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 three games on today’s schedule.
Vancouver Canucks @ New Jersey Devils – 7.30PM ET
The road trip continues on for the Vancouver Canucks who will go toe-to-toe with the New Jersey Devils on Monday night. The Canucks are playing on back-to-back nights, and last time out they beat the Rangers, 5-2. The Devils have lost three of their last four games, which takes their season record to 18-29-5.
Marko Nadin
The New Jersey Devils are not having a successful season as they are 14th in the Eastern Conference with an 18-29-5 record. They have lost 3 of the last 4 games, most recently 5-8 against Chicago. All of those 4 games have seen at least 6 goals. The Devils allowed 3.6 goals per game which ranks them 30th in the league. New Jersey have won the last 11 games against Vancouver and the last nine of those have finished under 5.5 goals. The Devils have lost the last 5 games played on Monday and 6 of the last 8 against teams from the Pacific Division.
The Vancouver Canucks are 11th in the Western Conference with a 26-22-6 record. The Canucks have won 4 of the last 5 games, most recently 5-2 over the New York Rangers. Vancouver has won the last 5 games on Monday and 5 of the last 8 on the road. The Canucks have lost 37 of the last 51 games coming in without a day off. They have played over the total goals margin in the last 5 games against a team with a losing record.
Marko’s NHL Pick: New Jersey Devils (-137)
Tony Battalio
The Vancouver Canucks aren’t having the best season so far this year. However they are miles ahead of how they finished the season last year. They still might be a couple years away from competing again but they are certainly going in the right direction. They have already surpassed their win total from last year in a fewer number of games. As they come into this game with a record of 26-22-6 on the season, only two games below the .500 mark with 28 games left in the year. Vancouver is currently in the bottom half of the Pacific Division standings, but could find their way into the playoffs if they heat up during the second half of the season.
“I got into camp, I knew the system and the guys. I think that helped me a lot to get going.”
🎥 More Siegenthaler: https://t.co/belubi3TLy
🎥 White: https://t.co/U39rYH6M75#NJDevils | @Genucel pic.twitter.com/rpxyWTqIM2— New Jersey Devils (@NJDevils) February 27, 2022
The New Jersey Devils have shown flashes this season but it is clear that they also are still a few years away from being able to compete in the National Hockey League. They come into this game sitting in the basement in the Metropolitan Division and with a record of 18-29-5 on the season. In their last game they were defeated by the Chicago Blackhawks on the road which gave them their third loss in their last four games of the season. As for the result of this one, I have the Vancouver Canucks winning their fourth game in a row on the road over the Devils.
Tony’s NHL Pick: Vancouver Canucks (+114)
Jeffery Thomas
The Canucks opened their road trip in New York on Sunday and took down the Rangers 5-2. They’ve quietly rattled off five wins in their last six games and have now put themselves in a position to sneak into the postseason. Vancouver still has some work to do to accomplish that, as they are three points back of the Dallas Stars for the 2nd wild card spot, but the playoffs are looking more possible than it was a couple weeks ago. The Devils don’t have the playoffs to chase and are just trying to get some young guys some experience for the future. They are 18-29-5 on the season, which has them at dead last in the Metro Division. Losers of 3 of their last 4, they’ll hope to give their home fans something to cheer about on Monday night.
The Devils are ready, waiting, and rested for the Canucks who are coming in on the back to back. It may seem like an easy spot to back Vancouver, but they have lost 11 straight to the Devils and are bad in games with no rest in recent history. With all that said though, this Devils team is worse than they were in any of those last matchups against Vancouver and with the Canucks being the better and more motivated team, I think they turn the tide and finally get a win against New Jersey on the road.
Jeffery’s NHL Pick: Vancouver Canucks (+114)
Toronto Maple Leafs @ Washington Capitals – 7.30PM ET
The Toronto Maple Leafs wrap up their short two game road trip when they take on the Washington Capitals, who themselves kick off a three game homestand. The Maple Leafs have won their last two games in a row, against the Wild and Red Wings. The Capitals, on the other hand, have lost their last two games, and this takes their season record to 28-17-9.
Marko Nadin
The Washington Capitals are eighth in the Eastern Conference with a 28-17-9 record. Despite being at the last place that leads to the playoffs, the Capitals are pretty safe as they have a 10 point advantage in front of the Columbus Blues Jackets. The Capitals have lost 5 of the last 8 games, most recently 1-2 against the Philadelphia Flyers. T.J. Oshie scored the lone goal for Washington. The Capitals have won 4 of the last 5 games after a one day rest but have lost the last 5 home games. The Capitals have won the last three and seven of the last ten games against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
The Toronto Maple Leafs are fourth in the Eastern Conference with a 34-14-4 record. Toronto has lost three of the last five games but are coming off a 10-7 win over Detroit in the highest-scoring game of the season. Mitchell Marner scored 4 goals for Toronto. Toronto has won 16 of the last 21 games against Eastern Conference rivals. They have won 14 of the last 20 games coming in from one day’s rest. The Maple Leafs have played over the total goals margin in the last 7 games when their opponent scores 2 goals or less in their previous game.
Marko’s NHL Pick: Over 6.5 (-104)
Tony Battalio
The Toronto Maple Leafs have been putting together a fantastic season thus far. They currently look to be among the many favorites in the Eastern Conference as the second half of the season is getting underway. They come into this game with a record of 34-14-4 through their first 52 games of the season, which has them positioned in third place in the Atlantic Division. Led by Austin Matthews, the Maple Leafs are currently on a two game winning streak after snagging back to back wins over the Minnesota Wild and Detroit Red Wings.
