Top NHL Betting Picks of the Week – April 1st Edition

We’re just a handful of games away from the end of the 2018-19 regular season in the National Hockey League, but the Tampa Bay Lightning have not let up. They have still won 8 of their last 10 and lead all of hockey with 122 points and a stunning +97 goal differential. The Washington Capitals lead the other division in the East, with a three-point advantage over the New York Islanders, and both teams have three games to play. Columbus has won five in a row and seven of ten to grab the first wild card position, but they are also just three points behind Pittsburgh for third in the Metropolitan with three games left. In the Western Conference, Calgary has 105 points and will finish atop the standings, and they also lead the Pacific Division by eight points thanks to a collapse by San Jose, winners of just two in their last ten. Colorado is pushing hard for the second wild card in the West, winners of seven out of ten and currently one point ahead of Arizona — and also holding a game in hand. Thinking about some hockey in your NHL betting for the week? Take a look at our primo picks.

Top NHL Betting Picks of the Week – April 1st Edition

The Caps dominated Tampa Bay in a way that few teams have this season.

See where it landed them in this week’s NHL Power Rankings.https://t.co/5rKcU1tUt5 pic.twitter.com/1Re1bZbCwA — NBC Sports Capitals (@NBCSCapitals) 1 de abril de 2019

Monday, April 1

Toronto at New York Islanders (7:00pm ET, ESPN+)

Toronto has a hold on third place in the Atlantic Division, but they have dropped three of four and are only five points ahead of the Montreal Canadiens. In their last four games, they have lost at home to the New York Rangers, beaten Florida in a barnburner and then lost in Philadelphia and Ottawa, the last game coming on Saturday. The loss to the Senators was particularly disappointing given that a win would have clinched a playoff spot for the Leafs — and given that Ottawa is in dead last. Auston Matthews and Connor Brown scored for the Leafs, and goalie Garret Sparks only faced 22 shots. The problem was that he only stopped 18 of them. Toronto did erase a 2-0 lead to tie the game with third-period goals that were just 27 seconds apart. However, it took less than two minutes for Ottawa to take the lead again, and the fourth goal was an empty-netter. Toronto must clean up their play and do it now. The New York Islanders come in having won four of five, beating Philadelphia and Arizona before losing in Columbus — and then winning in Winnipeg and beating the Sabres at home, with that win over Buffalo coming on Saturday. Jordan Eberle scored his third tally in the last two games, Anthony Beauvillier added a pair, and Ryan Pulock and Michael Dal College finished out the scoring. This marks the first time the Islanders have clinched a playoff spot this early on the calendar since the 1989-90 season. Robin Lehner stopped 31 shots to win his 24th game of the year. The Islanders are looking to maintain home ice in the first round by taking first or second in the Metropolitan, and facing the stumbling Leafs should mark another opportunity to cement their position. NHL Betting Prediction: New York 5, Toronto 3

Tuesday, April 2

Pittsburgh at Detroit (7:30pm ET)

The Pittsburgh Penguins have won four of five, picking up wins in some tough places. They beat Nashville and Dallas on the road by a goal apiece before heading to New York and routing the Rangers. They lost at home to Nashville on Friday before beating Carolina at home, 3-1, on Sunday. In that win over the Hurricanes, the Penguins got a goal and an assist from Matt Cullen, the league’s oldest player. The Penguins’ next win will clinch a playoff spot for the 13th consecutive year. Pittsburgh’s win was particularly impressive given that stars Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang remain on the shelf, which meant the Penguins had to grind defensively to generate scoring chances, and it was the fourth line that led the way. Now the Penguins head to Detroit, where the Red Wings have won five in a row. They beat Vegas, San Jose and Buffalo on the road before returning home to rout New Jersey and Boston by a combined 10-3 score. In that win over the Bruins on Sunday, Anthony Mantha posted his first hat trick in the NHL, and the ageless Jimmy Howard stopped 31 shots. Detroit surrendered a 2-0 lead but then kept scoring to put the game out of reach. Can the Red Wings slow down the versatile Pittsburgh offense? NHL Betting Prediction: Pittsburgh 5, Detroit 4