Montreal Canadiens rookie Ivan Demidov is poised to put together a breakout performance versus Chicago Blackhawks Monday

Monday night is the ultimate opportunity for NHL fans, with a loaded slate of thrilling matchups that fans eagerly anticipate. The game that sticks out is one with the Montreal Canadiens, who are looking to bounce back after a tough 1-0 loss to the Maple Leafs on Saturday and clinch their first playoff berth since losing in the 2021 Stanley Cup Finals. 

They will take on a Chicago Blackhawks team that can't wait for the season to end after finishing with the second-worst record in the league at 23-46-11 and the second-worst defence with a 3.58 goals against average.

For bettors, this matchup provides a chance to capitalize on some of our recent strong trends, like our 9-3 record on our last 12 picks and our 17-6 record on our last 23 underdog picks.

All betting lines are from FanDuel Sportsbook and are subject to change. Hockey is a difficult sport to predict so please gamble responsibly.

More NHL: NHL Betting Roundup: Demidov and Nikishin To Make Debut, Landeskog Return

Chicago Blackhawks vs Montreal Canadiens Best Bets:

• Ivan Demidov anytime goal (+230)
• Ivan Demidov Over 1.5 shots on goal (-160)
• Habs -1.5 (-114)
• Nick Suzuki Over 0.5 assists (-162)

One of the hottest players in the NHL right now is Habs captain Nick Suzuki with 14 goals and 21 assists for 35 points over his last 24 games since the Four Nations break. He has helped carry Montreal into a playoff spot as they've managed a 14-5-5 record during his hot streak. 

They are on the verge of securing a playoff berth and have called in the reinforcements to get the job done. Top prospect Ivan Demidov will be making his NHL debut Monday with many comparing him to the new all-time leading goal scorer in Alex Ovechkin. 

More Betting: Early Stanley Cup Playoffs Bets to Explore Before First Round is Set

Demidov, 19, is coming off a season where he dominated in Russia's KHL while playing with SKA St. Petersburg and recorded 49 points in 65 games. He started skating with Montreal this past weekend and was impressive to say the least, making through the legs moves and stride dekes to get past some of NHL level defencemen.

He is expected to slot into the third line alongside centre Alex Newhook and winger Joel Armia, who are both due for a goal. 

Canadiens' Ivan Demidov Targeting His NHL Debut | Saturday HeadlinesElliotte Friedman joins Ron MacLean to talk some of the NHL’s top stories, including the Edmonton Oilers preparing to potentially lose Mattias Ekholm, Ivan D...

I'm expecting a shining welcome party for the young superstar as Demidov will be playing in his first NHL game against a very vulnerable Blackhawks backend that the Habs have been able to regularly dominate with a 4-1-0 record and 17 goals scored over their last five games versus Chicago.

Montreal should be able to get the job done and secure their playoff spot in an easy win. 

More NHL:Blues Enter Stanley Cup Playoffs As Dark Horse Contender

NHL Bets to look at following recent news like Hurricanes and Habs getting top prospects, Avalanche to get back Gabe Landeskog

The NHL season is almost over with few games mattering as the playoff picture takes shape and makes great values, harder to find than ever. As we anxiously await the start of the postseason, there is some news around the league that we can look to and find a potential play within the story.

All betting lines are from FanDuel Sportsbook and are subject to change. Hockey is a difficult sport to predict so please gamble responsibly.

Top Prospect Alexander Nikishin joins the Carolina Hurricanes

The Canes have hit a rough patch recently with four straight losses but fans shouldn't worry as they've called for backup. Carolina will get their 2020 third-round pick into the lineup for the first time and the 23-year-old defenceman should make an impact. Over the last three seasons in the KHL, Nikishin has flourished into a must-see talent with impressive offence from the backend that totalled 45 goals and 112 assists for 157 through 193 games.

The 6-foot-4 blueliner has also proven to be a difference-maker when it counts, playing with physicality that should translate to the Stanley Cup playoffs, while also adding subtle offence with 12 points over his last 25 KHL playoff games.

Alexander Nikishin has a lethal one-timer #hockey #boom #carolinahurricanesundefined

Carolina has the second-highest odds to win the East at +330 and once Nikishin makes his impact felt, I predict they will be rolling through their final four games and will drop their odds closer to the top ranked Panthers, who sit with +310 odds.

The Hurricanes bring a wealth of playoff experience, having won a playoff series in each of the past six seasons and securing multiple series victories in two of those years.

