The race to playoffs is in full swing and it is now or never for many teams! With only the 5 games on over humpday we have had plenty of time to prepare our NHL picks, there have been some crazy results lately and we expect today will be no different!
Edmonton Oilers @ Ottawa Senators – 5.00 PM EDT
The Oilers went down to the Canadiens on Monday in a nail biting overtime finish which marked their second defeat to the Montreal team in 3 games.
The Oilers looked like a good bet to win the game after scoring an unanswered goal in the games’ first and second term, but they lapsed in the third, allowing 2 goals within 5 minutes to send the game to overtime.
Statistically it was a favourable position for the Oilers considering that the Canadiens were 0-6 in overtime prior to their match, but they conceded a goal in the final minute to give the Canadiens their first overtime win.
They now head to Ottawa for 2 games with the Senators, after a few disappointing results recently the Oilers will be looking to bounce back here against a side they haven’t lost to in 7 games this season.
On the ice in Ottawa. #LetsGoOilers pic.twitter.com/P1Fix7KwXS
— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) April 6, 2021
The Senators are also coming into this game following a narrow defeat, losing to the Jets on Sunday, 4-3. They were severely outplayed, and outshot 2 to 1 by the Jets, but they fought hard after going down 4-1 at the end of the second term and came out swinging in the final period.
Both Ryan Dzingel and Connor Brown picked up a goal and an assist in the defeat, Brown has now scored a point in his last 4 games for the Senators.
NHL Pick – Edmonton Oilers (-188)
Spread Pick – Unlock Premium Picks
Total Goals Pick – Unlock Premium Picks
Montreal Canadiens @ Toronto Maple Leafs – 7.30 PM EDT
The Canadiens picked up their 4th win from 5 games with their overtime victory over the Oilers on Sunday.
Fans would have been unlikely to be filled with confidence once the game went to overtime due to the Canadiens aforementioned extra time demons this season, but Eric Staal was there to break the curse and give them their first overtime win.
It was a dream debut for Staal, who was traded to the Habs from the Sabres just days earlier in exchange for draft picks.
The Canadiens have lurked around the middle of the North Division all season, 5 points from 3rd, 8 from 5th, they play the Maple Leafs and Jets over the next 4 games, both of which the Canadiens have struggled against this season.
The Maple Leafs enter this game very hot after defeating the Flames 5-3 away from home, marking their 4th straight win in the process. The win didn’t come without a sweat as the game was all tied up 2-2 just 5 minutes into the final period.
The two teams traded goals again before Auston Matthews buried a goal on the powerplay to take the lead followed by another by John Tavares to give them the 2 goal cushion.
Matthews finished the game with 2 goals, bringing his total to 27, well on track to finish the campaign with a staggering 40 goals in a shortened season.
NHL Pick – Toronto Maple Leafs (-154)
Spread Pick – Unlock Premium Picks
Total Goals Pick – Unlock Premium Picks
Colorado Avalanche @ Minnesota Wild – 9.00 PM EDT
The Avalanche and Wild go again today following their 5-4 thriller on Sunday night. It was a heated fixture with 58 penalty minutes accumulated between the sides, highlighted by a 4 goal period in the second and third term.
The Avs were responsible for all 4 second period goals, the Wild were sloppy and were punished for it, they flipped the script in the final period though, scoring 3 goals to the Avs 1.
MacKinnon, Girard and Burakovsky all picked up double points for the Avs, MacKinnon now has an impressive 4 goals and 6 assists over his last 6 games.
Last night was quite the game- But we’re not done.
See you again tomorrow 😏#GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/CsAvM5OPfP
— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) April 6, 2021
Ryan Hartman stood out for the Wild, he played a role in their first 3 goals, scoring 1 and assisting 2 for his first 3 point haul of the season.
With the win, the Avs extend their record over the Wild to 5-2 this season, and have now picked up a point in their last 15 consecutive games.
NHL Pick – Colorado Avalanche (-210)
Spread Pick – Unlock Premium Picks
Total Goals Pick – Unlock Premium Picks
Vegas Golden Knights @ St Louis Blues – 9.00 PM EDT
The Golden Knights put the hurt on the Blues on Sunday, bouncing back from their rare 3 loss streak with an emphatic 6-1 dismantling of the freefalling St. Louis side.
The Knights took the lead early and didn’t look back, Alec Martinez opened the scoring in the second term to make it 3-1 and just 6 minutes later it was 6-1.
However, the scoreline did not flatter the Blues who made just 1 less shot than the Knights, and had just 1 goal to show for it. Robin Lehner was to thank, stepping in for Marc-Andre Fleury after some uncharacteristically average performances, and he did not disappoint, making 31 saves and earning 2 stars in the process.
It was a painful night for the Blues as they saw their loss streak extend to an NHL leading, 7 consecutive defeats. They have slipped all the way down to 6th for their efforts, their days at the top of the table a distant memory as they no longer look likely to make the playoffs.
The Blues have the quality to turn things around, but as you look ahead at their fixtures they have a mountain to climb, playing 14 of their next 18 games against the divisions 3 strongest teams, the Avs, Knights and Wild.
NHL Pick – Vegas Golden Knights (-152)
Spread Pick – Unlock Premium Picks
Total Goals Pick – Unlock Premium Picks
Arizona Coyotes @ Los Angeles Kings – 10.00 PM EDT
The Coyotes and the Kings go again today for the second leg of their 2 match series in Los Angeles. The Kings have a lot of work to do in this one after a painful 5-2 defeat last time out, it was the 3rd consecutive loss for the Kings, made even worse by the fact the Coyotes had played the day before while the Kings did not.
It was a nightmare from the get go as the Coyotes came out the gate scoring 3 goals in the first 7 minutes, and everytime the Kings came back with one of their own the Coyotes scored again.
In a very rare occurrence, the Kings struggled to kill off the Coyotes penalties and conceded 3 powerplay goals, the most of a game this season for the team which boasts the 6th best penalty kill percentage in the league.
It was a strong showing from the Coyotes, picking up their 3rd straight win on the road as they continue to climb the table. After his hat trick in the previous game, Jakob Cychrun kept the form going with 2 assists on Monday, Connor Garland and Alex Goligoski also bagged 2 assists in the win.
Michael Bunting must have felt inspired after seeing his team mates hat trick against the Ducks as he stole the show with one of his own on Monday.
It’s as easy as 1,2,3 if you’re @Bunting27. pic.twitter.com/z2ihKmg2Aq
— Arizona Coyotes (@ArizonaCoyotes) April 6, 2021
It was just Bunting’s 4th career game in the NHL, he opened the scoring and followed it up with 2 power play goals to give him his 2nd, 3rd and 4th goal in the NHL.
NHL Pick – Arizona Coyotes (+108)
Spread Pick – Unlock Premium Picks
Total Goals Pick – Unlock Premium Picks
The 2021 NHL is well underway now! If you want to catch up with all the latest information, make sure you visit our NHL hub page.
Want more picks? We have just launched our Premium Picks service, and for a limited time only, it is free! *T&Cs Apply.
*Odds and spreads correct at time of publication, courtesy of FanDuel.
