We are in the thick of the 2021/22 NHL season, and things are certainly heating up! Today there are heaps of games for us fans to sink our teeth into. With so many teams taking the ice, it is going to be an exciting day of NHL action, so you don’t want to miss this.
How will today’s games shake out? Which teams will be in the winners circle, and who will need to bounce back after a loss? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain, we are in for some great games! So sit back, relax and if you like to have a bet, then you have certainly come to the right place.
Look below to find our free NHL picks, as we preview the best five games on today’s schedule.
Calgary Flames @ Ottawa Senators – 5.00PM ET
The Calgary Flames continue their mammoth road trip when they take on the Ottawa Senators. The Flames have really been struggling in November so far, and have only won one out of their six games so far, losing to teams like the Sharks, Canadiens and Maple Leafs. The Senators aren’t really doing any better, they have also won only one game so far in November out of seven attempts, but last time out, they did get the win, 6-3, against the Penguins.
Denis Kirilov
After a convincing 6-3 win against the Pittsburgh Penguins, the Ottawa Senators will host their Canadian rival – the Calgary Flames. They achieved that with half of their squad missing for the game due to COVID-19 Protocol. However, the Senators find themselves on the bottom of the table in the East having won just 4 out of 14 matches. They are surely one of the teams that will need to put in a lot of immense effort in order to have a shot at the Playoffs. The current circumstances will further worsen their situation and they should find a way to minimize the damages.
On the other hand, we have a good-looking Calgary Flames team that is 2 points short of 1st place in the Western Conference. However, the situation on the top of the table is pretty tight in the West as they are 7th in the standings. They lost their last three games respectively to the Sharks who also struggled with COVID-19, the Montreal Canadiens, and the Toronto Maple Leafs. They will try to get at least one win over their Canadian compatriots in their trip to Canada. Their last chance comes against the Senators who will play with plenty of inexperienced players in this fixture. My prediction here goes in favour of the Flames to cover their spread.
Denis’ NHL Pick: Calgary Flames -1.5 (+144)
Tony Battalio
The Calgary Flames come into this game following an overtime loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Friday that extended their current losing streak to three games. Following a blazing start in the month of October that had them sitting at 6-1-1, the month of November has not been a good one as their record through the first two weeks of the month is 1-2-3. Their struggles in the past couple of weeks has dropped their overall record to 7-3-4. This game against Ottawa will be the second game of a seven game road trip and they will need to turn their miserable play around fast if they want to remain in the top half of the Pacific Division as the calendar turns towards Thanksgiving.
#Flames head coach Darryl Sutter reflects back on tonight’s overtime loss in Toronto. pic.twitter.com/dNqiFSH4eH
— Calgary Flames (@NHLFlames) November 13, 2021
The Ottawa Senators come into this contest after picking up a huge win against the Pittsburgh Penguins. They are one of the more disappointing teams in the National Hockey League this season, as their record currently sits at 4-9-1 even with last night’s victory. The win over Pittsburgh was their first win in the month of November, as it breaks a long six game losing streak as well. Now they will be looking to use the victory as a momentum boost to string together a few more victories as they head into the finale of this three game homestand against the Flames.
As for the result of this one, even with the current form of both teams, I expect the Flames to break their own losing streak and get back into the winners column. It will be a much needed victory as well, as Calgary embarks on the previously mentioned remaining 5 games of their long road trip. The Flames moneyline is the safer bet in this one as I do not expect them to cover the spread, with the way they have been playing lately.
Tony’s NHL Pick: Calgary Flames (-184)
Michael Lantz
After going winless in six straight, the Ottawa Senators got a big win against the Pittsburgh Penguins where they unleashed offensive fury, scoring six goals. They’ll try to carry that momentum over to Sunday night, as they take on a struggling Calgary Flames team.
After a hot streak at the end of October, the Calgary Flames have gone ice cold, losing six straight.
They’ll hope to bounce back against a Senators team that was facing similar issues in recent games before Saturday night. Calgary took the Toronto Maple Leafs to the brink on Friday night losing 1-2 in OT, and while their offense has still brought up questions of concern their defense is keeping them in games. Even though Ottawa went on a spree Saturday night, I expect the Flames to end their slump against an inconsistent Senators squad.
Michael’s NHL Pick: Calgary Flames (-184)
Edmonton Oilers @ St. Louis Blues – 7.00PM ET
The Edmonton Oilers head into their third out of a four game road trip when they take on the St. Louis Blues. The Oilers are looking to bounce back after a loss last time out, 2-3, to the Sabres. The Blues begin a three game home stand, and will be looking to turn things around, as they have lost two games in a row, against the Predators and Hurricanes.