Carolina to beat the injury-plagued Devils at -250 is a free win but we would also suggest an early shot at an Eastern Conference championship as the Capitals may be out of gas after helping captain Alex Ovechkin break the all-time goal record plus the Atlantic teams like the Panthers, Bolts and Maple Leafs may feed on each other before making the Conference Finals. Don't wait on the Canes as Nikishin will make sure they look like nothing but Stanley Cup favourites.

Habs Get Russian Superstar Ivan Demidov Early, Expected to Maker Debut Monday Versus Chicago

The Habs have been blazing hot with a 14-5-5 record since the Four Nations break. They've managed to leapfrog several contenders and put themselves in the last Eastern Wild Card spot. Montreal is set up for a first round matchup versus the top seed in the East with the Washington Capitals.

Canadiens top prospect Ivan Demidov terminated his KHL deal & signed with Montreal 👀 (via KHL_eng/X)Canadiens top prospect Ivan Demidov terminated his KHL deal & signed with Montreal 👀 (via KHL_eng/X)✔️ Subscribe to ESPN+ https://plus.espn.com/✔️ Get the E...

This could set up for a massive series back in Russia as Ovechkin will line up against the next big Russian star in Montreal's Ivan Demidov, who is joining the team to finish off the season. The 19-year-old winger was the Habs' first round pick this past year, where he was selected fifth overall. He went back to play in Russia's KHL for SKA St. Petersburg, where he recorded almost 50 points in 65 games.

Some experts are calling him the best prospect out of Russia since Ovechkin himself and would make the first round series between Montreal and Washington must-see tv. Demidov's role hasn't been lined out just yet but if he makes his debut Monday, he should be able to take advantage and get on the scoresheet at least once against a Blackhawks defence, that has the second-worst goals against average at 3.57 this season.

Whatever the odds are for a Demidov point, I would suggest taking it as he should have an explosive NHL debut.

Avalanche Captain Gabriel Landeskog On Verge of NHL Return after Long Battle with Injuries

The Aves haven't had their captain in the lineup since winning the Stanley Cup in 2022 and since they've struggled without his leadership with one playoff series win over the last two seasons.

Landeskog, 32, has finally returned to the ice this past week after being sidelined for nearly three years with a severe knee injury that require multiple surgeries to repair it.

Some thought he may never play again but he prevailed despite all odds and is now at the AHL with the Colorado Eagles on a conditioning assignment to get the longtime Avalanche captain back up to speed. Colorado is slated for a first-round matchup with the Dallas Stars and should make for a stellar series between the third and fifth-best teams in the West.

The odds are dead even for the series with each team having -110 odds to advance to the second round but when Landeskog makes his return, it'll ignite a fire in the Avalanche locker room that many teams may not be able to handle. It may be wise to get in on them early as they have +500 odds to Western Conference and +850 odds to win the Cup. 

Stanley Cup Playoffs start April 19 with few value bets left ahead of first round

The NHL Playoffs are fast approaching and despite the first round not being set just yet we can already starting taking bets for what we think will happen.

All season, we've been looking at future bets for the Stanley Cup, each conference and division as well as awards to be handed out.

We now finally get to add to it with some predictions on how the first round will go. We explore who will go on a potential run and who will bow out early in disappointing fashion. 

All betting lines are from FanDuel Sportsbook and are subject to change. Hockey is a difficult sport to predict so please gamble responsibly.

More NHL: Safe Bets to Close Out the NHL Season: Top Picks for Parlays and Futures

Edmonton Oilers to Win 1+ Playoff Series (-156)

The Kings have been rolling this season with a 44-24-9 record that has them slated to have home-ice in their first round matchup likely versus the Edmonton Oilers. 

The defending Western Conference Champions have been missing key players down the final stretch like superstars Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl as well as top pair defenceman Mattias Ekholm. They will be rested and hopefully healthy heading into a matchup against a Kings team that is very home-dependant. 

LA is tied with the Winnipeg Jets for the best home record in the NHL at 29-5-4 but this overshadows the Kings abysmal 15-19-5 road record. This places them behind the likes of the Flames, Canucks and Utah Hockey Club, who are all expected to miss the playoffs.

The Kings have won just once in their last eight trips to Edmonton and could prevent them from moving on to the second round. 

