NHL Picks Today: Preview for Leafs vs Devils, Bruins vs Panthers, Golden Knights vs Predators Games

Leafs Look to Put More Space Between Them and Tampa

The Toronto Maple Leafs (40-21-9-89, 3^rd in the Atlantic Division) are back action tonight, hosting the New Jersey Devils (35-33-4-74, 6^th in the Metropolitan), looking to keep some space between them and the Tampa Bay Lightning in the Eastern Conference playoff race. 

The Boston Bruins (41-16-15-97, tied for 1^st in the Atlantic Division) are in Florida to play the Panthers (46-20-5-97, tied for 1^st in the Atlantic Division) in a huge Eastern Conference game. The Vegas Golden Knights (39-25-7-85, 4^th in the Pacific Division), trying to stay in the playoff conversation, are in Nashville to play the streaking Predators (42-25-4-88, 4^th in the Central Division).

NHL Schedule: Game Details

Leafs vs. Devils Insights

If you’re a Leafs fan, it’s a question of picking your poison – do you want the Bruins in the first round of the playoffs, or the Panthers? If the playoffs started today, they’d be up against the Bruins, Game 1 at TD Garden in Boston. 

At this point, they’re eight points behind Boston for second place in the Atlantic Division. A bigger issue is the Lightning, currently in one of the wildcard spots, four points behind Toronto. The Leafs have a game in hand, so tonight’s a good opportunity to put some more space between themselves and Tampa. 

Toronto is coming off a 2-1 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes. What the Leafs are trying to do now is fine tune their playoff lineup. That’s why D TJ Brodie was sat out. That’s why D Timothy Liljegren has been given more ice time, including on the power play. Same thing with F Nick Robertson. What kind of shape is G Joseph Woll in after being out of the lineup for so long with an ankle injury?

The Leafs are 19-12-3 at home, 5-4-1 in their last ten games, where they’ve averaged 3.4 goals, giving up 2.9 goals per game. The Devils? They’re 18-15-2 on the road, 5-5-0 in their last ten, averaging three goals, giving up two per game.

🏒 Bet on Maple Leafs vs. Devils at DraftKings 🏒

Woll (10-8-1, 2.76 GAA, .915 SV%), who played great against the Hurricanes, with 41 saves, .953 SV%, is listed as the probable starter for tonight, with Ilya Samsonov dealing with a groin issue. Jake Allen (9-14-3, 3.41 GAA, .898 SV%) is listed as probable to start in goal for the Devils.

Auston Matthews has five goals in the past ten games for the Leafs, with 58 on the season. Timo Meier is the big scorer for the Devils of late – nine goals over the past ten.

For the Leafs, D Mark Giordano (concussion) and C Calle Jarnkrok (hand) are out longer term, but is RW Mitch Marner on his way back after that ankle injury? He is listed as day to day. D Dougie Hamilton (pectoral) is out long term for the Devils. C Curtis Lazar (lower body) is listed as day-to-day. LW Nolan Foote (undisclosed) is out, as is RW Nathan Bastian (lower body) and D Jonas Siegenthaler (concussion).

Leafs vs. Devils Player Props

According to FanDuel today, most bet player props are Nick Robertson Anytime Goalscorer (6.50), Auston Matthews Anytime Goalscorer (1.74), and Matthews Player to Score 2+ Goals (5.30).

At DraftKings, Matthews Anytime Goalscorer (1.74) is a most bet player prop. 

Game 2: Bruins vs. Panthers Insights

On the injury front, the Bruins are healthy – LW Pat Maroon is on IR with a back issue. For the Panthers, LW Jonah Gadjovich, C Aleksander Barkov, and D Gustav Forsling are all listed as day-to-day, D Aaron Ekblad is out with a knee injury and will not play.

This is the biggest game of the night, with goaltenders Jeremy Swayman (22-8-8, 3 SOs, 2.65 GAA, and .914 SV%) for the Bruins and Sergei Bobrovsky (32-15-3, 3 SOs, 2.40 GAA and .915 SV%) for the Panthers listed as probable starters in goal. 

