NHL Picks: Overloaded Schedule Gives Plenty of Betting Opportunities
Happy St. Patrick’s Day! The NHL sets up like last weekend. Several teams on Sunday will be in a third game in four nights scenario.
NHL betting options might pop up on Sunday, so let's survey the landscape to see what's out there.
Schedule Breakdown
Let us do this by the number of games each day.
- Friday – 4
- Saturday – 13
- Sunday – 7
Saturday goes big again with four late-night games. The games end at a more normal time on Sunday, but we have an exciting contest or two to end the weekend.
Who plays back-to-back this weekend? Here are those teams below.
- Philadelphia (Friday, Saturday)
- Toronto (Friday, Saturday)
- Boston (Saturday, Sunday)
- NY Rangers (Saturday, Sunday)
- Nashville (Saturday, Sunday)
- New Jersey (Saturday, Sunday)
- Tampa Bay (Saturday, Sunday)
- Minnesota (Saturday, Sunday)
- Vancouver (Saturday, Sunday)
- Winnipeg (Saturday, Sunday)
Now, this is easy enough. The first game is on NHL Network between Detroit and Colorado on Saturday. The Penguins and Rangers play on ABC in primetime. Sunday night features the third matchup between New Jersey and Tampa Bay in a week.
Friday Hits With A Quick Haymaker
Friday night gives us an eventual playoff preview of sorts. At the very least, playoff-like hockey will be displayed in Toronto as the Maple Leafs battle the Carolina Hurricanes. Both teams are missing significant cogs on offense. Toronto is without Ryan O’Reilly, and Carolina will miss Andrei Svechnikov (torn ACL).
Again, Carolina is in a race with New Jersey to win the Metropolitan Division. Toronto is trying to hold off Tampa Bay to get home ice for their inevitable first-round matchup. Carolina can play a lot like the Lightning. It should be an excellent test for the Maple Leafs, who want to prove they can advance in the playoffs come late April. Ilya Samsonov projects to face Frederik Andersen.
Toronto comes in as a 1.80 betting favorite, according to BetMGM. The draw option (meaning extra time) is intriguing, but risking the Maple Leafs at 2.20 in regulation carries some pull. Again, the Maple Leafs can create more scoring chances at home.
Saturday Could Be Wild
Saturday sees a Florida Panthers team coming off a crazy nine-goal outburst against Montreal, scoring seven times in the opening 20 minutes, taking on New Jersey. The Devils' high-octane offense comes into town trying to get back on track after losing twice to Tampa Bay this week. The Over on this game will likely be 7, but it could be 7.5.
Also, Pittsburgh plays the New York Rangers on ABC Saturday night. The Penguins still need wins to make the playoffs. The Penguins match up poorly against the Rangers' top-six but have enough firepower (Malkin, Crosby, Letang, etc.) to upend the Rangers at Madison Square Garden.
Saturday Is Jammed With Action
Saturday features 13 games, including four late-night clashes again. The late games include a suddenly resurgent Vancouver Canucks team trying to spoil the Los Angeles Kings’ division run. A battle between the Dallas Stars and Calgary Flames headlines it. No one expected Calgary to be in a tussle for their playoff lives, but here we are. Dallas has been struggling of late without Tyler Seguin in the lineup.
Even Chicago and Arizona play in the “Connor Bedard Bowl.” With the lottery, anything is possible. These are two of the worst teams in the NHL. They still play an entertaining brand of hockey.
Don't sleep on the “Battle Of Ontario” as Toronto and Ottawa face off. Throw the records out the window. Then, there is Montreal and Tampa Bay. So, the Canadiens are without their top four centers. Injuries have caused the team to field an AHL-level roster. Tampa Bay figures to be licking their chops as the Over should be something else here.
Even Edmonton and Seattle could feature some big fireworks. Can Seattle slow down Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl? The chances of that happening are low as both teams can pile up the goals.
Oh, There’s Sunday Action Too!
Hockey bettors get more nice games on Sunday, too! An NHL Network day-night doubleheader is excellent, which gives us the Washington Capitals and Minnesota Wild at 2 p.m. ET. Can the Wild win without Kirill Kaprizov? The answer, for the most part so far, is yes.
