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

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.

Red Wings at Stars Picks and NHL Betting Odds
by Alan Matthews - 4/27/2013

The NHL's current longest postseason drought will end this season with the Toronto Maple Leafs into the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2004. The Detroit Red Wings have the longest active playoff streak in the four major American pro sports at 21 straight seasons. That is on the line Saturday in Dallas as the Wings finish their final season in the Western Conference ahead of next season's realignment, which, awesomely, will pair the rival Wings and Leafs in the same division. Gas was on average $1.34 a gallon the last time Detroit missed the playoffs, by the way.

Oilers at Wild Picks and NHL Betting Odds
by Dave Schwab - 4/26/2013

The Edmonton Oilers will try and play the role of spoiler in a Northwest Division clash against the Minnesota Wild this Friday night at the Xcel Energy Center. The game is set to get underway at 8 p.m. (ET), and it will be broadcast nationally on the NHL Network.

Candiens at Jets Picks and NHL Betting Odds
by Trevor Whenham - 4/25/2013

Absolutely everything is on the line here for the Jets. They are the first team to finish their season, and they have very slim playoff hopes. In order to make the postseason for the first time since 2007 and only the second time in the history of the franchise, they need to win this game and then hope that the Senators lose their final three games and the Rangers drop their last two.

Blackhawks at Oilers Picks and NHL Betting Odds
by Alan Matthews - 4/24/2013

The Chicago Blackhawks say they don't care about winning the Presidents' Trophy given to the team with the most points in the NHL's regular season. I tend to believe them as it seems to be a curse. Since the Presidents’ Trophy was created for the 1985-86 season, just seven teams that earned it also hoisted the Stanley Cup. Last year the Canucks won the Trophy for the second year in a row and were knocked off in five games by the No. 8 L.A. Kings, the eventual Cup champs.

Flames at Predators Picks and NHL Betting Odds
by Trevor Whenham - 4/23/2013

I have been a fan of the Calgary Flames since they moved to my hometown in 1980. I went to the first game they ever played here and have gone to dozens of games since. Because of my long association, I couldn’t possibly be more frustrated with the team than I have been over the last week or so. They have been truly awful all year, are short of prospects, and were major sellers at the Trade Deadline.

Blackhawks at Canucks Picks and NHL Betting Odds
by Dave Schwab - 4/22/2013

The Chicago Blackhawks will square off against the Vancouver Canucks this Monday night at the Rogers Center in a clash between two of the best teams in the Western Conference. Game time for this showdown is set for 10 p.m. (ET), and it will be broadcast nationally on the NHL Network.

Predators at Blackhawks Picks and NHL Betting Odds
by Dave Schwab - 4/19/2013

The Nashville Predators will try and snap a seven-game skid in one of the hardest places to win a game this season when they face the Chicago Blackhawks this Friday night at the United Center. This Central Division matchup is slated to get underway at 8:30 p.m. (ET), and it will be broadcast nationally on the NBC Sports Network.

Islanders at Maple Leafs Picks and NHL Betting Odds
by Trevor Whenham - 4/18/2013

There are playoff implications for both the New York Islanders and the Toronto Maple Leafs here — and that’s surprising since neither team is exactly familiar with the postseason. Toronto last made the playoffs in 2004, and the Islanders have only been in once since then — a brief five-game appearance in 2007. The Leafs are all but certain to end their streak of futility, but they sit just three points behind the suddenly-struggling Bruins for fourth place.

Canadiens at Penguins Picks and NHL Betting Odds
by Alan Matthews - 4/17/2013

It's a potential Eastern Conference Finals preview on Wednesday night in Pittsburgh as the two current top seeds in the East face off when Montreal visits. If the Habs have any chance of catching Pittsburgh for the top spot in the East, this is a must-win. The Pens lead the Canadiens by seven points with six games remaining for both teams (including this one). Pittsburgh still has an outside shot at winning the Presidents' Trophy for the NHL's top overall seed, but it is six points behind West-leading Chicago, which also has six games left.

Hurricanes at Senators Picks and NHL Betting Odds
by Trevor Whenham - 4/16/2013

I’ve written about a whole lot of games in my career. Thankfully, though, it’s very rare that I have to do what I have to do now — figure out how being somewhat affected by a truly horrible news story will impact a team.

Senators at Bruins Picks and NHL Betting Odds
by Dave Schwab - 4/15/2013

The Ottawa Senators will travel to TD Garden this Monday night to square off against the Boston Bruins in what could end up being a preview of a first round matchup in the upcoming Stanley Cup Playoffs. This Northeast Division showdown is set to get underway at 7 p.m. (ET), and it will be available on NHL Center Ice.

Rangers at Islanders Picks and NHL Betting Odds
by Alan Matthews - 4/13/2013

I always cringe when I hear the word "biggest" when it involves a New York sports team's game. Everything is always "biggest" in the Big Apple because New York is the media and, thus, hype capital of the world. Pretty much every major TV network is headquartered there, and ESPN is essentially in a New York suburb. But for once, I think using biggest is accurate in that Saturday's game between the Rangers and Islanders is the biggest in that rivalry in many years.

Coyotes at Flames Picks and NHL Betting Odds
by Dave Schwab - 4/12/2013

The Phoenix Coyotes will try and keep their playoff hopes alive when they take on the Calgary Flames this Friday night at the ScotiaBank Saddledome. This Western Conference clash is scheduled for a 9 p.m. (ET) start, and the game will be available on NHL Center Ice.

Sharks at Red Wings Picks and NHL Betting Odds
by Trevor Whenham - 4/11/2013

Suddenly, this game really, really matters for both teams involved. That’s what happens as the end of the season nears and the standings are impossibly tight. The Sharks aren’t going to win their division because Anaheim has been so strong. They are, however, in a tight battle with several teams, including hated divisional rivals the Kings, for the coveted fourth spot in the standings. Finishing there means home-ice advantage in at least the first round of the playoffs, and that is very significant in the NHL. As of Wednesday the team sat in fifth, a point behind the Kings and one ahead of Minnesota and St. Louis. They have nine games remaining, so getting hot now could pay real dividends.

Bruins at Devils Picks and NHL Betting Odds
by Alan Matthews - 4/10/2013

Are we witnessing the final games in the career of future Hall of Famer Martin Brodeur? The Devils legend will turn 41 next month, and he's still been very good when healthy this season with a 10-5-7 record, 2.18 goals-against average and .908 save percentage. However, the Devils have lost seven in a row for the first time in 27 years to drop to a tie for No. 9 in the Eastern Conference, two points behind the Rangers and Islanders.