More NHL: Expect Canadiens To Clinch Final Eastern Wild Card Spot

The Oilers have bonfied stars that carried them to a 7-6 road record last postseason. Because of this and the lack of star power for LA, I expect the Kings to struggle in at least one home game that Edmonton should be able to edge out and take a stranglehold of the series. 

Toronto Maple Leafs to Win 1+ Playoff Series (-122)

Expecting that Toronto would get past the first round used to be a tall order but after years of troubleshooting and putting together a solid roster full of star talent, this is the best chance to win ever.

The amount of mythbusters being surpassed by this group is starting to create a feeling like the Leafs can finally do real damage for once. They are pegged to get a first round matchup easier than most against an inexperienced Ottawa Senators team. 

Linus Ullmark Gifts One To Auston Matthews 😱#NHL #Hockey #shorts #NHLshorts #NHLhighlights #MapleLeafs #Leafs #TorontoMapleLeafs #Toronto #Senators #OttawaSenators #Ottawa

Facing off against the tenth-youngest team in the league should give Toronto a confidence-building series that as a franchise, they could really use.

Ottawa has downed the Maple Leafs four straight times this season but playoff hockey is a different atmosphere with Toronto simply having far more experience. 

More NHL:Blues Enter Stanley Cup Playoffs As Dark Horse Contender

This team has dealt with the heartbreak of multiple hard losses and will be more motivated to get the job done against a red hot Senators team that is due for a cool off. The confidence built during this round will play the biggest factor in how challenging the second round will be. 

Toronto Maple Leafs to Win 2+ Playoff Series (+310)

The current assumption is that the Battle of Florida will take the most out of both the Panthers and Lightning with each side having a sizeable amount of playoff experience and should make for a captivating series. 

The biggest hope for the Maple Leafs is that this chips away at the already beat up Florida Panthers, who have missed many key players lately in captain Aleksander Barkov as well as star forwards Matthew Tkachuk and Sam Reinhart.

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If the Cats can make it out of Tampa, it'll be likely without one of their stars and this should bold well for the Leafs. 

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If the Bolts prevail, the Maple Leafs should enter with more confidence as they will be able to say they beat Tampa Bay the last time they squared off in the playoffs plus beat them three straight matchups this season.

A Toronto team making the conference Finals isn't out of the question so long as all the chips fall the right way for the Maple Leafs.

Best betting opportunities for the NHL’s final stretch, with expert picks to add for parlays or future bets

The NHL season is wrapping up with every team playing their final eight or so games. With so little time remaining, it's tough to find great values at this stage of the season. However, what we can focus on is identifying bets with a high probability of hitting, as they are less likely to go wrong with so few games remaining.

Whether you're looking to place a larger bet for a solid return or need an additional leg for a future bet in another sport, here are some of our safest picks to close out the NHL season—perfect for adding to your parlays.

All betting lines are from FanDuel Sportsbook and are subject to change. Hockey is a difficult sport to predict so please gamble responsibly.

2025 NHL Draft 1st Overall Pick - The Field vs James Hagens (-550)

The debate around the first overall pick this season has seen it's ups and downs with Boston College forward James Hagens seemingly being the unanimous pick but since other names have past him on several notable draft boards.

Schaefer goes coast-to-coast in the Prospect Challenge! 🇨🇦🆚🇺🇸Erie Otters 1st overall pick and Canadian prospect Matthew Schaefer goes coast-to-coast to put Team Canada up 4-0 against Team USA in the 2024 CHL vs. USA Pr...

Sportsnet's Sam Cosentino, TSN's Craig Button, The Hockey News' Ryan Kennedy and legendary Junior Hockey journalist Bob McKenzie are some of the many established insiders that have Erie Otters defenceman Matthew Schaefer as the top pick in the draft class. The Hockey News' Tony Ferrari also doesn't have Hagens as the top pick but instead has Saginaw Spirit forward Michael Misa as the top pick.

Hagens on most draft boards has fallen outside of the top three with Mississauga Steelheads forward Porter Martone rounding out the top with Schaefer and Misa. It would be surprising for Hagens to reinsert himself into the conversation for the first pick after being widely-considered the fourth-best player on almost every expert's draft board. It would be a big leap, which certainly isn't out of the realm of possibility, but for jump in draft stock of that size needed, I'm willing to bet against Hagens. 