Not sunny.#CapsFlyers pic.twitter.com/iw3v2JR5v3
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) February 26, 2022
The Washington Capitals have been decent so far this year as well but they have definitely performed below expectations. They come into this game with a record of 28-17-9 through their first 54 games of the season. Washington is currently in fourth place in the Metropolitan Division but they do hold onto one of the Eastern Conference playoff spots at the moment. They are currently on a two game losing streak after dropping games to the New York Rangers and Philadelphia Flyers. As for the result of this game, I have Washington getting the victory at home.
Tony’s NHL Pick: Washington Capitals (+116)
Jeffery Thomas
Toronto was recently on a three game skid that included losses to Montreal and Columbus but have since then won two straight. Their win on Saturday against Detroit was a bizarre game that had 17 goals scored. Goaltending has been an issue of late for the Leafs, with Jack Campbell allowing 14 goals in his last three outings. On a positive note, Toronto’s superstar Auston Matthews has four goals and nine points in his last three games and leads the league with 37 goals. The Capitals are also in a rough stretch lately, only winning three of their last eight. Their power-play had been struggling mightily, but got a punch from the return of TJ Oshie. He returned after missing 14 games and scored a goal with the man advantage against the Flyers on Saturday. They will need him in a big way in this game on Monday.
Must see matchup here with the new face of the league Auston Matthews going against an old legend in Alex Ovechkin. Matthews is first in the goal scoring race, as I mentioned, and Ovechkin is not too far behind at fourth place and only 5 goals behind. He won’t catch him in this game, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he got a couple and I think they’ll actually both be able to net a goal here. Coming off a game where they gave up 7 to Detroit, I don’t think they’ll just improve defensively overnight and the over is the play in what should be a fast-paced high-scoring game.
Jeffery’s NHL Pick: Over 6.5 (-104)
Boston Bruins @ Los Angeles Kings – 10.30PM ET
The final game on Monday night’s slate in the NHL will see the Boston Bruins take on the Los Angeles Kings. Both the Bruins and Kings are coming into this game on sizable winning streaks, as the Bruins have won their last four games in a row, and the Kings are one better, with a five game winning streak.
Marko Nadin
The Los Angeles Kings are fifth in the Western Conference with a 29-17-7 record. They have won the last five games, most recently 5-2 against the New York Islanders. Los Angeles is the third-best team with 35.5 shots on goal per game and best in the league with 28.3 allowed shots per game. They have won 23 of the last 31 games against Eastern Conference opponents. The Kings have played under the total goals margin in 7 of the last 9 games on Monday and in 20 of the last 27 games played after one day rest.
The Boston Bruins are seventh in the Eastern Conference with a 31-17-4 record. The Bruins have won the last four games and are coming off a 3-1 win in San Jose. The Bruins have won 4 of the last 5 games after one day rest and have won 14 of the last 20 road games. The Boston Bruins have won 6 of the last ten games against the Kings. The last time they met in December 2019, the Kings won 4-3 in overtime. The Bruins have played under the total goals margin in 5 of their last 7 games and in 8 of the last 10 games against Pacific Division rivals.
Marko’s NHL Pick: Under 5.5 (-128)
Tony Battalio
The Boston Bruins come into this game with a record of 31-17-4 as they have had a decent season up until this point. With each passing season, it feels more like an end of an era for the duo of Bergeron and Marchand. So the Bruins will be looking to make one final run towards a Stanley Cup this season. Boston is currently in fourth place in the Atlantic Division but they control their destiny for the final wildcard spot in the Eastern Conference, as they hold a multi game lead over the Columbus Blue Jackets at the moment. Boston is currently on a four game winning streak.
Playoffs – A New Hope. @GEICO | #BundlingMadeEasy pic.twitter.com/nLqITC1321
— LA Kings (@LAKings) February 27, 2022
The Los Angeles Kings come into this game with a record of 29-17-7 through their first 53 games of the season. Los Angeles has had somewhat of an above average season as they have had both lengthy winning and losing streaks throughout the course of the year. They currently sit in second place in the Pacific Division ahead of the Edmonton Oilers and the Vegas Golden Knights. That is thanks in part to their current five game winning streak that they will be looking to extend in this contest. As for the result of this game, I look for the Bruins to snap the Kings streak on the road.
Tony’s NHL Pick: Boston Bruins (-126)
Jeffery Thomas
The Bruins road trip will continue Monday night against the Kings as they look to extend their four game winning streak, after a 3-1 win over the Sharks on Saturday. That was their sixth straight road game where the under 5.5 goal mark was hit and that stat is due in large part to their great goaltending efforts by Jeremy Swayman. He’s allowed two or fewer goals in each of his last five outings, with a .964 save percentage.
The Kings are also on a roll, winning five straight and eight of their last ten. Their 5-2 win over the Islanders on Saturday moved their record to 29-17-7 and second in the Pacific Division. At 65 points they are 3 points back of the 1st place Flames. Jonathan Quick versus Jeremy Swayman is one of the best goaltending matchups we can get in today’s game and we are in for a great Monday night. It will be a very competitive game and both teams will be very tough to score on, meaning the under is an excellent option. Expect a playoff type game, which means it should be low-scoring, so I’m rolling with that pick.
Jeffery’s NHL Pick: Under 5.5 (-128)
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*Odds and spreads correct at time of writing, courtesy of FanDuel.
