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

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.

Penguins at Hurricanes Picks and NHL Betting Odds
by Trevor Whenham - 4/9/2013

One team needs to get back on track after a brief blip on their seemingly inevitable march to the Stanley Cup Finals. The Penguins also need to shake a whole bunch of recent bad luck. The other team just needs this season to end. For the Hurricanes the playoffs are still a mathematical possibility but nothing more. It’s a mismatch, but there are enough storylines in this one to make for a reasonably interesting game for a Tuesday night in April.

Oilers at Ducks Picks and NHL Betting Odds
by Dave Schwab - 4/8/2013

The Edmonton Oilers will try and make up some ground in their chase for a playoff spot in the West this Monday night against one of the top two teams in the conference when they clash with the Anaheim Ducks at the Honda Center. This game is set to get underway at 10:00 p.m. (ET), and it will be available on NHL Center Ice.

Capitals at Panthers Picks and NHL Betting Odds
by Alan Matthews - 4/6/2013

When Washington visits south Florida to face the Panthers on Saturday night, it will be two teams with vastly different outlooks on the rest of the regular season even though for a while the clubs looked very similar (i.e. bad).

Rangers at Penguins Picks and NHL Betting Odds
by Dave Schwab - 4/5/2013

The New York Rangers and the Pittsburgh Penguins will wrap up the back end of a home-and-home series this Friday night at the CONSOL Energy Center in another huge Atlantic Division showdown. The puck is set to drop at 7 p.m. (ET), and it will be broadcast nationally on the NHL Network.

Blue Jackets at Predators Picks and NHL Betting Odds
by Trevor Whenham - 4/4/2013

The Columbus Blue Jackets and Nashville Predators have virtually identical records. Nashville has 38 points, thanks to 15 wins, 14 losses and eight overtime losses. Columbus has played one fewer game and has one less point thanks to one less overtime loss. Right now 38 points is enough for the final playoff spot in the West, though St. Louis currently has played three fewer points than Nashville, so they have the edge.

Canadiens at Flyers Picks and NHL Betting Odds
by Alan Matthews - 4/3/2013

The NHL's trade deadline is Wednesday, and you can probably only count maybe 6-8 teams who are 100 percent sellers and not buyers. Some teams are selling not because they are out of the playoff race but want a head start on getting under next year's salary cap, which drops from around $70 million to $64 million

Sabres at Penguins Picks and NHL Betting Odds
by Trevor Whenham - 4/2/2013

Sometimes you have to really work to find a storyline or two to make a game interesting — especially in a situation like this where one team is clearly not heading to the playoffs. What makes this game so very interesting, though, is that there are so many storylines to look at that it is almost ridiculous. Let’s just look at six that are going to be a factor in this one:

Rangers at Canadiens Picks and NHL Betting Odds
by Alan Matthews - 3/30/2013

Are the New York Rangers actually showing fiscal restraint? Or do they not have much that teams want in trade? The Blueshirts were never going to get Calgary star Jarome Iginla, who shockingly landed with the absolutely loaded Pittsburgh Penguins. Iginla didn’t have the Rangers among the few teams he would waive his no-trade clause for. Iginla would be exactly what the Rangers need as somehow the talented group ranks second-to-last in the NHL in goals per game at 2.27. Think New York is happy he’s going to Pittsburgh?

Ducks at Blackhawks Picks and NHL Betting Odds
by Dave Schwab - 3/29/2013

The Anaheim Ducks and the Chicago Blackhawks will square off against one another this Friday night at the United Center in what should be a preview of this season’s Western Conference Finals. The game is slated to get underway at 8:30 p.m. (ET), and it will be broadcast nationally on the NHL Network.

Islanders at Flyers Picks and NHL Betting Odds
by Trevor Whenham - 3/28/2013

One team is deep in the playoff hunt but can’t afford to lose. The other one is pretty much just playing out the string unless miracles start to happen very soon. Given these teams and what they have done in recent years, it isn’t that surprising that that is the storyline. What is shocking, though, is it is New York that is in the hunt and the Flyers that have wasted their season.

Ducks at Sharks Picks and NHL Betting Odds
by Alan Matthews - 3/27/2013

Perhaps I jinxed the Anaheim Ducks. Last Wednesday, Anaheim hosted the Chicago Blackhawks in easily the most-anticipated game of the season thus far. It was a tremendous game, too, with the Ducks scoring three goals in the final five minutes-plus to win 4-2 and extend their franchise-record home winning streak to 13 games. I had recommended Anaheim and the “under” 5.5 goals – the “over” hit on an empty-netter in the final seconds.