We have loved the action throughout this impressive NHL season and now it’s the time everyone has been waiting for – playoffs time! It is sure to be a cracking playoffs this season with many high quality teams looking to stop the Tampa Bay Lightning from winning the Stanley Cup for a third time in a row. But before we get to the Stanley Cup final, teams must make it through the first round.
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Look below to find our free NHL picks for the four Round 1 games on today’s schedule!
Florida Panthers @ Washington Capitals – 1.00PM ET
We kick things off in the NHL on Saturday with a game between the Florida Panthers and Washington Capitals. The series is all leveled up 1-1, as the Capitals won the first game 4-2, and the Panthers won the second game, 5-1.
Marko Nadin
The Florida Panthers had the best regular season record in the entire league but started the playoffs with a loss to the Washington Capitals. After a 5-1 win in Game 2, the Panthers made things even and are traveling to Washington to visit the Capitals who now have the home court advantage. Despite the fact that the Panthers will play on the road now, they are still the favorites to win this game as they have a better road record 23-9-6 on the road than the Capitals have at home, 19-15-5.
The Washington Capitals entered the playoff as the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference but whoever underestimates them may pay a huge price. Alex Ovechkin had another 50+ goal season and he can be the difference maker against any team in the league. Washington has won 5 of the last 7 games after allowing 5 goals or more in their previous game but have lost 7 of the last 9 Conference Quarterfinals games and 5 of the last 6 games as underdogs.
Marko’s NHL Pick: Florida Panthers (-205)
Tony Battalio
The Florida Panthers have home ice advantage throughout the Stanley Cup Playoffs for as long as they manage to remain in the playoffs. They come into this one with the series tied at one a piece after their Game 2 loss. They will be looking to bounce back in Game 3 on the road in the nation’s capital. They are being outscored by two goals as the total margin is 7-5 in favor of Washington. Florida will have to play better on the defensive end in this one.
The Washington Capitals are a serious dark horse team to win it all as long as Alexander Ovechkin can remain healthy. They finished the regular season as a Wild Card out of the Metropolitan Division. As they will be looking to grab a 2-1 lead over the Florida Panthers. As for the result of this game, I am going with the Florida Panthers in this one to take a 2-1 lead over the Washington Capitals.
Tony’s NHL Pick: Florida Panthers (-205)
Jeffery Thomas
The Florida Panthers got a huge win in Game 2 in a must-win situation to even the series up at one a piece. The Washington Capitals had a great Game 1 but crashed back down to Earth in the 5-1 loss. They couldn’t find any answers on how to stop the Panthers and also couldn’t get things going offensively themselves. Now the Caps will head home where they weren’t all too convincing (19-16-6) in the regular season. Florida on the other hand had a road record of 24-11-6.
The absence of Tom Wilson will be huge again if he can’t go in Game 3 as Florida was a lot more comfortable on offense without his defensive presence for Washington. Captain Alex Ovechkin also didn’t log his usual workload as he’s battling a shoulder injury. This is the reason why I’m going to go back to Florida in this game to win this one in regulation against a team that is already less talented and now shorthanded.
Jeffery’s NHL Pick: Moneyline (3-way) – Florida Panthers
Colorado Avalanche @ Nashville Predators – 4.30PM ET
It’s Game 3 of the series between the Colorado Avalanche and Nashville Predators. The Avalanche have won both the games in this series so far, but will the Predators be able to get a win on the board, now they are playing in Nashville?
Marko Nadin
The Nashville Predators came close to stealing Game 2 in Colorado but failed to do so, which may be the crucial point in this series. The series is now moving to Nashville and the Predators are in a must-win situation in order to stay alive in this series. That won’t be easy at all against the best team in the conference but the Predators have a reason to believe they can do it since they won three regular season games against the Avalanche this season. Nashville has lost 5 of the last 6 games against Western Conference teams and 6 of the last 7 games overall.