Denis Kirilov
The St. Louis Blues will have yet another difficult task ahead of them as they will have to meet up with the Edmonton Oilers on Sunday night. The Blues are in a 2-game losing streak, getting defeated by the Predators at home and by the Carolina Hurricanes on the road. The Blues have started the season strong by getting 5 straight wins, but later on, their performance began to decline as it is fluctuating a lot at the moment. They can’t get out of this charmed circle for the past 3 weeks or so, but a win over the Oilers at home might be the way to do it.
The Edmonton Oilers continue their trip on the road which is quite disappointing until now – 1 win and 2 losses to teams they should be able to beat. The Red Wings and the Sabres surprised them in recent times with great defense that Conor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl couldn’t break easily. Although they suffered some upsets in the last few games, they are still on the top of the Western Conference with 20 points out of 13 matches. They are a hidden title contender and their direct opponents shouldn’t underestimate them. As for the game, I think that the Oilers will pull themselves together, focus on the ice and get the best result out of it.
Denis’ NHL Pick: Edmonton Oilers (-104)
Tony Battalio
The Edmonton Oilers come into this game following a shocking loss to the Buffalo Sabres by a score of 2-3 on Friday night. They have had a pretty decent November, compiling a record of 4-2-0. They have raced out to a 10-3-0 start to the season and look like one of a handful of potential favorites for the Stanley Cup trophy. This game against St. Louis will be the fourth of a five game road trip, before they return home for two quick games. They will be looking to continue their impressive start to the year with a big win on Sunday in St. Louis.
The St. Louis Blues come into this game after a competitive game against the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday that resulted in a loss. Much like the Edmonton Oilers, they have had a fantastic start to the 2021-22 season. However unlike the Oilers, St. Louis has struggled thus far in the month of November limping their way to a 2-2-2 record through their first six games this month. This game will likely turn out to be the most interesting of the weekend ending lineup.
As for the result, this is certainly a game that could go either way. When the final buzzer sounds after a tough sixty minutes, I look for the Edmonton Oilers to come out on top with a huge victory on the road. Connor McDavid will be the X-factor in this one, as most of the time, the way he plays dictates the way the Edmonton Oilers play as well. The Oilers moneyline is the safer bet in this game.
Tony’s NHL Pick: Edmonton Oilers (-104)
Michael Lantz
The St. Louis Blues come off a tough loss to the Carolina Hurricanes in Raleigh, losing 2-3. They’ll follow that intense matchup against the 11-2 Canes, with a showdown against the NHL’s top offensive unit in the Edmonton Oilers.
The Oilers have been a machine for the majority of the season, but have run into some turbulent times recently. They lost 2-4 to the Detroit Red Wings last week and then lost 2-3 to the Sabres Friday night. After they have a loss, the team usually rejuvenates and goes on a tear, but will they be able to do that against a very balanced Blues team? I expect this one to be close, but I’m still not fully impressed with St. Louis when they play great teams. I’ll pick Edmonton to pull this one off on the road.
Michael’s NHL Pick: Edmonton Oilers (-104)
New Jersey Devils @ New York Rangers – 7.00PM ET
The New Jersey Devils have a short one game road trip when they take on the New York Rangers on Sunday night. The Devils suffered a loss last time out, to the Bruins, which snapped a nice three game winning streak. The Rangers are building nicely, after starting November with three straight losses, they have turned things around and won their next two, they will be hopeful they can stretch their winning streak out to three after tonight’s game.
Denis Kirilov
Another great rivalry will have a meeting on Sunday night in the NHL. The New Jersey Devils travel to New York to face off against the Rangers in what is expected to be a pretty interesting and tight match. The Devils have recently lost to the Boston Bruins which stopped their winning streak at 3 games. Their best performance this year came against the Florida Panthers on Tuesday when they managed to defeat supposedly the best team in the NHL at the moment by 4 goals, 7-3. Andreas Johnsson, Nico Hischier, Dawson Mercer, and Jesper Bratt are leading the team in front positions, but plenty of defensemen like Dougie Hamilton and P.K. Subban are helping them in building up the attacking plays.
