Ryan Hodges
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For the first time in the history of the NHL, there is a 16-game slate! Okay, sure. That is because until last season, there were not enough teams in the league for that to mathematically be the case. Nevertheless, Saturday is an absolute treat for hockey fans; there will be games literally all day and all night. Either hit a local establishment with plenty of TVs or add another screen in your basement, because this is a loaded day with several playoff implications that you will not want to miss.
If you’re looking to combine a few plays that have value, check out this NHL mega parlay that has +1085 odds with DraftKings Sportsbook.
New York Rangers -1.5 (-110) vs Columbus Blue Jackets
St. Louis Blues vs Minnesota Wild Over 6 (-110)
Seattle Kraken -1.5 and Over 6 (+225) vs Chicago Blackhawks
NHL parlay odds: +1085
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New York Rangers -1.5 (-110) vs Columbus Blue Jackets
Put very plainly, the Rangers are very good and the Blue Jackets are very bad. Their respective spots in the standings reflect that, and their respective recent play continues to reflect that. Since March 9, a week after the traded deadline at which the Rangers made serious moves, they are 11-2-3. They beat both good and bad teams during that stretch, both at home and on the road, and in both high-scoring games and low-scoring games. This team can beat any team in any style the opponent wants to play. The Rangers will not mail it in in this game as they look to continue to build their team’s chemistry and get hot entering the playoffs.
The Blue Jackets have lost 6 out of their last 7 games, including a 6-2 setback at the hands of the Rangers. A repeat result would not be surprising at all given the caliber and current forms of these teams. In their last 10 games, the Jackets are 3-6-1 with a -29 goal differential. Even with 3 wins, they averaged a -2.9 goal differential per game. Removing those wins, they lost those other games by an average of 3.71 goals. For most of the season — but especially lately — when the Blue Jackets lose, they lose big. The Rangers are looking to get hot in the next week, and the Blue Jackets are incentivized to lose via higher odds to win the draft lottery. This one should be all New York.
Check out our best NHL predictions for each matchup on today’s 3-game slate
St. Louis Blues vs Minnesota Wild Over 6 (-110)
These teams have met 3 times this season. Despite one of those games ending with a total of 3 goals, there have been 23 goals scored in the season series for an average game total of 7.67. Over the past season plus, when the Wild and Blues meet the totals typically rise. The over has hit in 12 of the last 17 games played between these division rivals. Another total over would be par for the course for a Blues game. The over 47-26-6 in Blues games this season, including 26-9-4 on the road. Recently the total has also gone over in 7 of their last 9 games, as well as in their last 5 straight on the road. There is no indication that all of the sudden St. Louis will go out this season on a run of low-scoring affairs.
The Blues rank 26th in the NHL in goals allowed per game. It is why they were eliminated from playoff contention, and it is why their totals climb. They have allowed 29 goals in their last 7 games for an average of 4.14. That is a good start toward the over. But they also have scored 38 goals in their last 9 for an average of 4.22. The Wild have allowed 4+ goals in 4 of their last 6 games and in 6 of their last 11. The door will be open for both teams to produce, which looks great for the over once again.
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Seattle Kraken -1.5 and Over 6 (+225) vs Chicago Blackhawks
The Kraken clinched the playoffs this week for the franchise’s first playoff berth in just their second season in existence. They hit a bit of a lull but have played some very good hockey at a very important time of year. Seattle is 6-2-1 in their last 9 games and have been successful by flexing their NHL 4th-ranked goal scoring. In that 9-game span, the Kraken have scored 36 goals for an average of 4.00. In their last 3 games they have outscored opponents 17-5. In their 3 prior wins still during that 9-game span, they won by a combined score of 16-7. Lately, when Seattle wins it runs up the score and absolutely pours it on.
Seattle and Chicago have met twice this season in games that both flew by the over with a total of 9 in the first game and 13 in the second game. Seattle scored 12 of those goals and Chicago scored 10. Something about the way these teams matchup bodes well for the over. The Kraken should reinforce their recent trends and score 4+ goals. Against the Blackhawks, that is very doable. The Blackhawks would then just need to score a couple goals to do their part in contributing to a high total. As shown multiple times against each other, they should both be able to do their part and fly by the total again. In what is a very lopsided matchup in favor of the Kraken, look for those trends to continue.
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