There is less than 2 weeks of regular season games to play in this already epic year of NHL! With a whopping 14 games on the agenda today, we have handpicked the 5 which we feel are the most exciting, or the most likely to line your pockets! Have a read below for all our NHL picks.
New York Rangers @ Boston Bruins – 3.00 PM EDT
The Rangers marked their season high, 5th straight defeat in their penultimate game of the season against the Bruins on Thursday.
After their back to back shutout defeats to the Islanders last week, Thursday’s 4-0 loss was the third time they have been shut out over the last 5 games.
The New York side barely even challenged the Bruins, attempting a measly 15 shots for the game to the Bruins’ 34, and conceding goals in each period of the match.
Final. pic.twitter.com/BAY0P4sM0O
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) May 7, 2021
Patrice Bergeron opened the scoring for the Bruins 7 minutes into the game, it is the 4th straight game he has scored in. Both David Krejci and Brad Marchand recorded 2 assists in the convincing victory while young goalie, Jeremy Swayman, picked up his second shutout.
The Boston side have really hit their strides since the start of April (14-5-2), and after such a dominant performance on Thursday it is hard to see them not going back to back over the struggling Rangers today.
NHL Pick – Boston Bruins (-330)
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Buffalo Sabres @ Pittsburgh Penguins – 3.00 PM EDT
The Sabres and the Penguins meeting today spells the end for both of their regular seasons, and after their 12 goal game on Thursday we are excited for this fixture.
The Buffalo side came into the game hot with back to back wins over the Islanders, but they were in uncharted territory as they attempted to notch a third straight win for the first time this season.
They took the lead early through Drake Caggiula only to concede the next 2 goals to Jeff Carter, one of which came from the Penguins only power play opportunity of the game.
3 minutes into the second term the Sabres levelled the score up, but a minute later Jeff Carter once again pulled the Penguins ahead, completing his hat trick in the process.
Showing good fight, the Sabres would not stay down as Drake Caggiula scored his second, unfortunately that was when the wheels fell off for the Sabres, with the Penguins going on to score the next 4 goals to blow the scoreline out.
Jeff Carter added another goal in the final term to earn his first ever double hat trick, and the Penguins moved back into first place following the Capitals’ defeat.
With 8 wins from the last 10 games the Penguins are the best performing side in the division, and with their 8 goal haul the Pittsburgh side has now scored 195 for the season, the highest of any team in the NHL.
NHL Pick – Pittsburgh Penguins (-405)
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Tampa Bay Lightning @ Florida Panthers – 7.00 PM EDT
The Lightning are coming into this one following a 5-2 defeat at the hands of the Stars yesterday, flipping the script on their 6-2 win over the Dallas side just two days prior.
The loss is in keeping with the theme of the Lightning’s performances lately, of their last 8, 2 game series, the Lightning have won 1/2 games on 7 occasions, consistently failing to sweep their opponents.
They went down early into the first term, and then conceded another early in the second, Blake Coleman reduced the deficit to 1 goal midway through the period, but it didn’t last, with the Stars going on to put the next 3 past the Tampa side.
The Lightning now make the small trek to play their arch rivals, the Florida Panthers, for the final 2 games of both teams seasons, and with the head to head tied up at 3-3 it is a dream way to finish the campaign for the neutral fan.
It’s official – the @TBLightning and @FlaPanthers will go head-to-head in the #StanleyCup Playoffs for the first time.
The kicker? The Sunshine State foes still have two regular-season games against each other before starting their best-of-seven First Round series. #NHLStats pic.twitter.com/3Wr9MV2zW4
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) May 8, 2021
The Panthers are running very hot at the minute, their 8-2-0 record over the last 10 games is the joint best in the NHL, and their 4 straight wins the longest active streak in the competition.
They have taken the scalps of the Predators, the Blackhawks, and most recently the Stars in a 5-4 overtime victory on Monday, and will be going into this game with a huge advantage over the Lightning who played yesterday.
With 21 goals scored over their 4 win streak they have been banging them in for fun, but have also conceded 15, with 2 of the 4 games won in overtime and another by just a goal.
However, up against a Lightning team that will be gassed from playing back to back games they should have an easy time of it defensively, and with the Panthers’ 5 day break we can’t see them failing to take the points in the first leg.
NHL Pick – Florida Panthers (-102)
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Montreal Canadiens @ Toronto Maple Leafs – 7.00 PM EDT
The Canadiens and the Maple Leafs play their 10th and final game against each other today, and as things stand the Leafs have had the better of the Habs with 6 wins from 9.
Their last clash took place on Thursday, a one sided performance that saw the Maple Leafs cruise to victory thanks to an unanswered 4 goal first term.
The skipper, John Tavares, had a hand in the Maple Leafs’ first goal before scoring the second, 1 of 3 players to pick up double points for the Toronto side, with Mitch Marner and Jake Muzzin also contributing 2.
The Habs reduced the deficit to 2 with goals in the second and final term, but they couldn’t make the comeback happen as they have so often in recent.
With the first 3 playoff positions decided in the North Division, the Habs are the only side in the top 4 whose place in the playoffs yet to be decided, however, they are 10 points clear of the Flames and need just 1 point over the next 3 games to book their spot, while the Flames would have to win each of their next 5.
NHL Pick – Toronto Maple Leafs (-220)
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Anaheim Ducks @ Minnesota Wild – 8.00 PM EDT
The Anaheim Ducks will be pretty keen to wrap up another forgettable campaign as they play the final game of their season against the Wild in Minnesota.
After their impressive shootout win over the Blues on Wednesday the Ducks took the fight to the Wild yesterday, coming back from a 1 goal deficit on 2 occasions during the game to send the game to overtime.
Adam Henrique finished the game with a goal and an assist, contributing to both of the Ducks’ goals scored from a losing position, and a lot of credit has to go to John Gibson who faced 36 shots from the Wild and did his best to keep his side in it.
The Wild did enough to take the points, with Joel Erikkson Ek picking up a goal and an assist in the win, but it was Kirill Kaprizov who was the hero, the uber talented rookie buried his 4th game winner of the season in overtime to give the Wild the win.
Just keep going!
Joel Eriksson Ek had the @JagermeisterUSA Shot of the Game tonight. pic.twitter.com/26rpfcGm6n
— x – Minnesota Wild (@mnwild) May 8, 2021
With a 7-1-2 record over the last 10 games the Wild are the second best performing side in the division and are knocking at the door of a second place finish if they can finish strong, with 1 more game to play against the last place Ducks today we expect another 2 points.
NHL Pick – Minnesota Wild (-300)
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*Odds and spreads correct at time of publication, courtesy of FanDuel.