The Colorado Avalanche are going to Nashville with a 2-0 series lead which is a pretty comfortable situation for them. After an easy 7-2 win in the series opener, the Avalanche needed Cale Makar’s overtime goal to end up winning the next one. They have no pressure going into tonight’s game but they will definitely go all in to get to a 3-0 lead, which will basically put them through to the next round. Colorado has won 10 of the last 11 games in the Conference Quarterfinals.
Marko’s NHL Pick: Colorado Avalanche (-245)
Tony Battalio
The Colorado Avalanche are looking great so far this series as they currently have a 2-0 lead over the Nashville Predators. Colorado was the best team in the National Hockey League throughout the second half of the season in my opinion. They finished the regular season with the best record in the Western Conference and will have home ice advantage throughout the playoffs.
The Nashville Predators have their backs against the wall at the moment. They have to win at least one of these games at home to keep their hopes alive of not getting swept. They finished in the middle of the pack of the Western Conference as they ended up being a Wild Card team. As for the result of this game, I am going with the Colorado Avalanche to take a 3-0 lead over the Nashville Predators.
Tony’s NHL Pick: Colorado Avalanche (-245)
Jeffery Thomas
The Colorado Avalanche took care of business at home and now travel to Nashville in search of a road win that will give them a commanding 3-0 lead in the series. Game 2 was a much better performance for the Predators, who lost this one in heartbreaking fashion in overtime by the score of 2-1. Nashville has only scored three goals in the first two games of the series and that’s just not going to get it done against this Colorado team that has so much firepower. A return to home-ice is the last hope for Nashville who will really have to dig deep to take down the Avs who are huge favorites to take Game 3 and put this series way out of hand.
The score was close in Game 2 but Colorado dictated the play in the game, outshooting the Preds 50-26. Juuse Saros could be back for the home team in this game but there’s not much more he could have done better than the 48 saves they got from rookie goalie Connor Ingram in Game 2. I think the talent gap is just too much to overcome and Game 2 was the best opportunity Nashville had to steal a win and get back in the series. Now, things will go back to expected and the Avs will get this road victory in blowout fashion.
Jeffery’s NHL Pick: Colorado Avalanche -1.5 (+100)
New York Rangers @ Pittsburgh Penguins – 7.00PM ET
After the first game of this series between the New York Rangers and Pittsburgh Penguins went into three overtimes, with the Penguins eventually coming out on top, 4-3, the second game was a little bit more one sided, with the Rangers winning 5-2. Now the Penguins will be looking to get the advantage in the series, by winning Game 3.
Marko Nadin
The New York Rangers and the Pittsburgh Penguins are the actors of the most interesting series in the Eastern Conference Playoffs. Both teams are ranked among the top 5 defensive teams in the league but each of the first two games of the series brought 7 goals. The Rangers bounced back from a 3-4 loss in the opener with a 5-2 win in Game 2. The Rangers will definitely have a tough time when they visit the Penguins, but have a reason to believe in success as they have won 6 of the last 7 road games. They have also won 4 of the last 5 games against the Rangers.
The Penguins did what they wanted, winning a game on the road in New York and now the series is going to Pittsburgh with the Penguins having the home court advantage. Pittsburgh has won 7 of the last 8 games after allowing 5 goals or more in their previous game, 15 of the last 22 games after scoring 2 goals or less in their previous game and 13 of the last 18 games as a home underdog. Pittsburgh has played under the total goals margin in 5 of the last 6 games when their opponent scores 5 goals or more in their previous game.
Marko’s NHL Pick: Under 6 (-122)
Tony Battalio
The New York Rangers and Pittsburgh Penguins are having one of the best first round series so far during the Stanley Cup playoffs. They are tied at 1-1 throughout two amazing games and they will be looking to take a 2-1 lead in game number three in Pittsburgh. The Rangers probably should’ve won Game 1 and should be up 2-0.
The Pittsburgh Penguins have played better than many people thought they would have over the course of the 2021-22 regular season. They finished the season with a record of 46-25-11 and in third place of the Metropolitan Division. As for the result of this one, I am taking the Pittsburgh Penguins to get the victory over the Washington Capitals in this one.
