NHL Picks & Preview: Bruins vs Hurricanes, Penguins vs Capitals, Jets vs Flames Games

How Do We Top Last Night’s Line Brawl in New York? 

All the talk this morning – even outside the hockey industry - is on that brawl two seconds into last night’s Rangers-New Jersey Devils tilt at Madison Square Garden. 

You knew the Devils had this game on their calendar, and the Rangers’ Matt Rempe was going to have to answer the bell, after a suspect elbow on the Devils’ Jonas Siegenthaler, when the two teams last met in March. Rempe turned down an offer to fight from the Devils’ Kurtis MacDermid earlier in that game, before the elbow incident, but he wasn’t turning down MacDermid at the opening draw last night. Every player on the ice would drop their gloves, except the goalies. Even the coaches had to be held back from getting into it.

It was a great spectacle. Fans were going nuts. Hockey polices its own, and that’s one of the things I love about the game, despite all the moaning from those who want to ban fighting. They’ll tell you they don’t want to water down the physicality, that you still have hitting, but fighting has always been a natural offshoot of that. 

Check out Ryan Reaves taking over that game in Toronto last night, with hits, net presence, and a TKO over the Lightning’s Tanner Jeannot, despite the Leafs losing, 4-1. That’s why you will see Reaves start for the Leafs in the playoffs. It’s a way teams can get an edge over the opposition through intimidation. Fans love it. Players too. If it bothers you, there’s other things you can watch.

Any potential for a repeat performance of that tonight? Not likely. But we have a full sked of games, nine in total, including three with real playoff implications, teams that are popular among Ontario bettors.

NHL Schedule: Game Details

Game 1: Bruins vs. Hurricanes Insights

The Bruins (44-17-15-103, 1^st in the Atlantic Division) have built a little breathing room between them and the second place Florida Panthers (Florida is four points back), and tonight’s match against the Carolina Hurricanes (47-21-7-101, 2^nd in the Metropolitan Division) is a battle of league titans. The Hurricanes sit five points behind the Rangers in the Metropolitan, and like the Bruins, have already wrapped up a playoff spot.

Freddie Andersen (11-1-2 SOs, 1.88 GAA, .930 SV%) is listed as the likely starter in goal for Carolina, on home ice, while Jeremy Swayman (24-8-8-3 SO, 2.64 GAA, .913 SV%) is listed as the likely starter for the Bruins. 

🏒 Bet on Bruins vs. Hurricanes at DraftKings 🏒

The Hurricanes are 8-1-1 in their last ten, averaging 3.8 goals, giving up 1.8 per game. The Bruins are 6-4-0 in their last ten, averaging 2.9 goals, giving up 2.5 per game. RW Justin Brazeau (upper body) is day-to-day on the injury front for the Bruins, while RW Jesper Fast (upper body) is day-to-day for the Hurricanes. 

Tough to have any issue with Jake Guentzel, since coming over in that trade with Pittsburgh: 16 points, including two goals, in 11 games with Carolina. 

Bruins vs. Hurricanes Player Props

According to DraftKings today, David Pastrnak Anytime Goalscorer (2.00), Pastrnak First Goalscorer (7.50), Pastrnak Over 3.5 Shots on Goal (1.69), Brad Marchand Anytime Goalscorer (3.80), Jake Guentzel Under 0.5 Assists (1.95) and Sebastian Aho Anytime Goalscorer (2.35) are most bet player props. 

Game 2: Penguins vs. Capitals Insights

Remember the days when these two former Stanley Cup champs lorded over the league, led by two generational superstars, Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin? Despite Crosby and Ovechkin still playing at elite levels, those days are gone. The Penguins aren’t quite out of it, in terms of the playoffs this year, but the Capitals are very much in the race, and tonight’s game has massive implications.

The Penguins (34-30-11-79, 6^th in the Metropolitan Division, three points out of a wildcard spot) are in Washington to play the Capitals (36-28-10-82, 4^th in the Metropolitan Division, currently holding on to the last wildcard spot, with the Detroit Red Wings and the New York Islanders right on their heels).

