There is less than a month of regular season games to play in this already epic year of NHL! With 5 games to play today there was no picking or choosing, we’ve got them all covered here. Have a read below for all our NHL picks.
New York Islanders @ Buffalo Sabres – 7.00 PM EDT
The Islanders were stunned by the Sabres yesterday, losing 4-2 to the Buffalo side who had lost their last 4 games straight, ending their own 2 win streak in the process.
It was the first time that the Sabres have beaten the Islanders this season, losing the last 6 games to the New York side. The win didn’t come easy either, the Sabres fought their way back from a 2 goal deficit which they sustained halfway through the match.
Tage Thompson started the comeback with his power play goal towards the end of the second term, and halfway through the third he and Sam Reinhart assisted Rasmus Asplund for the Sabres’ equaliser.
With the scores tied up it looked like the game would go to overtime until Reinhart popped up with a goal of his own to take the lead with 5 minutes to go, and when the Islanders pushed for the equaliser Reinhart was there to capitalise on an empty netter for his second goal of the game.
Sam Reinhart sealed the deal tonight 👌#LetsGoBuffalo | @LabattUSA pic.twitter.com/gpxiKJCaq2
— Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) May 4, 2021
The win was an inspired one from the Sabres who haven’t experienced much joy this season, with just 14 wins to their name and very few of those coming from a comeback position.
However, with the Sabres taking 40 shots for the game, and capitalizing on power play opportunities where the Islanders couldn’t, it was a fully deserved result for the last place side.
The two go again today with just 24 hours rest in a match that will test each squad given the intensity of yesterday’s game. While we would love to see the Sabres repeat their success, they have consistently struggled in back to back games this season while the Islanders have done very well.
NHL Pick – New York Islanders (-290)
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Chicago Blackhawks @ Carolina Hurricanes – 7.00 PM EDT
Yesterday’s match went exactly as expected as the Canes cruised to victory against the Blackhawks, picking up their 4th straight victory against 4 different teams as a result.
It was a dominant performance from the division leaders, outshooting their opponents more than 2 to 1 (38-17), and scoring goals in each period of the game.
Dougie Hamilton played a solid game for the Canes, the defenseman kept the Blackhawks chances limited while picking up a goal and assist in the win, but it was Sebastian Aho that stole the show with his hat trick of goals, the incredibly gifted youngster has 24 goals and 55 points so far this season.
It was the 5th straight defeat for the Blackhawks, such is their form that they now find themselves out of contention to make the playoffs, closer to the bottom of the table than they are to the 4th place Predators.
After such a one sided game yesterday we don’t give the Blackhawks much hope today, they have not had much experience in back to back situations this season, with a 50% record of 2-2 in such games. The Canes on the other hand are no strangers in these games, and have so far excelled in them, boasting a 6-2 record in back to back games.
NHL Pick – Carolina Hurricanes (-255)
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Boston Bruins @ New Jersey Devils – 7.00 PM EDT
The Bruins and the Devils also go back to back today following their one sided game yesterday which saw the Bruins pick up a league high, 4th straight win.
With a record of 8-2-0 over the last 10 games, no team in the East Division is running better than the Bruins right now, and with the win, they officially book their place in the playoffs.
The Boston side were nothing short of dominant away from home, keeping the helpless Devils to a measly 20 shots while attempting 42 of their own.
Brad Marchand and Patrice Bergeron were unsurprisingly amongst the scoresheet, with Marchand notching 2 assists while Bergeron both scored and assisted a goal.
🎥 Patrice Bergeron on the #NHLBruins clinching a spot in the postseason: “It’s always the goal during the regular season, to get your ticket and get in and go from there. Obviously, we know we’re a great team. I like where we’re at. I know we can keep improving.” pic.twitter.com/o3kA9GAQtA
— x – Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) May 4, 2021
Tuuka Rask didn’t have heaps to do in net, but nonetheless was still dialled in between the sticks, saving all 20 shots that came his way to record the Bruins 5th shutout of the season.
After a solid 4 game series against the Flyers which saw them walk away with 3 wins and 7 points, the Devils got straight back to their usual selves with the loss.
Scott Wedgewood did the best he could in net for the Jersey side, facing a barrage of shots from the Bruins he made 39 saves from 42, his third best game of the campaign.
NHL Pick – Boston Bruins (-230)
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Pittsburgh Penguins @ Philadelphia Flyers – 7.00 PM EDT
In the most surprising scoreline of the day the struggling Philly Flyers absolutely dismantled the in form Penguins 7-2 on home soil.
The Penguins came into the match having won 6 of the previous 7 games, including a most recent 2 game sweep over the Capitals away from home. The Flyers on the other hand had just lost their third straight game to the terrible New Jersey Devils.
Despite their form, the Flyers came out the gate strong, scoring the first 4 goals unanswered less than halfway through the game, and conceded just 2 goals, both of which came from power plays. No team in the NHL has conceded more goals from short handed positions than the Flyers with 43.
However, the goals kept coming as the Flyers put another 3 past the Penguins, it was the third time the Penguins have conceded 7 or more goals this season, and just the second time the Flyers have scored 7 or more.
The last time the Flyers scored 7 goals it was mostly the fault of their opposition’s goaltending, but this time around the goals were deserved as the Flyers registered a rare, 45 shots for the game.
The scoresheet was largely unsurprising for the Flyers, with Joel Farabee, Claude Giroux, and Jakub Voracek all picking up triple points in the victory.
With the loss the Penguins see the Caps reclaim the top spot on the East Table, but with two games against the Sabres around the corner they will be looking to add some more points to their total.
NHL Pick – Pittsburgh Penguins (-178)
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Edmonton Oilers @ Vancouver Canucks -10.00 PM EDT
The Oilers and the Canucks run it back for the final match of Tuesday, and after the Oilers 5-3 win yesterday there is a lot of work to be done by the home side today.
It was the second win on the trot for the Oilers, boasting a 7-3-0 record over the last 10 games, their recent performance is bettered by only the Senators in the North Division.
As is the theme in Oilers games lately, and all season, their success largely boils down to the consistently unbelievable performances of their star man, Connor McDavid, and his right hand man, Leon Draisaitl.
McDavid has a whopping 22 points from his last 8 games, including a 2 goal, 2 assist, 4 point haul yesterday against the Canucks. Draisaitl, who had a hand in all 4 goals against the Flames on Saturday, also notched 2 assists in the victory yesterday, his 6th in 2 games.
97 up to 91 points with the empty-netter…#LetsGoOilers pic.twitter.com/t2I2hjI2GG
— x – Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) May 4, 2021
The suffering continued for the Canucks as they recorded an NHL leading, 5th consecutive defeat. With 16 points separating them and a playoff position, they would have to be near perfect from here on in with 10 games to play, and after their recent performances it is unlikely to surprise anyone that we don’t back them in to start winning today.
The Canucks chances only look worse when looking at how they have so far fared this season when playing in a back to back game, from 7 attempts they have won just 1 match with a 1 day turnaround, and are up against the Oilers who are 6-3.
NHL Pick – Edmonton Oilers (-200)
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*Odds and spreads correct at time of publication, courtesy of FanDuel.
