We are loving the action throughout this impressive NHL season so far. As we move into the final stretch of the season, each division’s ladder has already become well formed. This means that every single win or loss can have an impact on the position each team will finish in when the regular season draws to a close, so it is important that you don’t miss any of the action!
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Look below to find our free NHL picks, as we preview the best five games on today’s schedule.
New York Rangers @ Boston Bruins – 3.00PM ET
The New York Rangers wrap up their two game road trip tonight with a game against the Boston Bruins. The Rangers are confirmed for the playoffs, but their focus is solely on getting that top spot in the Metropolitan Division, as they are currently on the same number of points as the Hurricanes. The Bruins are also confirmed for the playoffs, as they hold the first Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference.
Marko Nadin
The Boston Bruins have clinched the playoff berth but it is still uncertain from which spot they will go into the postseason. Currently the Bruins are sixth in the Eastern Conference with a 47-25-5 record. They have lost 4 of the last 6 games and are coming off a 0-4 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins. Boston is ranked second in the league with 36.2 shots on goal per game but they score 3 goals per game which puts them in 16th place in the league. Boston has won 7 of the last 10 home games.
The New York Rangers are fourth in the Eastern Conference with a 51-21-6 record. They have won the last 4 games, keeping a clean sheet in the first three and defeating their city rival New York Islanders by 6-3 in the last game. The Rangers are the second-best defensive team in the league allowing only 2.4 goals per game and are ranked third in the league with a 26.1% conversion of the power play situations. The Rangers have won 6 of the last 7 games against teams with a winning record.
Marko’s NHL Pick: New York Rangers (+112)
Tony Battalio
New York Rangers are coming into this game with a record of 51-21-6 through their first 78 games of the season. They have been one of the biggest surprises of the year and now they look like a serious Stanley Cup contender just a couple days away from the start of the playoffs. They are currently fighting for the top spot in the Metropolitan Division at the moment, as they are tied with the Carolina Hurricanes for first place. They will face off with Carolina next Tuesday.
The Boston Bruins are coming into this game with their Stanley Cup playoff spot already secured. They currently have a record on the season of 47-25-5 through their first 77 games of the season. They are currently sitting in fourth place in the Eastern Conference as they hold the top Wild Card spot. They come into this one on a one game losing streak after dropping their last game to the Pittsburgh Penguins as they were shutout, 0-4. As for the result of this one, I’m taking the New York Rangers to get the win.
Tony’s NHL Pick: New York Rangers (+112)
Jeffery Thomas
On Saturday we are treated to a matchup of two teams that will be in the postseason when the New York Rangers travel to Boston to take on the Bruins. The Rangers come in as the hotter team, winning seven of their last ten and only allowing three goals in the last three games. The Bruins on the other hand are trying to rebound from a shutout loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins and have gone 5-5 in their last ten games. With the playoffs around the corner, it’s important for Boston to get some positive momentum going within the next couple games or it will be a quick exit for them.
One thing I love to do when we get these phases that are going to be playoff-like atmospheres is to bet the under. Goals are usually hard to come by in these hard-fought games that are usually tight. The Rangers have also been very strong defensively like I mentioned earlier and it’s hard to see the Bruins getting more than a couple pucks past Igor Shesterkin. Give me the under in this battle of Eastern Conference teams on Saturday.
Jeffery’s NHL Pick: Under 5.5 (-110)
Nashville Predators @ Tampa Bay Lightning – 7.00PM ET
The Nashville Predators are on the road for just one game when they face off against the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Predators are yet to be officially confirmed for the postseason, but they currently hold the first Wild Card position in the Western Conference. The Lightning are another team that will be making an appearance in the playoffs, as they currently sit in third position in the Atlantic Division, with a record of 47-22-8.