Tampa Bay and New Jersey meet in a big conference clash on Sunday night. New Jersey does not want to lose to the Lightning for the third time. The Devils lead the league in road wins with 24.
Finally, Vancouver and Anaheim cap off Sunday with another contest that expects to see goals in waves.
Here at gambling.com, we have you well taken care of with the latest.
Some Quick Points To Consider
- With one headline game, do not sleep on that Columbus-Anaheim game. Again, these “Tank Wars” games have been entertaining lately.
- Toronto and Ottawa. Toronto is on the back end of a back-to-back, and Ottawa is in a must-win situation.
- Remember, eight teams are unrested Sunday, and most are on a third game in four nights.
- Can Nashville rebound this weekend after a damaging loss at home to Chicago on Thursday?
- Timo Meier scored twice Thursday night. New Jersey will bounce back quickly if Meier and Jack Hughes get going.
- Do goaltenders like Jake Oettinger and Vitek Vanecek start to get their form back?
Good luck, and once more, thanks for reading! Expect a few more plays and tips via social media later.
Thanks to BetMGM weekend lines. TSN and ESPN.com give us easy-to-follow schedules.
| March 22nd 6:00pm | Puck Line | Over/Under | Moneyline |
Pittsburgh Penguins
PIT |
1.5 1.54
|
U 6.5 1.90
|
2.30
|
Colorado Avalanche
COL |
-1.5 2.65
|
O 6.5 1.90
|
1.67
|
| March 22nd 8:30pm | Puck Line | Over/Under | Moneyline |
Arizona Coyotes
ARI |
1.5 2.60
| -- |
5.00
|
Edmonton Oilers
EDM |
-1.5 1.56
| -- |
1.20
|
| March 23rd 4:30pm | Puck Line | Over/Under | Moneyline |
Minnesota Wild
MIN |
-1.5 2.60
| -- |
1.65
|
Philadelphia Flyers
PHI |
1.5 1.56
| -- |
2.40
|
| March 23rd 5:00pm | Puck Line | Over/Under | Moneyline |
Montreal Canadiens
MON |
2.5 1.77
| -- |
4.40
|
Boston Bruins
BOS |
-2.5 2.10
| -- |
1.24
|
| March 23rd 5:00pm | Puck Line | Over/Under | Moneyline |
Tampa Bay Lightning
TAM |
-1.5 2.65
| -- |
1.69
|
Ottawa Senators
OTT |
1.5 1.54
| -- |
2.25
|
| March 23rd 5:00pm | Puck Line | Over/Under | Moneyline |
Toronto Maple Leafs
TOR |
1.5 1.48
| -- |
2.00
|
Florida Panthers
FLA |
-1.5 2.80
| -- |
1.83
|
| March 23rd 5:00pm | Puck Line | Over/Under | Moneyline |
Chicago Blackhawks
CHI | -- | -- |
2.75
|
Washington Capitals
WAS | -- | -- |
1.40
|
| March 23rd 5:00pm | Puck Line | Over/Under | Moneyline |
St. Louis Blues
STL |
1.5 1.50
| -- |
2.15
|
Detroit Red Wings
DET |
-1.5 2.75
| -- |
1.75
|
| March 23rd 5:00pm | Puck Line | Over/Under | Moneyline |
New York Rangers
NYR |
1.5 1.50
| -- |
2.20
|
Carolina Hurricanes
CAR |
-1.5 2.75
| -- |
1.71
|
| March 23rd 6:00pm | Puck Line | Over/Under | Moneyline |
Seattle Kraken
SEA | -- | -- |
1.85
|
Nashville Predators
NAS | -- | -- |
1.85
|
| March 23rd 7:00pm | Puck Line | Over/Under | Moneyline |
|
Pittsburgh Penguins
