NHL Predictions – Expert Picks on Wednesday, March 19:
Here are tonight’s NHL predictions:
Colorado Avalanche (-125, 5.5) at Toronto Maple Leafs
7 p.m. ET
These two teams met 11 days ago in Colorado, with the Avalanche rallying from down 4-2 and then scoring five unanswered (two empty net goals) goals for a 7-4 win over the Maple Leafs. It marked the 14th consecutive game in Colorado that went over the total. The story has been slightly different when the two teams meet in Toronto. Shop around on the total for tonight’s game depending on if you like the Over or the Under. If you like the Over, DraftKings is offering a total of 5.5. If you like the Under, go to FanDuel who has the total at 6.5. Eleven of the last 18 Maple Leafs home games have had a combined six goals or more. In those same 18 games, it’s been a 50/50 split (9-9) of games having six goals or less.
Overall, Colorado has won eight of their last nine games, scoring four goals or more in seven of their eight wins. The Maple Leafs are coming off a 6-1 thumping of Calgary on Monday and are looking to win back-to-back games since just before the break for the 4 Nations tournament. Joseph Woll, who was solid in goal for the Leafs on Monday, will get the start. It’s the first time that Woll will be starting consecutive games since the first week of February. Colorado will go with MacKenzie Blackwood. Blackwood is 1-1-1 lifetime against the Maple Leafs, with his lone win back on March 8 (7-4 Colorado). Mitch Marner had a pair of goals in the loss 10 days ago against Blackwood and the Avalanche. He now has four goals in five games against the Avs netminder.
NHL Predictions: Colorado Avalanche ML (-130) – ¾ unit
Over 5.5 (-130) – ¾ unit
Mitch Marner anytime goal (+230) – ¼ unit
Nathan MacKinnon anytime goal (+120) – ¼ unit
Cale Makar Over ½ assist (-130) – ¼ unit
Pontus Holmberg (+750) anytime goal – ¼ unit
Seattle Kraken at Minnesota Wild (-160, 5.5)
9:30 p.m. ET
The Kraken are fresh off a 6-2-win last night in Chicago and have now won three of their past four games. They still find themselves 10 points out of a playoff spot. With five teams to climb over and just 13 games left in the season, they are just playing out the schedule. Playing on consecutive days has been a nightmare for the Kraken. They are 0-10 this season on the second half of back-to-backs, losing nine of the 10 by two goals or more. They have scored two goals or less in nine of the 10 games and been shut out three times.
This will be the third meeting of the season between the two teams, each coming away with a win in the opposition’s building. Despite both games having a combined seven and nine goals, the total tonight is only 5.5. Six of the last eight Minnesota games have featured a combined five goals or less. Conversely, eight of the last 10 Kraken games have had a combined six goals or more.
NHL Predictions: Minnesota Wild -1.5 goals (+152) – 1 unit
Matt Boldy anytime goal (+150) – ¼ unit
Ryan Hartman Over ½ point (+112) – ¼ unit
Mats Zuccarello Over ½ assist (+140) – ¼ unit