Crosby had two goals in the Pens’ last game, a 6-3 win over the Devils Tuesday. Dylan Strome is a player to watch for Washington – leading the team with 26 goals, not Ovechkin. The Russian has come on of late, though, with eight goals and two assist in the last ten. Crosby, at 36, continues to amaze – 15^th in league scoring, with 39 goals and 45 assists.

🏒 Bet on Penguins vs. Capitals at FanDuel 🏒

The Caps are 6-3-1 in their last ten, averaging 3.0 goals, while giving up 3.3, according to AP. Darcy Kuemper is listed as the probable starter tonight for Washington. Kuemper (13-13-3-1 SO, 3.32 GAA, .888 SV%) has struggled, and last stepped in for the last 14 minutes in a 6-2 loss to the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday.

The Penguins have Alex Nedeljkovic (14-6-6-3 SOs, 2.84 GAA, .906 SV%) down as probable starter, and are 5-3-2 in their last ten, averaging 3.9 goals, giving up 3.4 per game.

On the injury front, the Pens list G Tristan Jarry (illness), D John Ludvig (illness) and D Ryan Graves (concussion) as day-to-day, while C Jansen Harkins, C Noel Acciari and LW Matt Nieto are out longer term. RW T.J. Oshie (upper body) is listed as day-to-day for the Capitals. 

Penguins vs. Capitals Player Props

On the NHL sports betting front, Max Pacioretty Under 2.5 Shots on Goal (1.63), Alex Ovechkin Under 0.5 Assists (1.67), Ovechkin Anytime Goalscorer (2.40), and Sidney Crosby Over 0.5 Points (1.43) are most bet player props at DraftKings.

Game 3: Jets vs. Flames Insights

For your Canadian flavour, we go to Winnipeg, where the Jets (45-24-6-96, 3^rd in the Western Conference), formerly rolling, and a pick in these pages for a long playoff run, have been stumbling of late – 4-5-1 in their last ten. Tonight, they host the Calgary Flames (34-35-5-73, 6^th in the Pacific Division), currently dusting off the golf clubs for an early spring on the links.

Confirmed to start in goal tonight for the Jets is Connor Hellebuyck (32-18-4-4 SOs, 2.44, .919 SV%), a titan in goal all year, while Jacob Markstrom (23-20-2-2 SOs 2.69 GAA, .908 SV%) is listed as probable for the Flames. 

The Flames are 3-7-0 in their last ten. Tyler Toffoli, with 30 goals this season, is day-to-day with an illness. Keep an eye on that as we get closer to puck drop. RW Nino Niederreiter (leg) is out. LW Andrew Mangiapane is day-to-day for the Flames. 

Jets vs. Flames Player Props

According to BetMGM today, Nikolaj Ehlers Over 0.5 Points (1.91), Sean Monahan Over 0.5 Points (1.74) and Daniil Miromanov to Score a Goal (11.00) are most bet player props.

At PointsBet, Kyle O'Connor Over 2.5 Shots on Gal (-1.53) and Nazem Kadri Under 3.5 Shots on Goal (1.59) are most bet props. 

Our NHL Picks Today

On the Canadian sports betting front, for the Penguins-Capitals, the game of the night, we’re going with Crosby, who can single-handedly bull the Pens to a playoff spot, despite the odds. Crosby is one of the few players in the game capable of that. That’s why we’re going Pens ATS at FanDuel tonight.

No way the Jets drop tonight’s game against the Flames, at home. Take Winnipeg ATS at DraftKings. Bruins and Hurricanes? Two fine goalies. The moneyline at BetMGM is almost 50-50, with 75% of bettors liking the Bruins ATS. Despite the goalies, we’re still going to take the Over (5.5) at BetMGM. Swayman hasn’t been great the past five starts, and Carolina hasn’t played since Saturday.