The Rangers, themselves, are looking for their third straight win in the NHL. After defeating the Florida Panthers at home and the Columbus Blue Jackets in an away game, they are more than confident that they can shut down the New Jersey Devils as well. The Rangers are 5th in the East with 19 points out of 14 matches as they slowly but surely make their way to the top of the table. Their biggest disadvantage is their low-scoring forwards who have trouble finding the net frequently. However, such games like this one are occasionally won through a good defensive lineup and the Rangers have that. I think they will narrowly close out the game and improve to 8-1 in their last 9 games against the Devils.
Denis’ NHL Pick: New York Rangers (-156)
Tony Battalio
The New Jersey Devils come into this game after falling to the Boston Bruins on Saturday by a score of 2-5, and with that loss having a three game winning streak snapped. Also with the loss they fell to an even .500 in the month of November holding a record of 3-2-1 through the first two weeks of November. Overall on the season, they possess a record of 7-4-2 as they have got off to a decent start in the 2021-22 season. This game against the Rangers will be the first of a four game road trip that includes two stops in Florida to play the Panthers and Lightning.
Mission accomplished. 🤝 pic.twitter.com/ELFFIeJHty
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) November 14, 2021
The New York Rangers come into this one having beat the Columbus Blue Jackets 5-3 on Saturday night. It was a much needed win against another good team, as the Rangers, much like many other good teams, have struggled half way through the month of November. New York possesses an overall record of 7-3-3 as they have looked like an early contender for an Eastern Conference playoff spot. As for the result of this one, I look for a highly competitive game between these regional rivals. When the final horn sounds, I have the New Jersey Devils winning this game.
Tony’s NHL Pick: New Jersey Devils (+130)
Michael Lantz
After a rough go against the Calgary Flames that resulted in a 0-6 loss, the New York Rangers have bounced back nicely, beating the Florida Panthers 4-3 on Monday and then the Columbus Blue Jackets 5-3 last night. Now, they face the rival New Jersey Devils in a matchup at MSG. The Devils continue to stay streaky; after a couple of tough losses at the beginning of the month, they went on a three-game win streak where they defeated some quality opponents including the Florida Panthers and New York Islanders—winning both games by four goals.
After that run of good fortune, the team was humbled as the Boston Bruins beat them Saturday night, 2-5. For the most part, both of these teams have been putting the puck in the back of the net, but I expect this one to be a gritty match between two rivals—with the Rangers ultimately prevailing and keeping their streak alive.
Michael’s NHL Pick: New York Rangers (-156)
Pittsburgh Penguins @ Washington Capitals – 7.00PM ET
The Pittsburgh Penguins end their road trip in Washington when they take on the Capitals. The Penguins have been playing a lot of ice hockey at the moment, excluding their last game, all of their other games so far in November had gone to overtime, with three of them going to a shootout. In their previous game, the Penguins lost, 3-6, to the Senators. The Capitals are another team that is building nicely, they have three wins in a row, including against the Sabres, Red Wings and Blue Jackets.
Denis Kirilov
In one of the most interesting games on Sunday, the Pittsburgh Penguins face off the Washington Capitals. Both teams have a remarkable rivalry dating back to the 1990/91 NHL season. Since then, they have faced each other 11 times in a playoff series, and the Penguins won 9 of them. The Capitals are off to a good start to this campaign after getting 20 points out of 14 matches. Being 4th in the East, they have set their eyes on the Playoffs in the spring, but there is a lot of time until that moment. The Penguins, themselves, are looking at 5 wins and 8 losses from the beginning of the season which puts them in 12th place as of now, with just 14 points. However, they are more than capable of clinching a playoff spot in the upcoming stages of the regular season.
Pittsburgh are coming into this game after a disappointing 3-6 loss to a COVID-19 struggling team of the Ottawa Senators. The Penguins are still missing Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Brian Dumoulin, who have been their driving force for more than a decade. Their absence definitely has a negative impact on the whole squad, as seeing them back on the ice will surely bring huge energy to the rest of the team. However, it will take some time before this happens and up until then the Penguins should find a way to minimize the damages done by their opponents. The Capitals are able to do much harm to the Penguins and I think they will take advantage of the convenient circumstances. I will go with Washington in this one.
Denis’ NHL Pick: Washington Capitals (-140)
Tony Battalio
Pittsburgh comes into this game after being upset by the Ottawa Senators by a score of 3-6 on Saturday night. They are expected to get superstar Sidney Crosby back soon, so things could be looking up for the Penguins. The Penguins have got off to a slow start this season as through thirteen games they have a record of 5-4-4. The toughness of this upcoming game against Alexander Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals is magnified by the fact that Pittsburgh has struggled greatly away from their home arena. The Penguins have a lowly record of 1-1-2 on the road this season, as opposed to a record of 4-3-2 at home.