Marko Nadin
The Tampa Bay Lightning are fifth in the Eastern Conference with a 47-22-8 record and have a slim chance to reach the fourth place since they are 6 points behind the New York Rangers. The defending champions have won 3 of the last 4 games and are coming off the biggest win of the season, 8-1 against the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Lightning are 9th in the league scoring 3.4 goals per game and are ranked 7th with 2.7 allowed goals per game. Tampa Bay has lost 10 of the last 12 games against teams with a winning record. Tampa Bay has won 8 of the last 10 games against Nashville.
The Nashville Predators are seventh in the Western Conference with a 44-28-5 record. They have won 3 of the last 5 games and are coming off a 3-2 shootout win over the Calgary Flames. The Predators are 12th in the league with 3.2 goals per game and 13th with 2.9 allowed goals per game. Nashville has won 35 of the last 52 games when their opponent allows 2 goals or less in their previous game.
Marko’s NHL Pick: Nashville Predators (+146)
Tony Battalio
The Nashville Predators come into this one with a record of 44-28-5 through their first 77 games of the season. They currently hold onto the top Wild Card spot in the Western Conference. Nashville enters this one on a one game winning streak at the moment after getting a win in their last game against the Calgary Flames in a shootout by a score of 3-2. Now they will be looking to make it two in a row and keep their top spot as the Wild Card team against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
The Tampa Bay Lighting are looking to get hot at the right time and gear up to win their third straight Stanley Cup during the playoffs this season. They come into this game with a record of 47-22-8 through their first 77 games of the season. They are currently on a one game winning streak after blasting the Toronto Maple Leafs by a score of 8-1. As for the result of this one, I’m taking the Tampa Bay Lightning to pick up the victory.
Tony’s NHL Pick: Tampa Bay Lightning (-176)
Jeffery Thomas
The Nashville Predators will travel to Tampa Bay to take on the defending champion Lightning on Saturday in search for some consistency. The Preds have been alternating between wins and losses for the past six games, and with only 5 games remaining, they are still holding the top Wild Card spot in the Western Conference. The Lightning have turned their month of April around a bit after a rough start, and have now won three of their last four following their 8-1 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday.
This is an interesting battle with the Lightning already having locked up their playoff spot and the Predators trying to still fight for a playoff spot being just 4 points clear of the first team on the outside looking in. A win and 2 points here would go a massive way for the Preds and going against the backup goalie for the Lightning provides them a good spot. I think they’ll put up a great fight and I like their chances to get this win on the road on Saturday.
Jeffery’s NHL Pick: Nashville Predators (+146)
Seattle Kraken @ Dallas Stars – 8.00PM ET
The Seattle Kraken are in the middle of their three game road trip on Saturday when they travel to Dallas to face off against the Stars. The Kraken are playing on back-to-back nights, so fatigue may be a factor in this one, but at the end of the day it doesn’t really matter as they have long been eliminated from playoff contention. The Stars are still in the fight for a playoff position, as they currently hold the second Wild Card spot.
Marko Nadin
The Dallas Stars are sitting in the eighth place in the Western Conference with a 43-30-5 record and are in the last playoff spot. They have lost the last three games, all of them on the road and will play the last 4 games on home ice which increases their chances to reach the playoffs. The Stars are ranked 21st in the league scoring 2.8 goals per game and 16th allowing 3 goals per game. Dallas has won 20 of the last 27 games as favorites and 23 of the last 33 home games.
The Seattle Kraken are 15th in the Western Conference with a 26-45-6 record in their first season in the league. Seattle has won 3 of the last 5 games but are coming off a 3-6 loss to the Minnesota Wild. The Kraken are ranked second to last in the league scoring only 2.6 goals per game and 24th allowing 3.5 goals per game. Seattle has won the last game against Dallas by 4-1. The Kraken have won 5 of the last 6 games against teams from the Central Division but have lost 6 of the last 8 games played without a day off.
Marko’s NHL Pick: Dallas Stars (-285)
Tony Battalio
The Seattle Kraken are having a rough year in their first year in the National Hockey League. Seattle is coming into this game with a record of 26-45-6 through their first 77 games of the regular season. They are currently in last place of the Pacific Division and that is likely where they will finish the regular season. They are currently on a one game losing streak after losing their last game to the Minnesota Wild.
