Chicago Blackhawks, who struggled again in 2023-24 despite the addition of potential generational talent Connor Bedard. He certainly did his part, tying team high with 22 goals while adding team bests with 39 assists and 61 points. Unfortunately for Chicago, it probably needs two or three more players like him to get back to their previous lofty heights. Chicago takes aim at Los Angeles in the regular-season finale on the road, looking to toss a monkey wrench into their postseason plans. The Blackhawks have lost four in a row, and six of the past seven in the series, while getting outscored 11-2 in two losses to L.A. this season.

The Kings are still jockeying with the Vegas Golden Knights for seeding in the west. If they were to win, or even score an overtime loss, while VGK is tripped up at home, things could flip. As it stands, L.A. is on target to face the Dallas Stars in the first round. If it is able to move up, it would get a rematch of last season’s epic Kings-Oilers series. Either way, it’s a tough draw. The Kings should be able to pound the Blackhawks, heading into the postseason with some nice momentum.

Kings PL (-1.5, -135) at time of publishing. Playable to -150.

The New York Islanders and Carolina Hurricanes will renew acquaintances at PNC Arena in Raleigh, N.C. on Saturday afternoon to open their Eastern Conference first round series. These teams met in the first round last season, with the Hurricanes eventually ousting the Islanders in six games. The regular-season series was wild, and if that’s any indication, this could be a long series. The road team cashed in all four meetings this season, with the Hurricanes taking the most recent battle 4-1 at UBS Arena in Long Island on March 19. The underdog is also a healthy 5-2 in the past seven meetings in this series, including the 2023 postseason.

The Islanders streak into this game, having gone 9-0-1 in the final 10 games of the regular season to get themselves into position, and out of a five-team logjam for the final two wild-card spots in the Eastern Conference. The Hurricanes were also hot down the stretch, winning five in a row, pressuring the New York Rangers for the Metropolitan Division title until the final game. The Rangers ended up winning the division, and taking the President’s Trophy with 114 points. The Hurricanes, despite the third-most points (111) in the NHL, ended up in second place as a non-division winner. This series should be nip and tuck all the way, and we saw just a 2-1 score in Game 1 last season. Look for a similar outcome in the series opener in Raleigh Saturday between these familar foes.

Islanders PL (+1.5, -150) at time of publishing. Playable to -160.

The Toronto Maple Leafs finally got out of the first round of the playoffs for the first time since 2004. It will have to defeat nemesis and a fellow Original Six team four times, if it hopes to make it to the second round or deeper in consecutive seasons for the first time since a four-year span from 1999-2002. The Leafs were swept in four games by the Bruins during the regular season, with Boston outscoring Toronto 15-7. In the most recent meeting at TD Garden, the Bruins picked up a 4-1 win, and they won 3-2 in a shootout in the first meeting back on Nov. 2.

The Leafs have had a terrible time in the postseason, winning just one series (last season) since 2004. They haven’t hoisted Lord Stanley’s Cup since 1967. A big reason for the lack of postseason success lately is the Boston Bruins. These teams have met in the playoffs 16 times, last in 2019. Toronto and Boston have faced each other four times in the past 11 years, and the Bruins have won every series, including Toronto’s complete Game 7 collapse in 2013, when the Leafs led in Boston 4-1 going into the third period. With all of the ugly history in this series for the Maple Leafs, and the fact Boston has won seven straight meetings, it’s hard to believe you can get the Bruins at such a cheap price. Bet the B’s in Game 1, and load up.

Bruins ML (-130) at time of publishing. Playable to -150.

The Seattle Kraken and Minnesota Wild both close out an unsuccessful 2023-24 NHL season. Both teams were in the playoffs last season and won multiple games, but they each did not take a step forward as they will not be making a playoff appearance. Game 82 is now here for both, before they begin to prepare for a new campaign in 2024-25.

As far as the winner of this game goes, I will go with the home team in the Minnesota Wild. The Wild had a much better second half of the season, but it was not enough to make the postseason. In this game, they have the better roster, as well as the comfort of playing at home. Not to mention, this team will look to give the home crowd one last thing to cheer for until next season. This means they should play at a high effort level to secure that win. Their roster owns much more star talent than Seattle, which could carry out a win in itself. I’ll take Minnesota to earn one last win before closing out the season.

Wild ML (-150) available at time of publishing. Playable to -160.

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For the game totals, ill take the over. There is no reason for either team to sit stars, play backup goaltenders, or lean on depth players. This will be each of their final game until next season, so I expect everyone to empty their tank. 

Neither team was necessarily strong at keeping the puck out of their net this season, and that likely won’t change in game 82. This adds confidence that we will see lots of goals. Take the over in this one.

Over 6.0 available at time of publishing. Playable at that number.