The Leafs and Habs have combined for 24 goals over their last three matchups along with Montreal possessing a 7-5-1 record over their last 13 matchups
Saturday is the best night of the week for NHL action and tonight shouldn’t disappoint with 11 matchups that showcase some exciting storylines to close out the season like the battle for the Atlantic Division title between the Bruins and Panthers as the two are just four points apart.
Other exciting matchups are the Islanders looking to continue their race towards the playoffs and extend their winning streak to four when taking on the Predators at home. The matchup most people will be watching will be the Leafs and Habs who will face off against each other for the 768th time in their history.
It’ll be an eventful night and with so many games to bet on, you’ll want the most chances to make some big time profits. Lucky for you, we’ve throughly researched these picks to give you the best chance at starting off your weekend on the right foot.
All betting lines are from BetMGM and are subject to change. Hockey is a difficult sport to predict so please gamble responsibly.
Bet: Panthers Bruins Over 5.5 goals (-115)
The Bruins have consistently stayed in the picture for most of this season with dominant play but no red hot streaks like the likes of the Oilers or Predators. Florida has been up for most of the season as well while making pushes for the top spot in the Division before falling back behind the Bruins and going 3-7-1 over their last 11 games heading into tonight’s matchup.
Boston threatens the season sweep tonight as they’ve topped the Panthers in all three of their matchups earlier this season. Each game was close with two of the games going under seven goals. The total for this matchup is hard to call as both teams have elite offenses, but can also shut down opponents with their elite defensive units and goaltending.
Florida is one of the few NHL teams that play better on the road with a 9-4-1 record and the second-best offense with 55 goals over their last 14 road games. They’ve also been successful when playing in the Garden with wins in three of their last four trips to Boston.
They will want to bounce back and head into the playoffs on the right now which makes me believe we’ll see a high-scoring affair as the Cats will want to win this one and avoid the season sweep while their goaltending as shown holes as of late with Sergei Bobrovsky repping a 3-5-1 record and a goals against average of 3.09 along with a save percentage of .888 in his last nine starts.
Boston will very much want to take advantage with their top eight home offense that is averaging 3.45 goals per game that should score a few on the Panthers, who’ve allowed five or more goals in three straight games.
Bet: Flyers ML (-165), Flyers Blue Jackets Under 6.5 (-120)
The Flyers have started freefalling their way out of the playoffs with six straight losses heading into tonight with a must-win game against Columbus. Flyers expected starter Samuel Ersson had been one of the season’s best stories but has gone ice cold over his last ten starts with a 4.09 goals against average and a .848 save percentage.
Columbus can be a perfect bounce back spot for the team with the Blue Jackets generating almost no offense lately with the fifth-worst goals per game rate since the All-Star break at 2.69 per game with a 9-15-2 record to boot.
They are also bottom five in goals against average allowing 3.54 a game with adjustments needing to be made like fresh face Jet Greaves between the pipes tonight.
The 23-year-old Cambridge native would be starting in just his fourth NHL game and reps a 3.04 average and an impressive .917 save percentage. His play will certainly push back the Flyers and make it a competitive game which makes the under also feel like a great play as Greaves may do his best to keep his team in the game, but ultimately fails due to their lack of offense.
Bet: Canadiens Over 2.5 goals (-135), Maple Leafs Canadiens Over 6.5 goals (-105)
The Habs have been a feisty team as of late with wins over the likes of the Panthers, Avalanche and the declining Flyers while keeping games close against the Oilers and Bruins. They look to bring the heat against their rivals in the Maple Leafs who’ve bested them in four straight matchups.
Surprisingly, the four straight wins don’t hold Montreal back as they still hold the better record in this matchup at 7-5-1 over their last 13 games. These two always have fireworks in their matchups with 24 goals over their last three matchups.
Toronto’s starting netminder Ilya Samsonov has been rocky as of late with a 3.02 average that has been overshadowed thanks to the Leafs red hot offense. Montreal’s Sam Montembeault has also been mediocre lately with just three wins and a goals against average of 2.98 over his last 12 games.
The Habs have scored three or more goals against the Leafs in five of their last six matchups in Montreal and should again tonight in a very high-scoring game.