PIT |
1.5 1.59
| -- |
2.40
|
Dallas Stars
DAL |
-1.5 2.50
| -- |
1.65
|
| March 23rd 7:00pm | Puck Line | Over/Under | Moneyline |
Vegas Golden Knights
VGK |
1.5 1.53
| -- |
2.20
|
Calgary Flames
CGY |
-1.5 2.70
| -- |
1.73
|
| March 23rd 8:00pm | Puck Line | Over/Under | Moneyline |
San Jose Sharks
SAN |
1.5 1.61
| -- |
2.40
|
Vancouver Canucks
VAN |
-1.5 2.45
| -- |
1.62
|
| March 23rd 8:00pm | Puck Line | Over/Under | Moneyline |
Winnipeg Jets
WPG |
-1.5 2.10
| -- |
1.45
|
Anaheim Ducks
ANA |
1.5 1.77
| -- |
2.90
|
| March 24th 5:00pm | Puck Line | Over/Under | Moneyline |
New York Islanders
NYI | -- | -- | -- |
Columbus Blue Jackets
CLM | -- | -- | -- |
| March 25th 11:00am | Puck Line | Over/Under | Moneyline |
|
Tampa Bay Lightning
TAM | -- | -- | -- |
|
Boston Bruins
BOS | -- | -- | -- |
| March 25th 2:00pm | Puck Line | Over/Under | Moneyline |
|
San Jose Sharks
SAN | -- | -- | -- |
|
Calgary Flames
CGY | -- | -- | -- |
| March 25th 2:00pm | Puck Line | Over/Under | Moneyline |
|
Winnipeg Jets
WPG | -- | -- | -- |
Los Angeles Kings
LOS | -- | -- | -- |
| March 25th 3:00pm | Puck Line | Over/Under | Moneyline |
|
New York Rangers
NYR | -- | -- | -- |
|
Florida Panthers
FLA | -- | -- | -- |
| March 25th 5:00pm | Puck Line | Over/Under | Moneyline |
|
Ottawa Senators
OTT | -- | -- | -- |
New Jersey Devils
NJD | -- | -- | -- |
| March 25th 5:00pm | Puck Line | Over/Under | Moneyline |
|
Columbus Blue Jackets
CLM | -- | -- | -- |
|
Montreal Canadiens
MON | -- | -- | -- |
| March 25th 5:00pm | Puck Line | Over/Under | Moneyline |
|
Toronto Maple Leafs
TOR | -- | -- | -- |
|
Carolina Hurricanes
CAR | -- | -- | -- |
| March 25th 5:00pm | Puck Line | Over/Under | Moneyline |
|
Vancouver Canucks
VAN | -- | -- | -- |
|
Dallas Stars
DAL | -- | -- | -- |
| March 25th 6:00pm | Puck Line | Over/Under | Moneyline |
|
Washington Capitals
WAS | -- | -- | -- |
|
Pittsburgh Penguins
PIT | -- | -- | -- |
| March 25th 8:00pm | Puck Line | Over/Under | Moneyline |
|
Vegas Golden Knights
VGK | -- | -- | -- |
|
Edmonton Oilers
EDM | -- | -- | -- |
| March 25th 8:30pm | Puck Line | Over/Under | Moneyline |
|
St. Louis Blues
STL | -- | -- | -- |
|
Anaheim Ducks
ANA | -- | -- | -- |
| March 26th 1:00pm | Puck Line | Over/Under | Moneyline |
|
Colorado Avalanche
COL | -- | -- | -- |
|
Arizona Coyotes
ARI | -- | -- | -- |
| March 26th 4:00pm | Puck Line | Over/Under | Moneyline |
|
Toronto Maple Leafs
TOR | -- | -- | -- |
|
Nashville Predators
NAS | -- | -- | -- |
| March 26th 4:00pm | Puck Line | Over/Under | Moneyline |
|
Vancouver Canucks
VAN | -- | -- | -- |
|
Chicago Blackhawks
CHI | -- | -- | -- |
| March 27th 5:00pm | Puck Line | Over/Under | Moneyline |
|
Florida Panthers
FLA | -- | -- | -- |
|
Ottawa Senators
OTT | -- | -- | -- |
| March 27th 5:00pm | Puck Line | Over/Under | Moneyline |
