Two of tonight’s matchups feature teams heavily involved in trade rumours at the deadline and teams fighting for positioning as the playoffs approach.
Winnipeg Jets (-105) vs Boston Bruins (-115)
First up is one of the best road teams in the NHL in the Boston Bruins visiting the Winnipeg Jets who have played much better as of late in order to stay in the playoff hunt in the west. The Jets come into this game having won two games in a row and are 6-3-1 in their past 10. The Bruins lost their previous game but still have a better record in the past 10 going 7-2-1.
They have two of the hottest scorers in the league in David Pastrnak and Craig Smith, but Patrice Bergeron is expected to be out of this game. They will have to rely on the continued scoring by these two and the solid play of Jeremy Swayman to keep up their wins.
The Jets haven’t won three in a row since the beginning of January, but Nikolaj Ehlers is back and producing. They still have a good team and can win on any given night. But given the good odds for Boston to take this one, go with them.
Anaheim Ducks (+180) vs Florida Panthers (-225)
The Florida Panthers are coming off a loss last night to the Vegas Golden Knights and have had trouble on their current season-long seven-game road trip. They are 1-1-1 and their win came against the San Jose Sharks in overtime. They are scoring at a lower rate than we’re used to seeing from them, putting only eight in the back of the net in the past three. Before that, they had scored 25 goals and won five in a row.
There’s not much worry about the Panthers, as they still lead their top-heavy division and match up with an Anaheim Ducks team that has already started selling. By the sounds of it, Hampus Lindholm is next and if a trade is near, he could be held out of the lineup. Josh Manson was already sent to the Colorado Avalanche, so they are down an NHL regular.
The Ducks record is 2-6-2 in the past 10, so a bounce-back by the Panthers looks good. Also, consider taking the Panthers on the puck line (+110) as they are bound to break out and the shorthanded Ducks are the team to do it against.
Odds via Yahoo and BetMGM.