The Dallas Stars are coming into this one with a record of 43-30-5 through their first 78 games of the season. Dallas is currently in fifth place of the Central Division at the moment as they are still in the hunt for the Wild Card spot. They come into this one on a three game losing streak after losing games to Calgary, Edmonton, and Vancouver, and they will be happy to get out of Canada. As for the result of this one, I am going with the Dallas Stars to get the win.
Tony’s NHL Pick: Dallas Stars (-285)
Jeffery Thomas
The Dallas Stars will return home to host the Seattle Kraken after a rough road trip in Canada the past three games. The Stars failed to record a single point, losing each game in regulation to the Canucks, Oilers, and Flames by a combined score of 6-15. Now being back at home, it’s a must-win for Dallas who is just two points ahead of Vegas for that final playoff spot in the Western Conference and I’m sure they are feeling the pressure. The good news is they get a great matchup in this game against the Seattle Kraken who will be on the back-to-back after losing 3-6 to the Minnesota Wild on Friday.
The loss snapped a three-game winning streak for the Kraken, who are wrapping up their inaugural season. The Stars have scored 2 goals or less in seven of their last eight games and will need to really pick things up here in the final few games or they will miss the postseason entirely. I think this is a good spot for the Stars though, as Seattle is winless in their last four games played on no rest and will be catching a very desperate team that is much more talented. Give me the Stars to finally get back in the win column and in a big way on Saturday.
Jeffery’s NHL Pick: Moneyline (3-way) – Dallas Stars (-170)
Vancouver Canucks @ Calgary Flames – 10.00PM ET
The Vancouver Canucks wrap up their two game road trip tonight when they travel to Calgary and take on the Flames. The Canucks come into this clash on a two game losing streak, but they really need to win all four of their last games, if they want a chance to remain in playoff contention. The Flames have been officially confirmed as the top team in the Pacific Division with 106 points.
Marko Nadin
The Calgary Flames are third in the Western Conference with a 48-20-10 record. They have won 3 of the last 4 games and are coming off a 4-2 win over the Dallas Stars. The Flames are ranked third in the league allowing 2.5 goals per game, fourth in the league allowing 28.9 shots on goal per game and sixth in the league defending 83.9% of the power play situations. The Flames have won 10 of the last 11 games played on Saturday and 6 of the last 7 games after allowing 2 goals or less in their previous game.
The Vancouver Canucks are still in the playoff race as they are 10th in the Western Conference with a 38-29-11 record. After winning 6 straight games, the Canucks have lost the last two against Ottawa and Minnesota. Vancouver is ranked 19th in the league scoring 3 goals per game and 9th in the league allowing 2.8 goals per game. Vancouver has won 6 of the last 7 games against Western Conference opponents and 5 of the last 7 games against Pacific Division teams.
Marko’s NHL Pick: Vancouver Canucks (+198)
Tony Battalio
The Vancouver Canucks made a late season playoff push but it has fizzled out over the last few weeks. They come into this one with a record of 38-29-11 through their first 78 games of the season. They are on a two game losing streak at the moment after losing back to back games to the Minnesota Wild and the Ottawa Senators. Vancouver is a young team with a ton of potential and they will likely be in playoff contention next season.
The Calgary Flames are one of the best teams in the National Hockey League this season. They come into this game with a record of 48-20-10 through their first 78 games of the season. They have officially locked up the Pacific Division this season. Calgary is currently on a one game winning streak at the moment after getting a win in their last game over the Dallas Stars. As for the result of this game, I am taking the Calgary Flames to pick up the victory over the Vancouver Canucks.
Tony’s NHL Pick: Calgary Flames (-245)
Jeffery Thomas
The Vancouver Canucks will travel to Calgary to take on the Flames on Saturday and will do so in desperate need of a win. The Canucks are 4 points out of the final playoff spot in the Western Conference after losing their last two games to the Ottawa Senators and Minnesota Wild. The Canucks were able to get 1 point out of that two game stretch but now face a tough test on Saturday against the Flames who have won 8 of their last 10 games. Last time out it was a 4-2 win over the Dallas Stars for Calgary, and interestingly enough that is the team that Vancouver is chasing to get into the playoffs.
