NHL Predictions – Expert Picks on Monday, March 31:
Here are tonight’s NHL predictions:
Minnesota Wild at New Jersey Devils (-150, 5.5)
7 p.m. ET
These two teams met on Saturday in Minnesota with the Devils jumping on the Wild with two first-period goals en route to a 5-2 win behind three goals from Nico Hischier. New Jersey has now won three straight meetings against the Wild. The Wild are an impressive 22-11-3 on the road, but here is the catch. Minnesota is 10-3 as a road betting favorite but 12-11 as a road underdog. On the other hand, Jersey has just 17 wins in 35 home games, and I just don’t feel like laying (-150) with the Devils. For me, it’s all about player props in this game. The Devils’ Luke Hughes had an assist on Saturday against the Wild and now has four assists in three games versus Minnesota. Timo Meier has three goals in five games versus Minnesota’s starting goalie, Filip Gustavsson. Tomas Tatar has three goals in four games against the Wild netminder. Lastly, Jesper Bratt has 14 points in 11 games against the Wild, and Stefan Noesen has eight points in 10 games.
NHL Predictions:
Nico Hischier/Jesper Bratt each Over ½ point parlay (-132) – ½ unit
Luke Hughes Over ½ assist +112 – ¼ unit
Timo Meier anytime goal +180 – ¼ unit
Tomas Tatar anytime goal +500 – ¼ unit
Stefan Noesen Over ½ point +140 – ¼ unit
Calgary Flames at Colorado Avalanche (-285, 5.5)
8:30 p.m. ET
The Avalanche will look to start a new home win streak after a 2-1 loss on Saturday to the red-hot St. Louis Blues. The loss to St. Louis snapped an 11-game home win streak. The Flames have been one of the good stories of the NHL season. Calgary has been hovering around the second wild card spot in the Western Conference for most of the season, but back-to-back losses to Dallas and Edmonton leave Calgary seven points back of both St. Louis and Minnesota (eight points because of fewer regulation wins – 1st tiebreaker) and they look to be dead in the water. The Avs appear to be locked into third place in the Central as they are seven points back of second-place Dallas and seven points clear of both Minnesota and St. Louis.
Colorado has won both previous meetings against the Flames this season by identical 4-2 scores. For the season, Colorado has scored four or more goals in 36 of their 45 wins. It is expected to be a battle of the backups tonight with Dan Vladar getting the call for Calgary and Scott Wedgewood for the Avalanche. Nathan MacKinnon has six goals in five games against Vladar. According to @tepicks, MacKinnon has had seven multi-point games in his nine meetings against the Flames.
NHL Predictions:
Nathan MacKinnon anytime goal +105 – ¼ unit
Nathan MacKinnon Over 1.5 points +115 – ¼ unit
Colorado Avalanche Team Total Over 3.5 (-135) – 2 units
Joel Farabee anytime goal +500 – ¼ unit