Tony’s NHL Pick: Pittsburgh Penguins (+100)
Jeffery Thomas
The New York Rangers got a huge 5-2 win at home in Game 2 to square the series at one a piece. The series is now essentially a best-of-5 as we shift over to Pittsburgh and the Rangers will hope for another huge performance from their star goalie Igor Shesterkin. The 5-2 score is a little misleading as the Pens entered the final frame just down one goal at 2-3, and had a barrage of shots trying to get that equalizer. Igor stood on his head though, and eventually the Rangers were able to get the goals to put the game out of reach. The top line for the Penguins led by Sidney Crosby and Jake Guentzel has accounted for five of Pittsburgh’s six goals in the series.
If they want to have a better chance at advancing they will need more contributions from their other lines. The Penguins are a live dog in this game as they’ve been the team that has generated much better offensive chances. It has just been the stellar play of Igor that has limited those to just chances and not actual goals. It may take some home cooking and luck to get the job done but I like the value here for the Penguins in Game 3. It has been a trend for the Rangers to play much better at home so expect their level to dip in Pittsburgh.
Jeffery’s NHL Pick: Pittsburgh Penguins (+100)
Calgary Flames @ Dallas Stars – 9.30PM ET
The final game today in the NHL will see Game 3 of the Round 1 series between the Calgary Flames and Dallas Stars. The series is all level up at 1-1, after the Flames won the first game, 1-0, and the Stars won the second game, 2-0.
Marko Nadin
The Calgary Flames were one of the best home teams in the regular season and lost Game 2 to the Dallas Stars which tied the series at 1 game a piece. A total of three goals were scored in the opening two games which makes this series the lowest scoring one in this Playoffs. Calgary failed to score in Game 2 despite having 29 shots on goal and 12 power play minutes. The Flames have won 21 of the last 28 games when their opponent scores 2 goals or less in their previous game and 7 of the last 10 road games.
The Dallas Stars barely made it to the Playoffs but are finding themselves in a pretty good situation after winning one game on the road in Calgary. They scored early on in Game 2 and were able to keep the Flames from scoring by the end of the game. The Stars were one of the best home teams in the Western Conference and will have a chance to take control of the series when the Flames visit them on Saturday night. Dallas has won 4 of the last 5 Conference Quarterfinals games and 4 of the last 5 home games.
Marko’s NHL Pick: Calgary Flames (-170)
Tony Battalio
The Calgary Flames have been one of the hottest teams in the National Hockey League throughout the second half of the season. They finished the regular season 50-21-11. They have their hands full with the Dallas Stars at the moment. The series is tied 1-1 as it’s heading to Dallas for Games 3 and 4 of the series. They will be looking to take a 2-1 lead heading into Game 4. Calgary is a serious contender to win the Stanley Cup this season.
The Dallas Stars are coming into this one looking to take a 2-1 over the Calgary Flames in Game 3 of this series at home. They finished the regular season 46-30-6 and finished as a Wild Card team in the Western Conference and in the middle of the pack of the Central Division. As for the result of this game, I am taking the Calgary Flames to bounce back and get the win in Game 3 of this series.
Tony’s NHL Pick: Calgary Flames (-170)
Jeffery Thomas
The series is now all even at 1 a piece after the Dallas Stars stole a road win from the Calgary Flames in Game 2. The losing team has been shutout in the first two games of the series which is an interesting trend and this series looks to be one that continues to be low-scoring and tight. Thursday’s win snapped a three-game losing streak Dallas had to Calgary and may help them get that monkey off their back in this head-to-head matchup.
They still have dropped four of their last six home dates with the Flames though, so that’s the next hurdle they have to cross. One thing that can be said though, is that the Stars have found a way to slow down the Flames offense which ranked 7th in the regular season. That’s the reason I’m backing the home Stars here as I think their aggressive defensive gameplan will continue to frustrate their opponent and allow them to dictate the flow of the game in front of their electric crowd.
Jeffery’s NHL Pick: Dallas Stars (+138)
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*Odds and spreads correct at time of writing, courtesy of FanDuel.