More NHL: The GR8 Chase: Predicting When Alex Ovechkin Breaks Wayne Gretzky's All-Time Goal Record

Winnipeg Jets Win Central Division (-290)

The Jets are in the driver seat to win the President's trophy with a one point lead over the Capitals with 108 points and a four-point lead over the Dallas Stars for the Division lead. Winnipeg should be able to lock things up with their sizeable lead that they should be able to add to and put out of reach with upcoming matchups versus the Blackhawks, Ducks and Utah. 

More NHL: Expect Canadiens To Clinch Final Eastern Wild Card Spot

Calgary Flames to Miss Playoffs (-530)

The playoff picture is all but set with the Blues getting hot at the right time with 11 straight wins and overtaking the Wild for the first wild card spot. This bumped Minnesota down to the second wild card spot and a five-point lead over the next-closest team in the Calgary Flames.

The mountain seems virtually impossible for the Flames to climb as they do have the advantage of two games in hand over Minnesota but their remaining schedule is very challenging with matchups versus the Wild, Kings as well as a pair of games against the Golden Knights. With seven games left, the Flames will have a shot as they play the last place San Jose Sharks twice but if they manage to fumble one of the games plus a loss to the Wild in their matchup would seal their fate. 

More NHL: Blues Enter Stanley Cup Playoffs As Dark Horse Contender

The Montreal Canadiens should clinch final playoff spot in the East and present a Must-Bet opportunity

The Stanley Cup Playoffs are almost here and we are starting to formulate a solid playoff picture. Most spots are already claimed with only the wild card spots left available. 

We outlined how the Blues were going to lay claim to the final wild card spot in the West and barring any major setbacks, it appears they are on track to do so. We are looking to make the same bold claim about the East with the Montreal Canadiens being the final playoff team. 

It is still a very tight race as they are just two points ahead of the Blue Jackets and Rangers after a dramatic 2-1 overtime victory over the Panthers on Tuesday, where they tied the game in the last eight seconds.

More NHL:Leafs Blow Past Panthers in Atlantic Division Title Race

Montreal proceeded to win the game in overtime and completed the season sweep of the defending Stanley Cup Champions. 

This Habs team is legit as their young talent is finally starting to click with a reliable stay-at-home goaltender in Sam Montembeault. They are red hot with a 10-4-4 record over their last 18 games. 

Their rebuild looks complete as they are on the precipice of their first playoff berth since their loss in the 2021 Stanley Cup Final and will have more talent coming in the future with youngsters like Ivan Demidov on their way. 

More NHL:Blues Enter Stanley Cup Playoffs As Dark Horse Contender

The race for the final playoff spots is over as far as we know with the Rangers heading into a gauntlet of a remaining schedule with matchups versus the Panthers, Hurricanes, Wild, Devils and a pair of games versus the Lightning. 

Things are just as hard for the Blue Jackets, who will have to square off against the likes of the Maple Leafs and Avalanche as well as two matchups versus the Capitals and Senators. 

More NHL:The GR8 Chase: Predicting When Alex Ovechkin Breaks Wayne Gretzky's All-Time Goal Record

Montreal on the other hand, finishes the season with the second-easiest remaining schedule with matchups against bottom tier teams like the Blackhawks, Bruins, Flyers and Predators. 

The Habs to secure a playoff spot at +106 is the biggest must-bet of the season and this bet absolutely has to be taken as soon as possible. It's only a matter of time before Montreal claims the spot or continue their hot streak to the point where we no longer see a value. 

The St. Louis Blues ride nine-game winning streak and could be labeled as the biggest dark horse to win Western Conference

When looking at the state of the NHL right now, there is no hotter team than the St. Louis Blues. 

After winning their last nine straight games, the Blues quickly ended the conversation about the race for the final wild card spot by separating themselves from the pack. 

More NHL: Blues To Prevail in Tight Wild Card Race Over Flames, Canucks, Utah HC

There is a special feeling around this team that spawned following Team Canada's win at Four Nations Face-Off this past February that was lead by Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington. 

History Repeating Itself?

St. Louis will face a tough first round matchup as a wild card team but as we've seen in recent history, anything can happen when teams get hot.

The Blues severely struggled back in the 2018-19 season, sitting with a league-worst 15-18-4 record through 37 games. They finished the season off by going on a similar hot streak to this season with 11 straight wins that was sparked by the arrival of Binnington to the team. 

The Blues would make the playoffs and meet the Winnipeg Jets in the first round. The Jets were coming off a Conference Finals appearance the year prior and labeled the Blues as a sizeable underdog going in. The Blues found a way to win the series in six and would go on the continue their hot streak all the way until they won their franchise's first Stanley Cup. 

