NHL Odds, Picks & Predictions: Saturday (3/21)
Let’s break down some key matchups today in the NHL. Below are our top NHL picks & predictions for Saturday, March 21st.
Saturday’s NHL Best Bets & Picks
(Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook)
Toronto Maple Leafs (+205) at Ottawa Senators (-250) | O/U 5.5 (-142/+120)
The Senators are getting hot at the right time. For most of the season, Ottawa has hovered around .500, but it has gained momentum recently. Since January 25th, they are 12-3-2. The 26 points earned from this run are the fourth-most during that stretch.
The biggest improvement comes in the form of the team’s goaltending. Linus Ullmark dealt with injuries and struggled most of the season. In his last 11 games, however, he has allowed just 2.36 goals per game.
It's been a disastrous season for the Maple Leafs. They went too many consecutive games without picking up a point while other teams were improving. They have picked up only two points in the last eight games.
Toronto has not had a goalie it can rely on this season, ranking 29th in goals allowed per game (3.44). The offense did its best to keep this team afloat, but with Auston Matthews out for the year, they have struggled, scoring two or fewer goals in eight of their last 12 games.
The Senators could play well against the Leafs, who are limping into the end of the season.
Pick: Senators -1.5 (-110)
Tampa Bay Lightning (-142) at Edmonton Oilers (+120) | O/U 6.5 (-130/+110)
For the Oilers to have a chance to return to the Stanley Cup Finals for a third consecutive year, they first need to make the playoffs.
Nothing is set, and there are multiple scenarios for seeding. They are currently second in the Pacific Division with 77 points, but only one point up on the Golden Knights for third, and four points ahead of the Kings, who hold the last Wild Card spot.
Realistically, the Oilers could miss the playoffs.
They have one of the best collections of forwards in the league, ranking third with 3.47 goals per game, and they have two players in the top five in points. Connor McDavid leads the NHL in points (115), and Leon Draisaitl is fourth (97). Unfortunately, goaltending could be the reason they won't hoist the Stanley Cup, as they are allowing the fifth-most goals per game.
A few months ago, the Lightning were the hottest team in the league, earning points in 15 straight games, but they immediately fell off. They are coming in 4-7-0 in their last 11. As a result, the red-hot Buffalo Sabres have overtaken them for first place in the Atlantic Division.
The team is inconsistent on both ends of the ice. The offense can look unstoppable some nights, but struggles on others. Goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy, who has logged the fourth-most minutes in the league, has not performed well during this run, posting a .883 save percentage in his last nine games.
Two excellent offenses with inconsistent goalies could make this an exciting and high-scoring game.
Pick: Over 6.5 Goals (-130)