We are loving the action throughout this impressive NHL season so far. As we move past the mid way point in the season, each division’s ladder has already become well formed. Despite this, every single win or loss can have a significant impact on where each team will finish at the end of the season, so it is important that you don’t miss any of the action!
Here at SportsTips, we are just as keen on the NHL as you are! We spend each and every day going through the best games and previewing them for you. Our experts offer up their free NHL picks, which means that you not only get enjoyment out of watching some intriguing games, but also make extra cash while doing so!
Look below to find our free NHL picks, as we preview the five games on today’s schedule.
Colorado Avalanche @ Boston Bruins – 1.00PM ET
The road trip continues on for the Colorado Avalanche, who on Monday afternoon, travel to Boston to take on the Bruins. The Avalanche have won four of their last five, including their last two in a row against the Golden Knights and Sabres. The Bruins have been a little inconsistent as of late, but they did manage to get the win over the Senators last time out, 3-2, in overtime.
Marko Nadin
The Boston Bruins have lost 4 of the last 6 games but manage to stay in the playoff picture in the Eastern Conference with a 28-17-4 record which puts them 8th in the standings with 8 points lead over Detroit. The Bruins are coming off a 3-2 overtime win over Ottawa. Boston has won 11 of the last 13 home games coming back off a 7 or more days road trip. Boston has lost the last 4 games coming off a win and the last 4 games as an underdog. Boston has played over the total goals margin in 5 of the last 6 Monday games.
The Colorado Avalanche are the best team in the league with a 36-9-4 record including 15-6-2 on the road. They have won 4 of the last 5 games and have lost only three times in 2022. Colorado is coming off a 5-3 win over Buffalo. Colorado scores 4 goals per game which ranks them second in the league and takes 35.2 shots per game which ranks them 4th. Colorado has won the last 7 games on the road and 11 of the last 12 on Monday. The Avalanche have won the last three and 8 of the last 10 games against Boston.
Marko’s NHL Pick: Colorado Avalanche (-184)
Here for the celly, even if it’s just in practice. #GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/SFNy5fV1Vt
— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) February 20, 2022
Tony Battalio
The Colorado Avalanche are coming into this game as the best team in the National Hockey League so far this season. They are the current favorites to win the 2021-22 Stanley Cup Finals and dethrone the current two time champions, the Tampa Bay Lightning. Colorado comes into this game with a record of 36-9-4 through their first 49 games of the season. The Avalanche are currently on a two game winning streak after beating Vegas and Buffalo on the road. They will look to continue to build their lead in the Central Division.
The Boston Bruins come into this game with a record of 28-17-4 through their first 49 games of the season. Boston is currently sitting in 4th place in the Atlantic Division as the second half of the season is getting underway. Boston is looking to make one last run towards the Stanley Cup with their aging core and so far it’s not going as well as expected, as they are outside of the top three in the Atlantic Division. As for the result of this game, I have the Colorado Avalanche picking up the victory over Boston on the road.
Tony’s NHL Pick: Colorado Avalanche (-184)
Carolina Hurricanes @ Philadelphia Flyers – 3.00PM ET
The Carolina Hurricanes kick off their two game road trip on Monday afternoon when they face off against the Philadelphia Flyers. The Hurricanes have won just two of their last six games, and this takes their season record to 33-11-4. The Flyers will be looking to snap their current four game losing streak, after going down to the Red Wings (twice), Penguins and Capitals.
Marko Nadin
The Philadelphia Flyers are one of the teams that made coaching changes this season but that didn’t turn things around for them. Currently, the Flyers are 14th in the Eastern Conference with a 15-25-9 record. Philadelphia is 2-17 in 2022 and have lost the last 4 games, most recently 3-5 against Washington. They score only 2.6 goals per game which ranks them 28th in the league. The Flyers have lost 8 of their last 10 home games but are 16-7 in the last 23 games played on Monday. They have played over the total goals margin in their last 4 games and the last 6 against an Eastern Conference opponent.
The Carolina Hurricanes are heading for the top seed in the Eastern Conference as they are only one win behind the leading Florida Panthers. The Hurricanes lost two straight games against Minnesota and Florida but bounced back with wins over Pittsburgh and Nashville. They are the best defensive team in the league when it comes to PP% with 89.6%. They are second in the league with 2.4 allowed goals per game and 4th with 28.7 allowed shots per game. The Hurricanes have won 7 of the last 10 games against the Flyers.