St. Louis is once again expected to play Winnipeg in the first round matchup with the Jets entering as a sizeable favorite once again after finishing with the most points in the Western Conference during the regular season. 

It would be surreal to see history repeat itself and the Blues find a way to get edge out a win and they have a history of doing it before. We can look to benefit from their current value greatly and take them before the league notices. 

More NHL:The GR8 Chase: Predicting When Alex Ovechkin Breaks Wayne Gretzky's All-Time Goal Record

St. Louis has done the impossible before and at +3500 odds to win the Western Conference and +6500 odds to win their second Stanley Cup, it could be the best value on the board heading into the playoffs. 

There's several reasons as to why you can trust this Blues team and a small $10 bet on a Western Conference title can give a massive return at $350 in winnings. 

In Binnington We Trust

Since coming back from the Four Nations Face-Off, Binnington is tied for the most wins in the NHL with a 10-2-0 record that aligns itself with a 2.09 goals against average and a .917 save percentage, which both rank top seven in the league during that span. 

Binnington will enter the playoffs red hot and play in a high-pressure environment, where he does well with a 2.73 career goals against average in the playoffs as well as a .910 save percentage. He should be able to keep St. Louis in almost every game versus Winnipeg and beyond.

Confidence can be the most important thing for a goaltender and Binnington has tons of it right now. 

Young Talent Surging With More On The Way

The Blues have two of their top three point producers under the age of 27 in Robert Thomas and Jordan Kyrou. The pair of elite forwards have been dying to play meaningful NHL games and could make an impact. 

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Thomas has more assists than names like Aleksander Barkov and Dylan Strome with 49 while Kyrou has outplayed the likes of Nathan MacKinnon, Auston Matthews and Filip Forsberg with 31 goals this season. 

There's been a lot of chatter around the Capitals and how they are going to be getting prospect Ryan Leonard from Boston College after they were eliminated from the NCAA tournament. What most people don't know is the Blues are also expected to get an impact player out of college hockey with forward Jimmy Snuggerud. 

Best of Jimmy Snuggerud | Minnesota Golden Gopher Hockey Career HighlightsTake a look back through some of the top goals and moments from Jimmy Snuggerud's career at Minnesota.Sign up for daily email updates from Gopher Athletics! ...

After returning to Minnesota for his junior season, the 20-year-old winger has grown immensely according to St. Louis GM Doug Armstrong and should slide into a prevalent role when joining the team, starting Tuesday versus the Red Wings. Snuggerud was the captain of the Golden Gophers with 24 goals and 27 assists for 51 points in 40 games this past season. 

"I do think he can score some goals and we're gonna find out here over the next five or six games on how he fits into our group," 

- Armstrong said on Jimmy Snuggerud during Tuesday's episode of the Spittin' Chiclets Podcast 

The youngster could add to an already solid forward unit for the Blues and could take them to another level that opposing teams may not be able to predict. If you haven't considered it yet, a subtle investment on the Blues could be worth an extra look. 

Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin is eight goals away from breaking Wayne Gretzky's NHL Goal record with odds increasing for it to happen versus the New York Islanders

The biggest storyline of the NHL season has by far been the GR8 Chase with Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin on the precipice of passing hockey legend Wayne Gretzky for the all-time goals record. There is nine games left in the Capitals season and Ovechkin is within five goals from breaking the record after scoring versus the Sabres this past Sunday.

The Russian winger has 37 goals on the season now, and betting odds for the record to be broken this season have dropped drastically to -170 and means if you haven't taken it already like we suggest, you may have missed your last opportunity to take the bet at a bargain but we have several other betting options that you still can take.

All betting lines are from FanDuel Sportsbook and are subject to change. Hockey is a difficult sport to predict so please gamble responsibly.

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In our last post about the GR8 Chase, we said to take the odds while you could at -136 and like we predicted the odds continued to drop due to Ovechkin continuing to score as the Capitals were heading into several favourable matchups. Washington is still dominating with the league's best offence and seventh-best defence plus they have the third-easiest remaining strength of schedule, according to Tankathon.

The case is starting to look more and more likely as they will play against bottom eight defences in the Blackhawks, Penguins and Bruins as well as two bouts with the Blue Jackets. They will also face off twice against the Hurricanes, who is one of the top teams in the East but Ovechkin has his second-most career goals against. We don't see a ton of value in betting the record to be broken now but we can take a guess as to who it'll be against.