The Washington Capitals come into this game with a three game winning streak, after dropping their first three contests in the month of November. Washington’s overall record on the season is currently sitting at 7-2-4, as after a fast start they have started to cool off a bit. Washington against Pittsburgh has turned into a rivalry of sorts over the years, mainly because of constant comparisons between Alexander Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby. When the final horn sounds in this edition of the rivalry, I expect the Washington Capitals to come out on top with a home win.
Tony’s NHL Pick: Washington Capitals (-140)
Michael Lantz
Fingers crossed that Sidney Crosby is able to return for this matchup, as the Pittsburgh Penguins face the Washington Capitals in a potential showdown of Crosby vs Ovechkin—two of the generation’s greatest talents.
The Penguins got off to a solid start this year despite not having Crosby or alternate captain Evengi Malkin. Unfortunately, they’ve fallen off a bit lately, so if Crosby is indeed back in their lineup, that may be the jolt they need to get back on track. Meanwhile, the Washington Capitals are refusing to fade away. The Caps are out to an 8-2-4 record and have been solid on both sides of the puck. Even with Crosby possibly returning, I’ll go with the Caps at home.
Michael’s NHL Pick: Washington Capitals (-140)
Vancouver Canucks @ Anaheim Ducks – 8.00PM ET
The Vancouver Canucks finish up their three game road trip when they take on the Anaheim Ducks, who are at the beginning of their three game home stand. The Canucks will be desperate to get a win on Sunday night and snap their current three game losing streak. It is a completely different story for the Ducks, they have won six games in a row, against teams like the Devils, Blues and Kraken.
Denis Kirilov
The Vancouver Canucks will have to travel to Anaheim in an attempt to stop the flight of the Ducks. Anaheim is in a 6-game winning streak coming into this game and they will be looking to extend that series. They have mainly beaten teams of their caliber with the exception of the St. Louis Blues who are considered a really strong team. However, the Ducks have been quite dominant in their recent matches and I think might end up surprising many people with their performance this season. Troy Terry and Ryan Getzlaf are in great shape at the moment and they will try to keep this momentum as much as possible.
The Canucks, on the other hand, are struggling in the early stages of this campaign. They are close to the bottom of the table, if we exclude the Arizona Coyotes who will most likely be dead last in the NHL this season. However, they lost to the Vegas Golden Knights but they are coming into this game in high mood as this will be their last away game before returning to Vancouver. I believe this might be a tight one with no winner in the regular time.
Denis’ NHL Pick: Tie (+310)
Tony Battalio
The Anaheim Ducks come into this game with a record of 8-4-3 after beating the Seattle Kraken 7-4 in their last game. Anaheim also comes into this game on a six game winning streak as they are the hottest team in the National Hockey League right now. This game against Vancouver is the start of a three game homestand for the Ducks. They have turned a slow start to the season around and through the month November has established themselves as a potential Stanley Cup contender.
A look at all 19 points during his 13-game point streak for number 19, @troyterry1997.#FlyTogether pic.twitter.com/UIw8JYAhMx
— Anaheim Ducks (@AnaheimDucks) November 12, 2021
As for the Vancouver Canucks, they come into this game following a competitive game against the Vegas Golden Knights. It was truly a back and forth game as Vancouver jumped out to a fast 2-0 lead, then Vegas came back to tie it. The game would continue to be back and forth until Vegas took the lead late in the third. As for the result of this game, I expect the Anaheim Ducks to continue their impressive winning streak and extend it to eight games. While Vancouver has struggled to put together some wins lately. In fact I think Anaheim will go to win and cover the spread of 1.5 goals as well.
Tony’s NHL Pick: Anaheim Ducks -1.5 (+205)
Michael Lantz
I keep waiting for the Canucks to give me some love, but they keep letting me down. I picked them to keep it close with Vegas on Saturday night based on how well they’ve played prior opponents, even in defeat. But, for the second straight game they gave up seven goals to an opponent. Now, they face an Anaheim team that’s been one of the most improved in all of hockey, in Southern California.
The Ducks sit at 8-4-3 and look to continue their streak against an underperforming Vancouver team. I think Anaheim continues their run of success, they beat the Canucks just last week in Vancouver, and they’ll provide them another defeat in Anaheim.
Michael’s NHL Pick: Anaheim Ducks -1.5 (+205)
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*Odds and spreads correct at time of writing, courtesy of FanDuel.
