NHL Picks and Predictions for 5/8/21 - Free NHL Picks

The New York Rangers have lost 5 straight games, each by at least 2 goals. Their most recent game was a 0-4 shutout against these same Bruins. The Rangers have not looked like the same team after Chris Kreider went down following their last win. The Bruins are 4-1 in their last 5 and have won 7 straight games at home. Back the Bruins against a fading Rangers squad.

Pick: Boston Bruins -1.5

Buffalo Sabres +300 Pittsburgh Penguins -355 O/U: 6

3:00 PM EST

The Buffalo Sabres have had a rough season without their star center Jack Eichel, ranking in the bottom 5 of the NHL in both goals scored (2.44) and allowed (3.55). They have also lost 5 straight games on the road. The Penguins have been elite at home, with a 21-4-2 record this season. Pittsburgh owns a 6-1 series lead on the year and won both prior games on their own ice.

Pick: Pittsburgh Penguins -1.5

New Jersey Devils +200 New York Islanders -225 O/U: 5.5

7:00 PM EST

After losing 10 straight games, the Devils have now won 5 of their last 6 games, including a 2-1 win against these Islanders on Thursday. The Islanders have been great at home with only 4 outright losses this season, but two of those have come in the last ten games and they are 4-6 overall over that stretch. Regardless of the trends I will take the Islanders to bounce back. Despite falling 2-1 last time out, they outshot the Devils 33-25 but just could not capitalize on some good opportunities. Give me the Islanders.

Pick: New York Islanders -225

Philadelphia Flyers Washington Capitals O/U:

7:00 PM EST

The Flyers have been in a rut, losing 4 of 5 while allowing 4.8 goals per game. The Capitals rank 3rd in the NHL with 3.43 goals per game and the Flyers rank last with 3.60 goals allowed. Philadelphia has been one of the worst teams in the NHL in the second half of the season, and Washington is in their final push for playoff positioning heading into the last week of the season. Back the better team with more on the line.

Pick: Washington Capitals

Tampa Bay Lightning Florida Panthers O/U:

7:00 PM EST

The Panthers have won four straight games and have averaged 4 goals a game over that stretch. Tampa Bay has also been scoring goals of late, averaging 3.6 over their last 5 games. The over is 5-1 in this tightly contested series and I expect another high scoring affair between two of the top offenses in the league.  

Pick: Over

Detroit Red Wings Columbus Blue Jackets O/U:

7:00 PM EST

Detroit has only allowed only 1.6 goals per game over their last 5. The Blue Jackets are 2-8 over their last 10 games heading into their back-to-back on Friday and they have not exceeded 3 goals once over that stretch. The Red Wings are averaging just 2.15 goals per game (31st), and the Blue Jackets 2.35 (29th). Take the under.

Pick: Under

Montreal Canadiens +170 Toronto Maple Leafs -210 O/U: 5.5

7:00 PM EST

Toronto won the last game 5-2 in Toronto on Thursday, extending their series lead to 6-3. Montreal has lost 4 of their last 5 on the road and are averaging just 1.8 goals per game. The Maple Leafs have won their last 3 at home, winning by 3 goals in each game. Take Toronto to cover.

Pick: Toronto -1.5

Ottawa Senators +150 Winnipeg Jets -185 O/U: 5.5

7:00 PM EST

The Senators have won 7 of 10 and have only lost by more than one goal one time. The Jets have been a .500 team at home and are 3-7 in their last 10 games overall. Winnipeg leads the series 6-3 but they have split the last 6. Take Ottawa to keep this within a goal.

Pick: Ottawa Senators +1.5

Carolina Hurricanes -140 Nashville Predators +105 O/U: 5.5

8:00 PM EST

Carolina is 6-0 in this series and won the previous two games in Nashville. The Hurricanes are allowing just 2.33 goals per game this season and have allowed 1.8 per game over their last 5. Nashville is allowing 3 goals per game over their last 5, just over their season average of 2.78. Lay the juice.

Pick: Carolina Hurricanes -140

Anaheim Ducks Minnesota Wild O/U:

8:00 PM EST

This will be the second game of a back-to-to back, and Minnesota has been the better team in those spots. They are averaging 1.5 points with no rest, whereas the Ducks are averaging 1.1. The Wild own a 5-1 series lead heading into Friday’s action and are 19-5-2 at home this season. Back the Wild.

Pick: Minnesota Wild

Vancouver Canucks +200 Edmonton Oilers -235 O/U: 6

10:00 PM EST

The Oilers will be looking to avenge a 6-3 beating at home to Vancouver last time out. They are 5-3 in the season series and have beaten the Canucks by 2+ goals in 4 of those games. Vancouver has lost 4 of their last 5 and the winning team cover the puck line in each of those games. Mike Smith will be back in net for Edmonton, and he is 3-0 with 1.59 goals allowed against the Canucks this season. Back the Oilers to win easily at home.

Pick: Edmonton Oilers -1.5

St. Louis Blues Vegas Golden Knights O/U:

10:00 PM EST

Vegas ranks 4th in the NHL with 3.52 goals per game at home this season, and the Blues rank 11th with 3.00 goals per game on the road. This will be the second game of a back-to back so we will likely see the second-best options in net. The over has cashed in 5 of 6 in this series heading into Friday’s action, and this one is set up to be a high-scoring affair. 

Pick: Over

Colorado Avalanche Los Angeles Kings O/U:

10:00 PM EST

With Dubnyk out, Johansson will likely get the start for the Avalanche on Saturday in relief of Philip Grubauer. Johansson has allowed 3.1 goals per game this season, including 4 on just 20 shots against the Blues in his last start. On the offensive side the Avalanche lead the league with 3.49 goals per game, and the Kings have allowed 2.92 goals per game at home. Back the over.

Pick: Over

Arizona Coyotes San Jose Sharks O/U:

10:30 PM EST

This is a battle of two teams who do not defend well, both ranking in the bottom third of the league with over 3 goals allowed per game this season. The over has cashed in 5 of 6 in this series heading into Friday night’s game, and both games played in San Jose. With both teams are out of the playoff race, do not expect a lot of energy spent on the defensive end in the second game of a back-to-back. Take the over in this one.

Pick: Over