More Betting: Simple Strategies to Score NHL Betting Slips with Huge, Favourable Odds

The Capitals will have a back-to-back on Monday and Tuesday with games versus the Bruins and Hurricanes, which should give us the ability to pencil in a goal or two there. We will need just four more goals after that and Washington will return home on Friday to take on the league's worst defence in the Blackhawks. A home matchup versus a Chicago team that has allowed 83 goals over their last 20 games should spell for at least a goal for Ovi there.

That takes us into next week with three goals to go and after a Sunday matchup versus the Islanders, Washington will get a four-day break not playing again until Thursday versus the Hurricanes again. This game could be the most crucial as a much-needed goal here would leave him with two left and four games left to do it.

A pair of matchups versus the Blue Jackets should provide at least one goal there and will leave us with one goal to go with two matchups left versus the Islanders and Penguins. Everyone is speaking into existence that Ovechkin will break the record in front of his longtime rival Sidney Crosby when taking on the Penguins and as much as the sports world would love to see it, I expect he gets the job done versus New York.

More NHL: Maple Leafs Close Gap on Panthers in Atlantic Division Title Race

A random Tuesday night on the road in the Big Apple wouldn't be the most romantic setting for the record to be broken but could provide a massive spectacle with many flocking to the city, hoping to see Gretzky's record broken. Ovechkin to break the record versus the Islanders or Penguins is listed at +490 and +600 odds respectively and both could be taken at not a high number and should provide a decent return if either hit.

The Blue Jackets have the highest odds at +280 but with how Ovechkin has slowed down with four goals over his last nine games, I don't expect him to break the record earlier then the final two games. The record being broken in New York should give us the best case scenario to cash in on some attendance bets for notable people attending the game.

Wayne Gretzky to be in attendance for the record-breaking goal isn't available on FanDuel but a longshot bet for someone who could be is former teammate Jaromír Jágr. The Hockey legend is still playing actively at 53 years old for the Czechia-based team he owns, Rytíři Kladno, but has been known to miss time and could again to see what will be a one-of-one legendary hockey moment.

A very special congratulations from Jaromir Jagr to Alex Ovechkin (plus a little surprise at the end). 😉 pic.twitter.com/HGgSlqRTaQ

— NHL (@NHL) March 16, 2022

Jagr and Ovechkin have been known to have a very close relationship with Jagr even sending a video to Ovechkin after he became the all-time leading goal scorer for European-born players and congratulating him on the achievement. 

More NHL: Kings Shut Down Red Hot Leafs Offence in Low-Scoring Affair

The LA Kings look to shut down the Toronto Maple Leafs with their second-best defence in the NHL.

Tuesday night is the ultimate opportunity for NHL fans, with a loaded slate of thrilling matchups that fans eagerly anticipate.The game that sticks out is one with the Toronto Maple Leafs, who are looking to bounce back after a tough shootout loss to the San Jose Sharks on Thursday. They will take on a solid defensive unit in the LA Kings that has a 2.54 goals against average, which is second-best in the league.

For bettors, this matchup provides a chance to capitalize on some of our recent strong trends, like our 8-2 record on our last ten picks and our 17-6 record on our last 23 underdog picks.

All betting lines are from FanDuel Sportsbook and are subject to change. Hockey is a difficult sport to predict so please gamble responsibly.

Toronto Maple Leafs vs LA Kings Best Bets:

• Kings ML (-145)
• Under 5.5 goals (-110)

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The goal total for this one is a tight 5.5 with 95 per cent of the public riding with the over due to Toronto's recent hot stretch with 18 goals over their last four games. The Buds have won four of their last six games versus the Kings with two of the wins coming on the road in LA.Six goals can easily be scored in this game with both team's firepower but the under has hit in three of their last four matchups.

The Kings will be looking to make up for a 6-2 loss they took at the hands of Toronto last October and should play a much stronger defensive game at home. LA was roughed up for four goals in a loss to Colorado this past Thursday but in their prior 11 games, they allowed three or more goals just two times. I expect a response in a big way from the Kings as it's tough to beat a team twice for the Leafs plus LA has been red hot with a 9-2-1 record in their last 12 games. 

More Betting: Simple Strategies to Score NHL Betting Slips with Huge, Favourable Odds

The New York Islanders just one point back from Montreal Canadiens for second wild card spot in Eastern Conference

The Eastern Conference Playoff picture is pretty much locked up with only remaining spots being the two wild card spots. 