Marko’s NHL Pick: Carolina Hurricanes (-205)
Transaction: We have activated forward Tanner Laczynski from Injured Reserve and loaned the 24-year-old to the @LVPhantoms (AHL). pic.twitter.com/9t2aOGuZZ9
— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) February 18, 2022
Tony Battalio
The Carolina Hurricanes are one of the current favorites to make it out of a stacked Eastern Conference this season. They are also one of the top favorites to win the Stanley Cup this season as well. As they come into this game with a record of 34-11-4 through their first 49 games of the season. The Hurricanes are currently in first place in the Metropolitan Division as they hold a two point lead over the Pittsburgh Penguins at the moment. Carolina won their last game over the Nashville Predators.
The Philadelphia Flyers are having a miserable season. They come into this game with a record of 15-25-9 and they are 19 games below .500 through their first 49 games of the season. Philadelphia is already virtually eliminated from the Stanley Cup playoffs at this point as they are towards the bottom of the standings in the Metropolitan Division. They are currently on a four game losing streak at the moment as well. As for the result of this game, I have the Carolina Hurricanes picking up the victory over Philadelphia.
Tony’s NHL Pick: Carolina Hurricanes (-205)
Winnipeg Jets @ Calgary Flames – 4.00PM ET
The Winnipeg Jets kick off their four game road trip with a game against the Calgary Flames on Monday afternoon. The Jets had their two game winning streak snapped last time out, thanks to the Oilers, 2-4. The Flames winning streak continues on, and they have won nine in a row, taking their season record to 29-13-9.
Marko Nadin
The Calgary Flames are currently the hottest team in the league as they have won the last 9 games. With this run, they have climbed to second place in the Western Conference with a 29-13-6 record. Calgary has won the last 9 home games and 13 of the last 16 against teams with losing records. The Flames are the best defensive team in the league allowing only 2.4 goals per game. They haven’t allowed more than 2 goals in the last 7 games. They have won 20 of the last 28 games coming in as favorites.
The Winnipeg Jets are 11th in the Western Conference with a 22-19-8 record. After winning back-to-back games against Minnesota and Seattle, the Jets lost 2-4 in their last one against Edmonton. The Jets have won the last three against Calgary but that will hardly be the case when they meet on Monday. Winnipeg has lost 16 of the last 23 games as an underdog and 6 of the last 8 games on the road. They have lost the last 4 games played on Monday.
Marko’s NHL Pick: Calgary Flames (-230)
Number 1. pic.twitter.com/3ECcP1sQR5
— Stockton Heat (@AHLHeat) February 21, 2022
Tony Battalio
The Winnipeg Jets are coming into this game with a record of 22-19-8 as they are 5 games below .500 through their first 49 games of the season. The Jets are sitting towards the bottom of the standings in the Central Division. Due to the strength of the Central Division, it would likely take a miracle for the Jets to find their way into the Stanley Cup playoffs this season. Winnipeg comes into this one on a one game losing streak as they get ready to face the hottest team in the National Hockey League at the moment on Monday afternoon.
As previously mentioned the Calgary Flames are the hottest team in the National Hockey League at the moment. They come into this game on a lengthy nine game winning streak and having won eleven of their last twelve games of the season. They are currently occupying first place in the Pacific Division after claiming the lead from the Vegas Golden Knights. Calgary is one of the bigger surprises of the season and they look like they could make a serious run at the Stanley Cup. As far as the result of this one is concerned, I have the Calgary Flames picking up another victory.
Tony’s NHL Pick: Calgary Flames (-230)
Toronto Maple Leafs @ Montreal Canadiens – 7.00PM ET
The Toronto Maple Leafs kick off their two game road trip with a game in Montreal against the Canadiens. The Maple Leafs have won two of their last five games, and last time out they went down to the Blues, 3-6. The Canadiens are playing on back-to-back nights, and last time out they got the win over the Islanders, 3-2, in a shootout.
Marko Nadin
The Montreal Canadiens are coming off a 3-2 win over the New York Islanders after the shootout. This was only their 10th win in 50 games this season. Last year’s Stanley Cup finalists are at the bottom of the Eastern Conference 12 points shy of New Jersey who is in front of them. Montreal has won the last two games after losing the previous 10. They have lost 19 of 26 home games this season. The Canadiens have won only one of the last 12 games against a team with a winning record over 60%.
