It is an absolutely stacked Saturday of hockey today, and with 11 huge games in the mix, it was hard to choose just 5! Alas, we have spent the day researching to bring you the very best NHL picks, and you can find them all below.
New Jersey Devils @ New York Rangers – 12.30 PM EDT
The Devils and the Rangers have reached the midway point of their 4 game series, and it was more of the same in the second as the Rangers once again disposed of the Devils.
After beating the Devils 3-0 on their home turf, the Rangers hosted the second, and added a goal to the previous result with a comfortable 4-0 win for their second straight shutout.
The Devils outshot the Rangers in the first game, but somehow put on a worse performance on Thursday, attempting a measly 16 shots for the entire match. This made the job of Igor Shestkerin incredibly easy, picking up his 2nd NHL career shutout just days after recording his first.
Bad puck decisions, coupled with a lack of energy cost the Devils against the Rangers, shutout for a second consecutive in a 4-0 final.#NJDevils | @Walmart pic.twitter.com/YJfhrp8lTA
— New Jersey Devils (@NJDevils) April 16, 2021
Artemi Panarin, who scored in the first game, was once again, unsurprisingly immense in the victory, bagging 2 goals and a further assist.
Colin Blackwell also made big contributions, not managing to notch a goal himself, but registering 3 assists for his first 3 point haul of the campaign.
Two games into this series, and prospects aren’t looking too great for the Devils, they have now lost 4 games straight with just 2 wins from the last 10 games played.
The Rangers on the other hand have picked up 14 points from a possible 20 over the last 10, and are desperately trying to make a late push for a playoff position, they are currently 6 points away.
NHL Pick – New York Rangers (-235)
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Ottawa Senators @ Montreal Canadiens – 4.00 PM EDT
The Senators are coming into this game following a narrow 3-2 defeat at the hands of the Jets on Wednesday.
They came out firing with a goal in the opening 2 minutes of the game, set up by Thomas Chabot, and buried by Nick Paul. Unfortunately it wouldn’t last long, as the Jets went on to score the next 3 goals unanswered, even putting one past the Senators while playing shorthanded.
It was a disappointing loss after their 4-2 win over them just days before, and marks their 5th from the last 6 games played. They get a good chance to bounce back today as they face the Canadiens who will be feeling the effects of playing in a back to back game.
The Canadiens are rolling into this game with some good momentum in them after they got some redemption over the Flames yesterday.
The tight 2-1 victory made up for an average performance in the previous game, but they were once again outshot by the Flames, luckily, Jake Allen was up for it in net, making 28 saves to keep his side in it.
In an all too familiar situation, Tyler Toffoli was the hero for the Canadiens, breaking the deadlock in the second term to give them the lead, and burying the winner with just 5 minutes to play in the third.
It was the 4th game winning goal of the season for Toffoli who leads the Canadiens for both goals, and total points, with 21 and 32 respectively.
NHL Pick – Ottawa Senators (+245)
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St Louis Blues @ Arizona Coyotes – 6.00 PM EDT
The Blues had their chances of a 4th straight win dashed on Wednesday, going down to the Avalanche 4-3 on their home turf.
It was the 3rd straight time that the Blues have lost to the division leaders by just a 1 goal margin, and down 4-1 at the start of the final term, they did well to pull that score back.
The Blues capitalized on their powerplay chances, scoring 2 goals from just 4 opportunities, with Vince Dunn and Mike Hoffman both converting. Hoffman led the comeback, scoring both of the Blues final period goals, and finished the game with 2 goals, and a further assist.
Mike Hoffman, Jordan Binnington and Craig Berube speak to reporters after tonight’s 4-3 loss to the Avalanche. #stlblues pic.twitter.com/1NMn3qlnf0
— St. Louis Blues (@StLouisBlues) April 15, 2021
After playing the last 5 at home, the Blues hit the road for a single game against the struggling Coyotes.
The Arizona team is feeling the effects of a tough run of fixtures, having played the divisions’ strongest teams game after game, they have failed to get any momentum going, and have now recorded their 5th straight defeat.
The 5-2 loss came at the hands of the Wild in Minnesota, who have now beaten the Coyotes in all but 1 of the 6 games they have played this season.
They kept the match fairly even for both shots and penalties, however, they were exposed defensively, allowing the Wild to score from all 3 of their power play opportunities, and only managed to score from 1 of their 4 chances.
With just 2 points from a possible 12, it was an admittedly disastrous road trip for the Coyotes, but they will now be eager to get back to Arizona, and continue to fight for a playoff position, which is only 1 point away.
NHL Pick – St. Louis Blues (-142)
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Nashville Predators @ Carolina Hurricanes – 7.00 PM EDT
The molten hot Predators get another crack at the Canes after they were humbled by them on Thursday, losing 4-1 for just their 2nd defeat from the last 7 games.
The Preds were rolling into the game very strong having just beaten the Lightning by a whopping 7-2 on Tuesday, and despite attempting almost the same number of shots against the Canes, they were only able to beat Petr Mrazek once.
Erik Haula impressively scored the Preds’ lone goal while in a shorthanded position, however, it was mostly inconsequential as the Canes were leading 3-0.
It was a much needed confidence boost for the Canes after going down in straight games to the Red Wings of all teams earlier in the week, and it was enough to maintain their place on the top of the Central Division.
For the third time in 5 games, Vincent Trochek picked up a goal, and an assist, of the Canes’ 5 wins this month, Trocheck has been instrumental, providing 2 points in 4 of them.
The win further cements the Canes’ dominance over the Preds, from 5 games this season, the Hurricanes are yet to drop a point.
NHL Pick – Carolina Hurricanes (-198)
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San Jose Sharks @ Minnesota Wild – 8.00 PM EDT
The Sharks came within a goal of completing their comeback against the Wild yesterday, but they get another crack at it today, and will be very eager to put their losing streak to bed.
The 3-2 loss was the 4th on the trot for the San Jose side, picking up home defeats to the Kings, and the Ducks, and barely challenging their opponents.
They hit the road for yesterday’s match, and put up their best fight yet, even taking the lead early with a goal Tomas Hertl, but they couldn’t keep the Wild at bay for long, conceding the next 3 goals unanswered.
The Sharks had had the better of the Wild this season up until the game yesterday, with the record now split evenly, 3 games each.
It was a second straight win for the Wild, whose return to Minnesota has so far been a successful one, and they did so while attempting just 18 shots for the game.
“Everyone is involved. Everyone is helping out.” -Joel Eriksson Ek
📹 More from Talbot, Eriksson Ek and Bonino after tonight’s win over the Sharks! pic.twitter.com/7w6wlBAGRW
— Minnesota Wild (@mnwild) April 17, 2021
Matts Zuccarello buried his third goal in 2 games, and Nick Bonino had another great performance, scoring the equalising goal, and having a hand in the third.
Kirill Kaprizov’s quiet patch continued, the young talent leads the Wild for both goals and assists, but has only contributed 1 point from his last 4 games, his quietest stretch of the campaign.
NHL Pick – Minnesota Wild (-190)
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*Odds and spreads correct at time of publication, courtesy of FanDuel.
