NHL Predictions – Expert Picks on Monday, March 24:
Here are tonight’s NHL predictions:
Vancouver Canucks at New Jersey Devils (-140, 5)
7:30 p.m. ET
Tonight in New Jersey, It looks like Canucks goalie Thatcher Demko will be making his first start for Vancouver since February 8, 2025. The Canucks are coming off a tough 5-3 loss to the Rangers on Saturday, despite outshooting New York 39-12. The Canucks find themselves five points out of a playoff spot but do have two games in hand. One other storyline tonight is that we have the battle of the Hughes brothers minus one. Vancouver’s Quinn Hughes has eight points (all assists) in nine games against the Devils, while brother Luke has a goal and an assist in his three games against the Canucks. Jacob Markstrom gets the start tonight and has lost five of his last six starts, surrendering 25 goals. He has given up three goals or more in five of those appearances. Vancouver could be without Elias Pettersson and Nils Hoglander tonight, but I am still surprised to see the total set at five goals in some books. Shop around if you are like me and want to play the Over. Some books have the total at 5.5. The last seven meetings between the two teams have had a combined six goals or more. I also like the regulation draw in this one, with both teams looking for at least one point as we head down the stretch. I will post some player pros for this game later today.
NHL Predictions: Over 5 (-125) – 2 units
Vancouver Canucks TT over 2.5 (+106) – 1 unit
Regulation Draw (+310) – ¼ unit
Minnesota Wild at Dallas Stars (-210, 5.5)
8 p.m. ET
The Stars have been in a funk ever since beating the Calgary Flames 3-2 in overtime on March 6. The Stars are 4-4 over their past eight games, with just one regulation win. Five of the eight games have gone past regulation. After jumping out to a 2-0 first period lead on the Philadelphia Flyers, Saturday, Dallas did not score again until Thomas Harley scored the winner in overtime. Dallas is 26-14 to the Under following a win. This will be the third meeting of the season between the two teams, with both games going under the total (3-2, 2-1), with one of the games going to overtime. Minnesota goalie Filip Gustavsson has given up just three goals in his last three starts and has a career 1.83 goals against average versus Dallas. Stars goalie Jake Oettinger is 6-0-2 lifetime versus Minnesota with a 2.37 goals against average. Though goals will be at a premium, there are two player props that I am on for today. The Wild’s Matt Zuccarello has 23 points in 27 games against the Stars. The Stars Jamie Benn has 49 points in 57 games against Minnesota.
NHL Predictions: Under 5.5 (-120) – 1 unit
Matt Zuccarello Over ½ assist (+155) – ¼ unit
Jamie Benn Over ½ assist (+230) – ¼ unit
Regulation Draw (+340) – ¼ unit
