NHL Picks (Today's Free Predictions, Tips, Parlays)

Penguins at Senators Picks and Game 4 NHL Odds
by Alan Matthews - 5/22/2013

The No. 7 Detroit Red Wings suddenly have control over the record-setting and Presidents' Trophy winning Chicago Blackhawks in their Western Conference semifinals series. And I'm not saying the No. 7 Ottawa Senators are going to upset the No. 1 Pittsburgh Penguins in their Eastern Conference semis, but would it really shock anyone? The pressure will certainly move to the heavily-favored Pens if Ottawa can hold serve again at home in Game 4 Wednesday night to knot the series at two.

Bruins at Rangers Picks and Game 3 NHL Odds
by Trevor Whenham - 5/21/2013

The Rangers return home with their backs firmly planted against the wall. They lost the opener of this conference semifinal series in overtime and then got blown out in Game 2. A 3-0 hole in a series isn’t technically insurmountable. However, against a team as good and as confident as the Bruins are right now, it would be pretty close to fatal.

Blackhawks at Red Wings Picks and NHL Game 3 Odds
by Dave Schwab - 5/20/2013

The Chicago Blackhawks and the Detroit Red Wings will resume their best-of-seven battle in the Western Conference Semifinals this Monday night at Joe Louis Arena with the series knotted at one game apiece. Game 3 is scheduled to get underway at 7:30 p.m. (ET), and it will be broadcast nationally on the NBC Sports Network.

Kings at Sharks Picks and NHL Game 3 Odds
by Alan Matthews - 5/18/2013

"They" say that no playoff series truly begins until a road team wins a game. Well, the San Jose Sharks better hope their Western Conference semifinals series against the Los Angeles Kings doesn't start on Saturday night in Game 3, or it's all but over.

Senators at Penguins Picks and Game 2 NHL Odds
by Dave Schwab - 5/17/2013

The Ottawa Senators will try and avoid falling into a 0-2 hole in their best-of-seven Eastern Conference Semifinals matchup against the Pittsburgh Penguins when the two clash this Friday night at the Consol Energy Center. Game 2 is set to get underway at 7:30 p.m. (ET), and it will be broadcast nationally on the NBC Sports Network.

Rangers at Bruins Picks and NHL Game 1 Odds
by Trevor Whenham - 5/16/2013

Incredibly, even though these two Original Six franchises have long been in the same conference, this is the first time they have met in the playoffs since 1973. New York won that series in five games, for what that’s worth. Forty years later, they meet again. In the meantime, though, the sporting rivalry between the two cities has intensified, and this will only add to the mystique.

Red Wings at Blackhawks Picks and Game 1 NHL Odds
by Alan Matthews - 5/15/2013

In this writer's humble opinion, the Western Conference semifinal series between the Chicago Blackhawks and Detroit Red Wings that begins Wednesday night at the United Center is the best possible matchup the NHL could ask for this postseason outside of the Hawks and Pittsburgh Penguins meeting in the Stanley Cup Finals.

Senators at Penguins Picks and NHL Game 1 Odds
by Trevor Whenham - 5/14/2013

And so begins the second round. We have one team in this series that was widely expected to be here and one that probably wasn’t. Pittsburgh advanced as heavy favorites in their opener against the Islanders, though they certainly got more than they could have imagined from the feisty New York team and budding superstar John Tavares. They certainly don’t want to have to keep working that hard if they plan to go all the way to the Finals, or they will run out of gas.

Rangers at Capitals Picks and Game 7 NHL Odds
by Dave Schwab - 5/13/2013

The New York Rangers and the Washington Capitals will lace them up one more time this Monday night for the right to advance to the Eastern Conference Semifinals in Game 7 of this opening-round NHL playoff series. The puck is set to drop at the Verizon Center at 8 p.m. (ET), and the game will be broadcast nationally on the NBC Sports Network.

Penguins at Islanders Picks and Game 6 NHL Odds
by Alan Matthews - 5/11/2013

So, is alienating your star goalie worth winning a first-round playoff series? Because that's essentially what the Pittsburgh Penguins will be doing in their Eastern Conference quarterfinals against the New York Islanders.

