NHL: Picks & Preview for Rangers-Bruins, Islanders-Red Wings, Predators-Panthers Games

Busy Night with Big Playoff Ramifications

Things are getting seriously interesting on the NHL front, with multiple games going on tonight that have big playoff ramifications. Two first-place titans go at it in Boston, with the New York Rangers (45-20-4-94, 1^st in the Metropolitan Division) taking on the Bruins (41-14-15-97, 1^st in the Atlantic Division), both teams jockeying to hold onto those first-place positions.

The New York Islanders (29-24-15-73, 5^th in the Metropolitan Division), in a battle for a wildcard spot, with a window of opportunity to make some traction after the Washington Capitals lost 7-3 to the Toronto Maple Leafs last night, visit the Detroit Red Wings (35-28-6-76, 5^th in the Atlantic Division), a team trying to hold onto the second wildcard spot in the Eastern Conference.

And finally, the Nashville Predators (40-25-4-84, 4^th in the Central Division) are in the Sunshine State to play the Florida Panthers (45-19-4-94, 2^nd in the Atlantic Division). The Panthers are back and forth with the Bruins for that first-place spot, but the Predators are in the thick of a Western Conference wildcard race. Currently they hold one of the two spots (the Vegas Golden Knights hold the other), but the Minnesota Wild and St. Louis are hard on their heels.

NHL Schedule: Game Details

Game 1: Rangers vs. Bruins Insights

Two of the leading scorers in the NHL – Artemi Panarin and David Pastrnak – go head-to-head in this one. The Bruins have won three in a row, just took back first place in the division from the Florida Panthers (up by three points) and they’re not going to want to give it back anytime soon.

The Bruins are mighty warriors on home ice – 23-8-6. The Rangers are 21-11-4 on the road this season, and are 36-7-3 when scoring three or more goals, as Associated Press points out this morning.

Pastrnak is a beast – fourth in league scoring with 44 goals and 99 points, and 12 power play goals. The Bruins have the eight-best power play in the NHL – 24.2%.

🏒 Bet on Rangers vs. Bruins at DraftKings 🏒

Jeremy Swayman (22-7-8, 3 SOs, 2.64 GAA, .916 SV%) is confirmed to start in net for the Bruins tonight. The Rangers’ starter hasn’t been announced yet – vet Jonathan Quick (15-5-2 2 SOs, 2.46 GAA, .916 SV%) is listed on Sportsnet as “likely”.

D Ryan Lindgren and D Jacob Trouba are out for the Rangers. LW James van Riemsdyk and LW Pat Maroon are out for the Bruins.

In the last ten games, the Bruins have gone 7-2-1, averaging 3.5 games per game, allowing 2.6. The Rangers are 6-3-1, averaging 3.4 goals, allowing 2.2 goals per game.

Rangers vs. Bruins Player Props

According to DraftKings today, David Pastrnak Anytime Goalscorer (1.95), Pastrnak First Goalscorer (7.00), Artemi Panarin First Goalscorer (10.00) are most bet player props.

At FanDuel, Vincent Trocheck Anytime Goalscorer (3.30), Pastrnak Anytime Goalscorer (2.00), and Alexis Lafreniere Anytime Goalscorer (4.00) are most bet player props.

At BetMGM, Lafreniere Anytime Goalscorer (3.20), Pastrnak Over 4.5 Shots (2.20) and Pavel Zacha Over 0.5 Assists (2.35) are most bet player props.

Game 2: Islanders vs. Red Wings Insights

Not exactly a battle of titans, if you look at the last ten games for both teams – the Red Wings are 2-8-0, and teammates have been fighting each other more in practice than against teams in games, while the Islanders are 5-4-1. 

Detroit is 20-11-5 on home ice, while the Islanders are 15-15-5 on the road. 

Ilya Sorokin (22-17-11, 2 SOs, 2.96 GAA, .911 SV%) is listed as probable in net for the Islanders, while James Reimer (8-7-2, 4 SOs, 3.03 GAA, .905 SV%) is confirmed for the Red Wings. Alex DeBrincat has paced the offence for Detroit – 23 goals, 32 assists. Lucas Raymond has seven goals in his past ten games.

🏒 Bet on Islanders vs. Red Wings at Fanduel 🏒

Bo Horvat, with 29 goals and 33 assists, has led the way for the Isles.

The Islanders have lost five in a row; the Wings are coming off a 4-3 OT win over Columbus Tuesday night.

Big news for the Wings – Hockey News is reporting that C Dylan Larkin (lower body) will be a game-time decision. D Jake Walman is out. On the Islanders front, the only injury reported is D Scott Mayfield, on injured reserve.

Islanders vs. Red Wings Player Props

On the NHL sports betting front, according to FanDuel, Lucas Raymond Anytime Goalscorer (3.50), Patrick Kane Anytime Goalscorer (2.85), and Alex DeBrincat Anytime Goalscorer (3.00) are the most bet player props so far.

At BetMGM, Lucas Raymond Anytime Goalscorer (3.60), Raymond Over 0.5 Points (1.75) and Shayne Gostisbehere Over 0.5 Assists (2.40) are most bet player props.

Game 3: Predators vs. Panthers Insights

This one is a battle of the elite goalies – Vezina Trophy candidates Juuse Saros (30-21-4, 2 SOs, 2.76 GAA, .909 SV%) for the Predators and Sergei Bobrovsky (32-14-2, 3 SOs, 2.37 GAA, .915 SV%) for the Panthers. 

The Preds, looking to solidify that wildcard spot (no way they’re catching Dallas for third spot in the Central Division, down nine points there), are on a three-game winning streak. They’re 21-10-3 on the road, 8-0-2 in their last ten, averaging 4.3 goals, while giving up just 1.9 per game. They’re cruising now.

The Panthers are 21-10-2 at home, 7-3-0 in the last ten, averaging 3.2 goals, giving up 2.3 goals per game. 

D Aaron Ekblad remains out for the Panthers, with C Aleksander Barkov listed as a game-time decision. For the Preds, D Jeremy Lauzon and Spencer Stastney are out.

Predators vs. Panthers Player Props

According to DraftKings today, Sam Reinhart Anytime Goalscorer (2.35) is a most bet player prop. At FanDuel, it’s Reinhart Anytime Goalscorer (2.30), Filip Forsberg Anytime Goalscorer (2.60), and Carter Verhaeghe Anytime Goalscorer (2.90).

And at BetMGM, Thomas Novak Over 0.5 Points (2.20), Roman Josi Over 0.5 Points (1.72) and Josi Over 0.5 Assists (2.10) are most bet player props.

Our NHL Picks Today

On the Canadian sports betting front, Rangers-Bruins will be tight, but we’re going Bruins on the moneyline at BetMGM, on home ice. So are 60 per cent of money bets at BetMGM this morning.

For Islanders-Red Wings, take the Over 6.5 at PointsBet, with the Islanders having let in 20 goals over their past five games, all losses.

In Game 3, the red-hot Predators smoked the Sharks 8-2 in their last game. The Panthers have lost two straight, but they’ve had a stretch of four days to rest. So, I’m taking a deep Panthers team ATS on 888 Sport.