The Toronto Maple Leafs are fifth in the Eastern Conference with a 32-13-3 record. Toronto has lost 3 of the last 5 games, most recently 3-6 to the St. Louis Blues. The Maple Leafs are the best offensive team in the league with 31.6 PP%. They are ranked fourth with 3.6 goals per game. Toronto will not miss an opportunity to get closer to the top of the conference when they face Montreal. They have won 6 of the last 7 games against teams with losing records. Toronto has played over the total goals margin in 4 of their last 5 road games.
Marko’s NHL Pick: Toronto Maple Leafs (-320)
Right back at it 💼#LeafsForever pic.twitter.com/A2QTArD1Zt
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) February 20, 2022
Tony Battalio
The Toronto Maple Leafs are coming into this game as one of the better teams in the National Hockey League this season. They are currently sitting in the top half of the standings in the Atlantic Division as the push for the Stanley Cup playoffs gets underway. Toronto comes into this game with a record of 32-13-3 through their first 48 games of the season. Toronto is currently on a one game losing streak and have lost three of their last five however, as they will be looking to recover against one of the weaker teams in the league in this one on the road.
The Montreal Canadiens come into this game with a record of 10-33-7 as they are a massive 30 games below .500 through their first 50 games of the season. Montreal is sitting in last place in the Atlantic Division but have managed to win their last two games in a row. Unless they manage to reel off a massive win streak they may as well forget about competing in the Stanley Cup playoffs this season and prepare themselves for the draft and offseason. As for the result of this game, I have Montreal’s losing streak ending as I have Toronto getting the win on the road.
Tony’s NHL Pick: Toronto Maple Leafs (-320)
Seattle Kraken @ Vancouver Canucks – 10.00PM ET
The final game on Monday night’s slate will see the Seattle Kraken hit the road and take on the Vancouver Canucks. The Kraken are currently on a three game losing streak, with losses against the Maple Leafs, Jets and Flames. The Canucks had their two game winning streak snapped in their last game, as they went down to the Ducks, 4-7.
Marko Nadin
The Vancouver Canucks are 12th in the Western Conference with a 23-22-6 record and are coming off a 4-7 loss to the Anaheim Ducks. Vancouver has the lowest defensive PP% in the league of 69.1 and score 2.6 goals per game while allowing 2.8. They won both games against Seattle this season by 5-4 and 4-2. Vancouver has won the last 5 games following a home loss of at least three goals. They have also won the last 4 games on Monday and 7 of the last 8 coming in as favorites.
The Seattle Kraken are 15th in the Western Conference with a 16-31-4 record. They have lost the last three games against Toronto, Winnipeg and Calgary. Seattle allows the least shots per game with 28.4. Despite that, they allow the fifth most goals per game with 3.5. The Kraken has lost 16 of 22 road games this season and 16 of the last 21 coming in as an underdog. The Kraken has played over the total goals margin in 5 of the last 6 games played on Monday and in 14 of the last 20 playing after 1 day rest.
Marko’s NHL Pick: Vancouver Canucks (-176)
Taking the #SeaKraken to new heights…literally. 🏔
In this edition of our @Symetra First series, we go back to when Seattleite & mountaineer @AndrewIHughes announced one of the players we selected in the @NHL Expansion Draft from Mount Rainier. pic.twitter.com/iALnaJwZ3f
— Seattle Kraken (@SeattleKraken) February 21, 2022
Tony Battalio
The newest team in the National Hockey League is not having the season they had hoped for when their inaugural season got underway. They come into this game with a record of 16-31-4 as they are 19 games below .500 through their first 51 games of the season. The Seattle Kraken are currently in last place in the Pacific Division as they will be looking forward to starting their second season in the league at this point I’d imagine. They are currently on a three game losing streak after losing to three straight Canadian teams.
The Vancouver Canucks come into this game with a record of 23-22-6 as they are only 5 games below .500 through their first 51 games of the season. Vancouver is currently in sixth place in the Pacific Division and would need to roll off an impressive win streak to get themselves back into playoff contention. Vancouver is currently on a one game losing streak after dropping their last game to the Anaheim Ducks. As for the result of this game, I have the Canucks getting the victory and snapping their short losing streak with a victory at home.
Tony’s NHL Pick: Vancouver Canucks (-176)
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*Odds and spreads correct at time of writing, courtesy of FanDuel.
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