The Flames have already locked up their division so all that is left for them is keeping their form up and preparing for hopefully a deep playoff run. This is going to be a very fun game and I see it as one that will be played with a lot of open ice and chances on offense for both teams. Vancouver has allowed 10 goals in their last two games and are averaging 4.75 goals a game themselves in the past eight games. With the Flames being great on offense themselves, I think we get a lot of goals here and I love a play on the total which is set at 6. Give me the over all day in what I see being more a 5-3 or 5-4 type of game.
Jeffery’s NHL Pick: Over 6.5 (-115)
Anaheim Ducks @ Los Angeles Kings – 10.30PM ET
The final game on Saturday night’s slate in the NHL will see the Anaheim Ducks face off against the Los Angeles Kings. The Ducks are not going to be making the playoffs in 2022, and they come into this clash losing four of their last five games, including last time out when they were beaten by the Kings, 1-2. The Kings are under a bit of pressure at the moment, as they need to keep winning to ensure they keep their third position in the Pacific Division.
Marko Nadin
The Anaheim Ducks are having a disappointing season as they are 12th in the Western Conference with a 30-34-14 record. They have lost 4 of the last 5 games and are coming off a 1-2 loss to the Los Angeles Kings. The Ducks are 24th in the league scoring 2.8 goals per game and 22nd allowing 3.2 goals per game. They have lost 37 of the last 54 games against Western Conference opponents, 17 of the last 22 games played after 3 or more days of rest and 10 of the last 14 games played on Saturday.
The Los Angeles Kings are sixth in the Western Conference with a 42-27-10 record but still haven’t clinched a playoff berth with 4 games remaining in the regular season. The Kings have won 4 of the last 5 games and are coming off a 4-1 win over the Chicago Blackhawks which was the third straight game in which the Kings allowed only 1 goal. Los Angeles has won 4 of the last 5 games against teams with a losing record under 40% and 20 of the last 27 games as favorites.
Marko’s NHL Pick: Los Angeles Kings (-255)
Tony Battalio
The Anaheim Ducks come into this game with a record of 30-34-14 through their first 78 games of the season. They have had a rollercoaster season and have been up and down. They are in sixth place in the Pacific Division. They will be looking to rebuild heading into the off-season and the draft. They come into this one on a one game losing streak after dropping their last game to the Los Angeles Kings.
The Los Angeles Kings will be playing their second straight game against the Anaheim Ducks. They come into this game with a record of 42-27-10 through their first 79 games of the season. With only three games left in the regular season, they find themselves in the playoff contention as they are in third place in the Pacific Division at the moment. They are currently on a three game winning streak as they are closing out the season strong. As for the result of this game, I am taking the Los Angeles Kings to get the win.
Tony’s NHL Pick: Los Angeles Kings (-255)
Jeffery Thomas
These two teams are in totally different spots heading into the last few games of the season. The Ducks are looking forward to the summer and booking their vacations while the Los Angeles Kings are trying to tighten up their hold on their 3rd place spot in the Pacific Division. Anaheim has gone just 4-13-5 in their last 22 games and will come into this game on three days rest after losing the first game of this home-and-home series with Los Angeles. The Kings got that win 2-1 then backed that up with another win on Thursday, beating the Chicago Blackhawks 4-1.
That was their third straight win and they’ve only given up 1 goal in each of those contests so another great defensive performance should see them getting the victory on Saturday. The only advantage for the Ducks in this game is the rest but I don’t think that will make much difference. The Kings are rounding into form at the right time and knowing they have three days off after this game, they’ll want to bank these two points before going idle. I like them to get this win in convincing fashion at home and close out the season series with their in-state rivals.
Jeffery’s NHL Pick: Los Angeles Kings -1.5 (+110)
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*Odds and spreads correct at time of writing, courtesy of FanDuel.
