NHL Odds, Picks & Predictions: Monday (3/17)
There are a lot of teams in contention for the NHL playoffs. We've seen that all some teams need to do is get in and make a huge run. Let's break down a couple of today's games and give you our best bets.
Monday’s NHL Best Bets
(Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook)
Buffalo Sabres (+105) at Boston Bruins (-125)| O/U 5.5 (-130/+102)
The Bruins’ playoff chances are not looking good as they continue to drop in the standings. They are just 5-10-2 in their last 17 games and would have to climb over a few teams to get to the playoffs. A few weeks ago, they gave some signs that this was a lost season when they made a surprising and unpopular move and traded captain Brad Marchand to Florida.
The team’s defensive struggles have played a large role in their lack of contention, especially Jeremy Swayman’s regression. Swayman became the full-time starting goalie after they traded Linus Ullmark. The increased workload has led to Swayman’s worst numbers, allowing three goals per game and a .897 save percentage.
The Sabres have the fewest points in the Eastern Conference after another season where they failed to achieve expectations. They are on an awful 2-6-1 run, but those two wins are against Vegas and Edmonton, so they are competitive against good teams. The offense is scoring a respectable 3.12 goals per game, but they have been inconsistent. You can't be inconsistent when the goaltending has been bad, allowing 3.50 goals per game.
The struggles of each team on defense will help this game hit the over.
Pick: Over 5.5 Goals (-130)
Los Angeles Kings (-148) at Minnesota Wild (+124) | O/U 5.5 (+114/-135)
The Kings have been streaky recently. They have won five straight after losing five straight, and that's happened a lot during the season. The defense is one of the best in the league, as they are second in goals allowed (2.55) and shots allowed per game (25.6). Their problem is when the defense has an off day, the offense hasn't been good enough to support them, which could hinder them during the playoffs.
The Wild must get back to winning if they want to stay in the playoff race. They have a six-point lead in the first Wild Card spot, but they are 3-6-1 in their last 10 games and are losing that cushion. The offense has been the problem for most of the season, especially during the last 10 games, as their 1.56 goals per game rank last. The 23.9 shots per game are the second-fewest. It is unfortunate because they are wasting excellent goaltending, with Filip Gustavsson ranking sixth in save percentage (.917).
This will be an exciting defensive matchup because each team has two talented goalies and physical defenses that will keep this a low-scoring game.
Pick: Under 5.5 Goals (-135)