🏒 Bet on Bruins vs. Panthers at FanDuel 🏒

The Bruins are coming off two losses; the Panthers are coming off a 4-1 win over Philadelphia on Sunday. Sam Reinhart, who leads the team with 50 goals and 83 points, had two goals against the Flyers. He’s been red hot of late – eight goals in his last ten. F David Pastrnak continues to pace the Bruins offence (4^th in league scoring, 44-55-99), including a power play that’s ranks eighth in the NHL (23.6%). Pastrnak has 12 points, including six goals, in his last ten games.

Florida is 5-4-1 in their last ten, averaging 2.9 goals, while giving up 2.5 goals per game, while the Bruins are 6-3-1, averaging 3.3 goals, giving up 2.3 goals per game. The Panthers are a mighty 21-11-2 at home; the Bruins 18-7-9 on the road.

Bruins vs. Panthers Player Props

On the NHL sports betting front, according to FanDuel today, not surprisingly, Sam Reinhart is getting a lot of attention – Anytime Goalscorer (2.60) – with Sam Bennett Anytime Goalscorer (3.80) and David Pastrnak Anytime Goalscorer (2.15) most popular this morning.

At DraftKings, Pastrnak Anytime Goalscorer (2.05), Brad Marchand First Goalscorer (12.00), Pastrnak First Goalscorer (7.50) are most bet player props today.

Game 3: Predators vs. Golden Knights Insights

On the injury front, for Nashville, D Jeremy Lauzon is listed as day-to-day with a lower body injury, D Spencer Stastney and D Dante Fabbro both have upper body issues and are out for tonight.

Vegas is dealing with longer-term injuries to RW Mark Stone (upper body) and C Tomas Hertl (knee), as well as D Alex Pietrangelo (illness).

The Predators have been one of the league’s hottest teams - five wins in a row (the Colorado Avalanche have won nine straight). A big reason for that is G Juuse Saros (31-21-4 3 SOs, 2.71 GAA and .910 SV%), one of the best in the game, listed as probable starter for tonight.

🏒 Bet on Predators vs. Golden Knights at BetMGM 🏒

Nashville is 20-15-1 home, 8-0-2 in their last ten, scoring 3.7 goals over that stretch, allowing a piddly 1.7. 

The Golden Knights are paddling hard to keep hold onto that last wildcard playoff spot in the Western Conference (five points up on St. Louis with a game in hand) waiting for reinforcements like Stone and Hertl to make it back in for a playoff run. They are 16-14-5 on the road, 6-4-0 in their last ten, 3.0 goals for, 2.7 goals against. They’ll counter with their big stopper in net, Logan Thompson (20-12-5, 1 SO, 2.75 GAA, .906 SV%).

Filip Forsberg has been on fire of late for Nashville – ten goals and seven assists in his last ten games. Jonathan Marchessault has seven goals in his last ten for Vegas.

Predators vs. Golden Knights Player Props

According to FanDuel today, Ivan Barbashev Anytime Goalscorer (5.00), Keegan Kolesar Anytime Goalscorer (12.00), Filip Forsberg Anytime Goalscorer (2.20) are most bet player props. 

Our NHL Picks Today

On the Canadian sports betting front, take the Leafs ATS at FanDuel. Woll is impressive, if he’s healthy, and he sure looked healthy against the Hurricanes the other night. He’s looking to grab the reins in net for the playoffs. He will be a difference-maker tonight, if he starts. Allen is starting behind a porous Devils’ defence. Edge Leafs here.

Bruins-Panthers is going to be tight, and we’re giving Florida the slight edge at home. Bet the Under (6.0) at DraftKings.

Tough to bet against the Predators in Game 3, a team with several battle-hardened vets who know how to win this time of the year – Ryan O’Reilly, Luke Schenn, and others. Plus, their goaltending. Take the Under (6.5) at theScore Bet.