|
Montreal Canadiens
MON | -- | -- | -- |
Buffalo Sabres
BUF | -- | -- | -- |
| March 27th 5:30pm | Puck Line | Over/Under | Moneyline |
|
New Jersey Devils
NJD | -- | -- | -- |
|
New York Islanders
NYI | -- | -- | -- |
| March 27th 6:00pm | Puck Line | Over/Under | Moneyline |
|
Seattle Kraken
SEA | -- | -- | -- |
|
Minnesota Wild
MIN | -- | -- | -- |
| March 27th 8:00pm | Puck Line | Over/Under | Moneyline |
|
Edmonton Oilers
EDM | -- | -- | -- |
|
Arizona Coyotes
ARI | -- | -- | -- |
| March 27th 8:00pm | Puck Line | Over/Under | Moneyline |
|
Colorado Avalanche
COL | -- | -- | -- |
|
Anaheim Ducks
ANA | -- | -- | -- |
| March 28th 5:00pm | Puck Line | Over/Under | Moneyline |
|
Columbus Blue Jackets
CLM | -- | -- | -- |
|
New York Rangers
NYR | -- | -- | -- |
| March 28th 5:00pm | Puck Line | Over/Under | Moneyline |
|
Nashville Predators
NAS | -- | -- | -- |
|
Boston Bruins
BOS | -- | -- | -- |
| March 28th 5:00pm | Puck Line | Over/Under | Moneyline |
|
Pittsburgh Penguins
PIT | -- | -- | -- |
|
Detroit Red Wings
DET | -- | -- | -- |
| March 28th 7:00pm | Puck Line | Over/Under | Moneyline |
|
Los Angeles Kings
LOS | -- | -- | -- |
|
Calgary Flames
CGY | -- | -- | -- |
| March 28th 8:30pm | Puck Line | Over/Under | Moneyline |
|
Winnipeg Jets
WPG | -- | -- | -- |
|
San Jose Sharks
SAN | -- | -- | -- |
| March 29th 5:30pm | Puck Line | Over/Under | Moneyline |
|
Florida Panthers
FLA | -- | -- | -- |
|
Toronto Maple Leafs
TOR | -- | -- | -- |
| March 29th 5:30pm | Puck Line | Over/Under | Moneyline |
|
New York Islanders
NYI | -- | -- | -- |
|
Washington Capitals
WAS | -- | -- | -- |
| March 29th 8:00pm | Puck Line | Over/Under | Moneyline |
|
Minnesota Wild
MIN | -- | -- | -- |
|
Colorado Avalanche
COL | -- | -- | -- |
| March 30th 5:00pm | Puck Line | Over/Under | Moneyline |
|
Nashville Predators
NAS | -- | -- | -- |
|
Pittsburgh Penguins
PIT | -- | -- | -- |
| March 30th 5:00pm | Puck Line | Over/Under | Moneyline |
|
Florida Panthers
FLA | -- | -- | -- |
|
Montreal Canadiens
MON | -- | -- | -- |
| March 30th 5:00pm | Puck Line | Over/Under | Moneyline |
|
Philadelphia Flyers
PHI | -- | -- | -- |
|
Ottawa Senators
OTT | -- | -- | -- |
| March 30th 6:30pm | Puck Line | Over/Under | Moneyline |
|
St. Louis Blues
STL | -- | -- | -- |
|
Chicago Blackhawks
CHI | -- | -- | -- |
| March 30th 7:00pm | Puck Line | Over/Under | Moneyline |
|
Los Angeles Kings
LOS | -- | -- | -- |
|
Edmonton Oilers
EDM | -- | -- | -- |
| March 30th 8:30pm | Puck Line | Over/Under | Moneyline |
|
Vegas Golden Knights
VGK | -- | -- | -- |
|
San Jose Sharks
SAN | -- | -- | -- |
| March 31st 6:00pm | Puck Line | Over/Under | Moneyline |
|
Detroit Red Wings
DET | -- | -- | -- |
|
Winnipeg Jets
WPG | -- | -- | -- |
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