5 Expert Picks
Playoff battles continue to take center stage in the Eastern conference as it's officially become a sprint down the stretch.
The Leafs have mailed it in. ....
The Flames host the Kings as they look to extend their winning streak to four games...
Utah hasn't beaten Edmonton since the franchise moved. ...
Buffalo is a stellar 22-9-3 at home. ...
We probably get backup David Rittich on Tuesday for the Isles, but that should be fine as he's 11-3-1 with a 2.48 GAA on home ice. Better numbers than No. 1 Ilya Sorokin. We are at the point of the season where certain teams just have to get two points and this is such a game for the East playoff-hopeful Islanders. Matthew Schaefer is one goal shy of tying the single-season NHL rookie record for a blueliner. Chicago is playing out the string. The Hawks haven't scored more than three goals in 10 straight.
Somewhat calm before the storm pre-stretch run in the NHL with just the one game Monday. Simply a must-get two points for the Senators, who are just outside the current East playoff field. They are on a 13-5 run. The Blueshirts are in full quit mode, losing a fourth straight Sunday in a shootout to Winnipeg. Inexplicably, New York is now 9-17-7 at Madison Square Garden, which used to rival whatever the Avalanche's building is called these days as the toughest place for opponents to play in the league. Igor Shesterkin has been average this month with a 3.15 GAA.
The Lightning are certainly light years better than the Flames but it's a tricky spot for Tampa Bay in the second of a back-to-back off a marquee win in Edmonton on Saturday -- always tough to complete the "Alberta Sweep" -- and the end of a long trip. Hall of Fame blueliner Victor Hedman sat Saturday and probably does here and we will get backup Jonas Johansson, who allowed eight goals last time out. That was his third time giving up at least five in his past four outings. Johansson's last win was Jan. 12.
My projected total for this game is 6 Under -115 Greaves (CBJ #1) vs Sorokin (starting back to back) I'm making a manual adjustment for playoff jockeying here combined with the Isles giving up a season high 7 goals yesterday. CBJ have become one of the better xG defensive teams in the league and the market has been slow to capture it. I have no issues with folks shopping for U6.5 (-120) but we'll take the +05 here
Not sure what to expect from Nashville's Matt Murray (not the Seattle one) in his first NHL start since the 2023-24 season, but he faces a Hawks offense that is third-to-last in the league, and Murray had good numbers in the AHL this year. Chicago's Spencer Knight has a 2.52 home GAA. Two of the three matchups this season in the series have landed Under. The Preds average 2.8 goals away. This is our only book at 6.5 and may flip to 5.5 soon.
Another big game in the East playoff race between these Original Six rivals. Probably a coin flip/pass at a neutral site, but the Bruins are well under .500 away and No. 1 goalie Jeremy Swayman's 3.29 road GAA is nearly a goal higher than at home. The Wings get a few injured guys back but not quite Dylan Larkin yet, so will keep to a half-unit -- also to ensure finishing up in hockey thanks to Columbus' just-completed cover.
I lean toward a push like we got in Jets-Penguins earlier this afternoon but maybe we get lucky. Seattle is no slouch but outscored 9-3 in a two-game skid and .500 away. Columbus has the league's fewest regulation home losses and has won three straight overall. The Blue Jackets, a completely different team since a mid-January coaching change -- turnarounds seem to happen more with NHL midseason coaching changes than other leagues -- are fully healthy and won the first meeting in a shootout.
The Pens can't lose on Kris Letang bobblehead day! I wouldn't mind having one of the future Hall of Famer myself (rather have Sidney Crosby, who just returned from his long injury absence) even if not a fan of the team. It is Pittsburgh's first home game since March 8 and it has won 20 of the past 23 on home ice in this series. The Jets, in the front of a B2B, enter having lost two in a row to probably end any slim playoff hopes. The Pens are an East playoff team as things stand but it's very tight and a regulation loss could knock them out temporarily. Bryan Rust has a five-game points streak and Rickard Rakell seven in a row.
I don't want to play -1 even though it's pry the smart move. Feels like a one-goal LA win. Second of a B2B for the Flyers, which means No. 2 netminder Samuel Ersson and his 3.50 road GAA. The Kings definitely have the better goalie in Darcy Kuemper. And Philly is without top-six forward Sean Couturier (29 points).
I sound like a broken record regarding the books continually listing the Sharks as home dogs and us capitalizing. They are an NHL-best 23-9 ATS on home ice. They haven't been there since March 7. I'm fine with this number at +1.5 although if you wanted to save some $$ and play +1 that's probably fine but obviously might push. I'd be much more OK with +1 if Sabres top forward Alex Tuch (57 points, +17) sits. He missed Tuesday's win in Vegas with an injury.