Ryan Hodges
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In the final week of the season, there is still plenty left to shake out in the playoff picture. The wildcard in both conferences is very much up for grabs, as is the seedings for teams that have already clinched. Plenty of games recently have felt like the playoffs have already begun. Monday will not be any different. This will be a great night of hockey to kick off the week.
If you’re looking to combine a few plays that have value, check out this NHL mega parlay that has +1119 odds with DraftKings Sportsbook.
Maple Leafs vs Panthers over 7 (+100)
Flames -1.5 (+130) vs Predators
Canucks ML (+165) vs Kings
NHL parlay odds: +1119
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Toronto Maple Leafs vs Florida Panthers over 7 (+100)
The Panthers are playing for their playoff lives tonight as they cling to a wildcard spot by just a point. They really need the 2 points from this game. In such an important game, the Panthers will lean on what has worked this season, and that has been their offensive production. Florida scores the 5th most goals per game in the NHL and they have the 10th best power play. They also score the 5th most goals per game at 5 on 5 strength. If the Panthers are going to be successful, they need produce as opposed to just scoring 2-3 goals and playing a containment style. Florida is also very volatile on the defensive side of the puck. That combination of good goal scoring but weaker goal prevention is the reason the over is 42-30-8 this year for them including 22-15-2 on the road.
The Panthers rank 21st in the NHL in goal prevention. That is something that a deep, elite team like the Maple Leafs can take advantage of as they have shown twice this season against the Panthers. In 3 head-to-head matchups, Toronto won 2 games by scores of 5-4 and 6-2, and Florida won the other by a score of 3-2. These teams are no strangers to crooked numbers, especially playing each other. Given the talent on each side and overall team strengths and weaknesses, a high total looks good again at +100. This game sets up well to bring the 11th over in the last 15 games between Toronto and Florida.
Check out our best NHL predictions for each matchup on today’s 10-game slate
Calgary Flames -1.5 (+130) vs Nashville Predators
Both the Flames and Predators are on the outside looking in. Calgary is just a point back of the Jets for the final wildcard spot and Nashville is 3 points back. But this game may have more pressure for the Flames as they only have 1 game left after tonight whereas the Predators have 2. The Flames have played very good hockey down the stretch at a crucial time of the season. They have been playing playoff-style hockey for the past month. Calgary is 6-2-1 in their last 9 games, and they are 10-4-3 in their last 17. Among those 10 wins, the Flames beat the Stars, Wild, Golden Knights, Kings, and Jets. Those are all playoff bound teams and wins that legitimize the Flames. They just hope it is not too little too late.
Things have been a bit more volatile for the Predators recently which is kind of a microcosm of their season. They just cannot be relied on in a big spot. Their goaltenders have absolutely dragged the team into contention and still are 3 points out of the wildcard. Nashville is 4-5-0 in their last 9 games and they have 4 losses in their last 6 games played on the road. They score the 5th least goals per game in the NHL and have the 6th worst power play. None of this is to say the Preds are a bad team, they just haven’t shown the consistency to rely on them to win outright or even cover against a hot team.
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Vancouver Canucks ML (+165) vs Los Angeles Kings
If the Canucks had any shot to land Connor Bedard when they made a mid-season coaching change, those chances are bleak now. Vancouver has turned things around and played some very good hockey under Rick Tocchet and company. The Canucks are 5-2-2 in their last 9 games and have won 12 out of their last 18. They also have the Kings’ number. Vancouver has won 2 of the 3 head-to-head matchups this season. They have also won 9 out of the last 11 games played against Los Angeles over the past few seasons. The Kings enter this game not exactly in prime form as they are currently on a 3-game losing streak and have 2 wins in their last 6. All of the sudden this +165 number looks great.
The Canucks have also been great against the spread (ATS) lately. This is an outright underdog money line pick, but their numbers against the spread reinforce that this will be a close game at the very least. They are 8-2 against the spread in their last 10 including covering their last 3 straight on the road in that span. That recent stretch pads their 46-30-3 record ATS on the season and 26-11-1 record ATS on the road. Again, that does not guarantee a win. But it appears more likely that this will be 1 goal game that could easily go the Canucks’ way based on their recent performance. This +165 value is too good to pass up.
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