NHL Top Picks for Today (3 Favorites to Back on April 12)
I don't know what the NHL schedule-maker had on their mind for this week, but we had a one-game slate last night and now we have 14 games set for tonight.
Let's get hot as the season heads into its final stretch with the postseason less than a month away. For the first time in the history of my NHL best bets article, I'm going chalky tonight and backing three favorites.
All odds listed below are via WynnBET Sportsbook.
Hurricanes vs. Rangers Prediction and Pick
As I've been saying all season, the Rangers will go as far as Igor Shesterkin will take them. He has a 2.07 goals against average and a .935 save percentage, which is especially impressive considering the Rangers rank 25th in high danger scoring chances allowed this season.
With that being said, I can't bet on a team solely because of their goaltender. One below average game from him, and New York is doomed. That could very well be a fault of my own, but I'll gladly take the Hurricanes as slight favorites.
They're first in the NHL in CORSI% over their last 25 games, second in expected goals per 60 minutes, and fourth in expected goals against per 60 minutes. I can't ignore those elite stats.
Pick: Hurricanes -125
Blues vs. Bruins Prediction and Pick
The Blues have a lot of underlying issues, especially when you look at advanced analytics. For example, they're 20th in CORSI%, 15th in expected goals per 60 minutes, and 23rd in expected goals against per 60 minutes.
A lot of those issues have been masked by accurate shooting and strong goaltending. They rank first in shooting percentage, finding the back of the net on 11.9 percent of shot attempts, and they're also eighth in team save percentage.
With that being said, it's hard to go against a Bruins team that is one of the best defensive teams in the league. They're first in expected goals against per 60 minutes, so I expect them to successfully shut down the Blues at home tonight.
Pick: Bruins -155
Kings vs. Blackhawks Prediction and Pick
If you've read any of my NHL best bets articles, you know that I'm obsessed with betting on the Kings. Their advanced anayltics are too good to pass up, despite struggling to find the back of the net at times.
Meanwhile, the Blackhawks are one of the worst teams in the league from an advanced analytics standpoints. Let's take a look at where the two teams ranks in some key areas. The Kings are sixth in CORSI%, 11th in expected goals per 60 minutes, and eighth in expected goals against per 60 minutes. Chicago, on the other hand, ranks 28th, 31st, and 21st in those three respective categories.
As a cherry on top, the Kings have been one of the better road teams in the NHL this season, sporting a road record of 18-9-5.
Pick: Kings -145
You can track Iain's bets on Betstamp here.