NHL Predictions – Expert Picks on Sunday, March 30:
Here are tonight’s NHL predictions:
New Jersey Devils aOttawa Senators (-140, 6) at Pittsburgh Penguins
5 p.m. ET
The Ottawa Senators have won two straight and three of their last four games, while the Penguins have dropped three in a row, allowing 16 goals in those losses. With Ottawa playing on a back-to-back, three games in four days, and four games in six days, I’m not crazy about laying -140 with the Sens, but I will target their team total Over 3.5 goals. Ottawa let us down last night, scoring only three against Columbus, but the Penguins have allowed four or more goals 41 times this season (in 74 games) and in 36 of their 45 losses.
There are some solid player props to target in this game. Ottawa’s Drake Batherson has nine goals in 12 games against the Penguins. Claude Giroux has four assists versus the Flyers this season, and Dylan Cozens has recorded points in eight of 10 games since being acquired from Buffalo. On the Pittsburgh side, Rickard Rakell has four goals in five games against Sens starting goalie Anton Forsberg. Rookie Rutger McGroarty was recently recalled from the minors and will be playing alongside Sidney Crosby and Bryan Rust on the top line while also seeing time on the second power-play unit. It’s his birthday today—why not celebrate with a goal?
NHL Predictions:
- Giroux assist +186 – ¼ unit
- Batherson anytime goal +250 – ¼ unit
- Cozens Over ½ point +102 – ¼ unit
- Rakell anytime goal +210 – ¼ unit
- McGroarty anytime goal +380 – ¼ unit
- Senators TT Over 3.5 +114 – 1 unit
NY Islanders at Carolina Hurricanes (-350, 5.5)
5 p.m. ET
This is the 13th time this season that Carolina has been favored at -300 or higher—they have won 11 of the previous 12 games in this spot. Even with these dominant numbers and the Islanders on the second half of a back-to-back, I’m willing to take a small shot on the Isles. They have taken two of the three meetings this season between these Metropolitan Division rivals. Since winning eight straight, the Canes have alternated wins and losses in their past four games. Carolina is coming off a 4-1 win Friday over the Montreal Canadiens.
A couple of other trends to consider: In the 12 previous games where Carolina was a (-300+) favorite, the 1st-period Over 1.5 goals has cashed nine times. The Islanders are on a run of seven straight full-game Overs.
For player props, former Hurricane Tony DeAngelo has been thriving since joining the Islanders, scoring goals in consecutive games and tallying six points in his last five. Meanwhile, the Canes’ Jackson Blake has looked sharp on Carolina’s top line, recording four or more shots on goal in three of his last four games and five of his last eight.
NHL Predictions:
- 1st period Over 1.5 goals (-130) – 1 unit
- Over 5.5 (-120) – 1 unit
- Islanders ML +280 – ¼ unit
- DeAngelo anytime goal +800 – ¼ unit
- DeAngelo assist +200 – ¼ unit
- Blake Over 2.5 SOG +162 – ¼ unit
- Blake Over 3.5 SOG +410 – ¼ unit
Toronto Maple Leafs (-170, 6.5) at Anaheim Ducks
8 p.m. ET
The Maple Leafs did something on Saturday that no NHL team has done this season—they handed the Los Angeles Kings their first regulation loss when leading after two periods (28-1-2), scoring three times in the final frame for a 3-1 victory. Last night was the first time in 10 games that the Leafs didn’t cash the first-period Over (1.5 goals) and the first time in nine road games that the full game didn’t go Over the total. I say the Leafs get back to their high-scoring ways on the road tonight in Anaheim.
I’m staying away from playing a side in this contest, but as always, I have some player props on my bingo card. The Ducks’ Leo Carlsson has goals in three straight games, teammate Jackson LaCombe has an assist in four consecutive games, and Cutter Gauthier is finding his way. Until the Leafs’ John Tavares stops scoring, I’m going to keep riding the wave. Auston Matthews has 10 goals in 14 games against the Ducks. California native Nic Robertson was a healthy scratch last night and has responded well in the past when finding himself in the press box.
NHL Predictions:
- LaCombe assist +162 – ¼ unit
- 1st period Over 1.5 (-140) – 1 unit
- Over 6 (-120) – 1 unit
- Carlsson anytime goal +320 – ¼ unit
- Gauthier anytime goal +420 – ¼ unit
- Matthews anytime goal +100 – ¼ unit
- Tavares anytime goal +175 – ¼ unit
- Robertson anytime goal +500 – ¼ unit