Rangers at Capitals Picks and Game 5 NHL Odds
by Dave Schwab - 5/10/2013

It’s now down to a best-of-three series between the New York Rangers and the Washington Capitals when these two teams square off this Friday night in Game 5 of the opening round of the playoffs. All the action from the Verizon Center is set to get underway at 7:30 p.m. (ET), and the game will be broadcast nationally on the NBC Sports Network.

Wild at Blackhawks Picks and NHL Game 5 Odds
by Trevor Whenham - 5/9/2013

Since winning the Stanley Cup in 2010, the Blackhawks have failed to advance past the first round of the playoffs. With a 3-1 lead here in this series, they are on the verge of breaking that slump, and they are very hungry to do so. They are clearly the most talented team in the West this year, and the first round is just the beginning of what they are looking to accomplish. So, can they get it done here?

Red Wings at Ducks Picks and Game 5 NHL Odds
by Alan Matthews - 5/8/2013

I'll be honest with you: I have no idea what to make of the Red Wings-Ducks Western Conference quarterfinal series. Anaheim has fairly well dominated its two wins, taking them by a combined 7-1. Detroit, meanwhile, beat the Ducks 3-2 in overtime in Game 4 on Monday night to tie the series -- it’s the Wings' second OT win of this series. Thus, obviously, it could also have been a Ducks sweep.

Penguins at Islanders Picks and NHL Game 4 Odds
by Trevor Whenham - 5/7/2013

It was a mistake to totally discount and overlook these New York Islanders. Their core of talent is excellent, led by John Tavares — truly an elite talent in the NHL at this point. They are well-coached, have a veteran goaltender, and have proved how determined and resilient they are by grabbing and hanging onto a playoff spot in a brutal race to the finish in the Eastern Conference.

Capitals at Rangers Picks and NHL Game 3 Odds
by Dave Schwab - 5/6/2013

The Washington Capitals will take their show on the road this Monday night to Madison Square Garden with a 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven opening round playoff series against the New York Rangers. This matchup is scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m. (ET), and it will be broadcast nationally on the NBC Sports Network.

Maple Leafs at Bruins Picks and Game 2 NHL Odds
by Alan Matthews - 5/4/2013

At least the Toronto Maple Leafs are in the playoffs for the first time in nine years and provide a welcome distraction from the gigantic flop that is the Blue Jays. However, the Leafs apparently weren't ready for the increase in intensity in the postseason as they were dominated 4-1 Wednesday night in Boston in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference quarterfinals between the Original Six rivals. It's their first postseason meeting in 39 years.

Wild at Blackhawks Picks and Game 2 NHL Odds
by Dave Schwab - 5/3/2013

The Minnesota Wild and the Chicago Blackhawks will resume their opening-round playoff series this Friday night at the United Center in Game 2 of a best-of-seven series with Chicago holding the early 1-0 edge. The game is scheduled to start at 9:30 p.m. (ET), and it will be broadcast nationally on the NBC Sports Network.

Rangers at Capitals Picks and NHL Game 1 Betting Odds
by Trevor Whenham - 5/2/2013

The Rangers were not planning to open the playoffs on the road. In fact, heading into the season they were the favorites to win the Stanley Cup. They have fallen far short of expectations, though, and are frankly lucky to be playing at all. It was only in the last couple of weeks of the season that it became reasonably certain that the team would be in the postseason.

Islanders at Penguins Picks and Game 1 NHL Odds
by Alan Matthews - 5/1/2013

The overriding storyline entering the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs isn't about the Chicago Blackhawks, who won the Presidents' Trophy for the second time in franchise history and set an NHL record by starting the season with at least a point in 24 straight games. The playoffs also aren't about whether the Los Angeles Kings can become the first team to repeat as Cup champions since the Red Wings in 1997-98. The playoffs aren't about the Original Six Maple Leafs returning to the postseason for the first time in nine years.

Wild at Blackhawks Picks and Game 1 Betting Odds
by Trevor Whenham - 4/30/2013

The Blackhawks were the runaway winners of the President’s Trophy for the top regular season record in the NHL. The accomplishments really are staggering. They won three-quarters of their games — 36 of 48 — and lost just seven games in regulation. While that’s impressive, you can be sure that no player on the team cares at this point. This is a squad that hasn’t won a playoff series since winning the Stanley Cup in 2010, so you know that the trophy they have isn’t what they are aiming for. This is a team that is good enough to make a run all the way to the finals — and quite possibly win it all — and they know it.