The Ottawa Senators occupy the first wild card spot with a four-point lead over the next closest team in the Montreal Canadiens, who sit in the second wild card spot. The race behind them is very tight with the two New York teams in the Rangers and Islanders just one point behind them with 74 points a piece. 

The Islanders, up until recently, looked dead in the water but thanks to a 7-3-3 record since late February, their hopes are alive once again. 

First as an Islander—DeAngelo Clutch in OT! 🚨🔥Tony DeAngelo nets his first goal as an Islander in overtime, firing home a long pass from Bo Horvat over Andrei Vasilevskiy’s glove to seal the win against ...

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However, with the third-hardest remaining strength of schedule, they may have a hard time reaching their goal as they are headed towards matchups against the Rangers, Hurricanes and Wild as well as a pair of matchups versus the Bolts and Capitals.

Things won't be easier for the Rangers as they also have tough matchups ahead with the same list of upcoming opponents with the Panthers instead of the Capitals. The Blueshirts will also have to overcome both the Habs and Islanders having two games in hand over them. 

Fan favorite Matt Rempe may be in some part responsible for the Rangers recent losing skid with 15 penalty minutes over his last eight games in which New York has gone 3-5-0 with seven power play goals allowed. This comes as a surprise for a Rangers team that has the second-best net penalty kill in the NHL, operating at 88.4 per cent.

More NHL: Why the Blues Will Prevail in Tight Wild Card Race Over Flames, Canucks, Utah HC

It's believed by many that it's simply Rempe's reputation that is warranting the calls but the downward spiral of what was once a strong suit for the team makes me not as interested in an investment with the Rangers unless they find their game once again. 

It appears the best case is being made for the Habs as they have the easiest remaining schedule of the three teams with several layup opportunities like matchups versus slumping teams like the Bruins and Blackhawks as well as two games versus the Flyers.

All but one of the games will be at home and should provide easy points for a Habs team that has to turn things on after losing their last three straight. 

Luckily for us, Montreal is still listed at a great value with +180 odds to make the postseason. The time to take this is now as the Habs next matchup is against a Philadelphia team that has lost six straight games. A win would keep them ahead of the pack and certainly drag down the odds in the process. 

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Philadelphia Flyers captain Sean Couturier enters Tuesday with a three-game point streak versus the Toronto Maple Leafs

Tuesday night is the ultimate opportunity for NHL fans, with a loaded slate of thrilling matchups that fans eagerly anticipate.

The game that sticks out is one with the Toronto Maple Leafs, who are looking to bounce back after blowing a 2-0 lead in their loss on Saturday to the Nashville Predators. They match up against a slumping Philadelphia Flyers, that has a league-worst 2-9-2 record over their last 13 games. 

For bettors, this matchup provides a chance to capitalize on some of our recent strong trends, like our 7-2 record on our last nine picks and our 17-6 record on our last 23 underdog picks.

All betting lines are from FanDuel Sportsbook and are subject to change. Hockey is a difficult sport to predict so please gamble responsibly.

Toronto Maple Leafs vs Philadelphia Flyers Best Bets: 

• Flyers +1.5 (-128)
• Sean Couturier Over 0.5 points (+118)

The Flyers have certainly been struggling lately with five straight losses and not giving their fans anything to be happy about. To make things even worse, they are getting listed at fairly decent odds to cover every night yet they've barely managed a 7-8 record against the spread in their last 15 games. 

This appears to be another spot where people can count them out and bet against a slumping team while riding with a hot one in the Maple Leafs, who are coming off a bad loss that they would like to make up for.

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This is a classic Maple Leafs spot if you've ever seen one as they are expected to win a bounce back game against a seemingly weaker team but the NHL has parody and any team can win on any given night. 

Nick Piccone (@_piccone) on XCOOOOOOTS IN OVERTIME TIM SAUNDERS ON THE CALL (don't mind him calling every Flyers player on the ice Sean Couturier)

Philadelphia has a 5-2 record against the spread in their last seven games versus Toronto and this should happen once again with the help of captain Sean Couturier. The 32-year-old veteran centre has been decent during the team's rough stretch with seven points over his last 13 games. 

Couturier has a habit of playing his best against the Maple Leafs with 11 points in their last 14 matchups, including a three-game point streak heading into Tuesday. He should help propel a Flyers team that has won outright or stayed within a goal in five of their last seven trips to Toronto.

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