NHL Odds, Picks & Predictions: Sunday (3/1)
Let’s break down some key matchups today in the NHL. Below are our top NHL picks & predictions for Sunday, March 1st.
Sunday’s NHL Best Bets & Picks
(Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook)
Vegas Golden Knights (-148) at Pittsburgh Penguins (+124) | O/U 6.5 (+100/-120)
The Penguins went into the Olympic break on an excellent 7-1-1 run in their final nine games. After a defiant win over the Devils in their first game back from the Olympics, they suffered a heartbreaking loss to the Rangers, where they choked away a 2-0 lead, eventually losing in a shootout.
They likely have to navigate the rest of the regular season without Sidney Crosby after he suffered an injury in the Olympics. Losing an offensive leader like him could hurt them just as it likely did in the loss on Saturday.
The Golden Knights went into the Olympic break winning back-to-back games, but had only picked up two points in their previous five games. Offensively, this team has a lot of talent, averaging 3.36 goals per game (eighth), and they have six players with more than 40 points.
Their issue is goaltending inconsistency. The blue line is stellar, allowing the third-fewest shots on goal per game (24.8), but the netminders are struggling to stop them with the third-worst save percentage.
Vegas has a rest advantage, which is even more significant because Pittsburgh played in a shootout the day before. The Golden Knights could take advantage of this and hand the Penguins back-to-back losses.
Pick: Golden Knights Moneyline (-148)
Winnipeg Jets (-120) at San Jose Sharks (+100) | O/U 6.5 (+100/-120)
It's a highly disappointing season for the Jets, as they will not come close to winning the Presidents’ Trophy as they did last year. They are far away from that team, currently eight points from the final Wild Card spot in the Western Conference.
Olympic hero Connor Hellebuyck missed time earlier this season with an injury, which hurt the team, but he has played nowhere near his Vezina and Hart Trophy levels, with a .899 save percentage ranking 27th and a 7.5 goals saved above expected that ranks 21st.
The Sharks’ goaltending is struggling this season as well, ranking 30th with 3.50 goals allowed per game. Whether it’s Yaroslav Askarov or Alex Nedeljkovic, neither has found sustained success, and it is hindering this team.
There is a future if they can build around Macklin Celebrini. The 2024 No. 1 overall draft pick was one of the top players in the Olympics, building his stock in the NHL, as his 82 points rank fifth. This team could be a legitimate contender if they had players around him, with the next player only having 40 points.
Both offenses have also been inconsistent this season, and could play a larger role in this game, making this a potentially lower-scoring matchup.
Pick: Under 6.5 Goals (-120)