This Friday only features one NHL game, a meeting between the New Jersey Devils and the Buffalo Sabres, a game has playoff implications for both teams. Plus we have Vegas and Minnesota on Saturday, both great games to consider laying down some action.
Let’s take a look at these matchups, check the NHL betting odds and the winning pick for the weekend games.
2024 Top NHL Betting Odds and Picks for Week 24 of the Season
Betting Week 24 Weekend Matchups | Almost at the End of the Regular Season
The Devils entered 2023-24 with high hopes but have had a disappointing season and now need some help just to get into the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
The Sabres have been on the outside of the playoffs for several seasons now but could ride into the postseason – with a lot more help than the Devils need. New Jersey is five points back of Washington for the second wild-card spot in the East and six points back of Philadelphia for the third seed in the Metropolitan Division.
The Devils have more regular-season wins than both of those teams, so they would advance if they just draw even with one of them. The Sabres have to vault several teams to snag a wild card as they sit 18 points back of Toronto for the third seed in the Atlantic Division.
New Jersey Devils at Buffalo Sabres
NHL Odds: Sabres -0.5 / Devils +12, Sabres -105
Hour/TV: 7:00 pm ET, NHL Network
Date: Friday, March 29
The Devils (36-33-4) have a modest two-game winning streak. Their scoring average has ticked upward to 3.30 goals per game thanks to 10 goals in these last two wins. Jesper Bratt and Jack Hughes have combined for 49 goals and 94 assists on the top scoring line, and the second line has gotten 62 goals and 74 assists from Nico Hischier, Erik Haula, and Timo Meier.
The Devils’ problems remain on defense as they allow 3.37 goals per game. Jake Allen came over at the trade deadline and has posted a .925 save percentage and a 2.51 GAA, so hopefully the defensive numbers will improve, but the play in front of him has to be better as well.
The Sabres (34-34-5) have split their last ten games. Their offense hasn’t been all that helpful, posting just 2.96 goals per game. Alex Tuch, Jeff Skinner and John-Jason Peterka have had to do just about all of the scoring, combining for 68 goals and 71 assists. The defense has been serviceable (3.03 goals allowed per game), but not good enough for the Sabres to contend.
In their last three games, things have gotten even worse as the team has given up 15 combined goals. Goalie Devon Levi hasn’t been bailing his team out, posting a 3.16 GAA and an .898 save percentage, both leaky numbers. Devils to win.
FInal SU Pick: New Jersey Devils +125
Devils at Sabres Betting Lines to Win
Vegas Golden Knights at Minnesota Wild
NHL Odds: Vegas Golden Knights -102 at Minnesota Wild -120
Hour/TV: 3:30 pm ET, ESPN+/Hulu
Date: Saturday, March 30
The Golden Knights (40-28-8) have won four of their last five, with the only setback coming on Tuesday in Nashville, where the Predators held on for a 5-4 win. The Golden Knights bounced back in Winnipeg on Thursday with an emphatic 4-1 win.
Logan Thompson stopped 39 shots to get the win, and Ivan Barbashev had a pair of goals. Thompson has a .909 save percentage and a 2.68 GAA and has been a major part of the Golden Knights’ latest run of winning seven of their last ten games, moving into third place in the Pacific Division.
The Wild (35-28-9) are in sixth place in the Central Division; the last four games have provided a microcosm of their inconsistency. They have blanked Anaheim, 4-0; gotten drilled by the Kings, 6-0; lost a nailbiter to the Blues, 5-4; and beaten the Sharks, 3-1. Of course, the Sharks are the league’s worst team, but you have to take care of business.
Matt Boldy broke a tie early in the third period to key the Wild. Filip Gustavsson had 26 saves in the win, but his numbers have been a bit porous – an .898 save percentage and a 3.10 GAA, both of which rank 38th in the NHL right now. Vegas is chasing a playoff spot, while the Wild are focused on next year. Golden Knights to win.
FInal Pick: Vegas Golden Knights
Golden Knights at Wild Betting Lines to Win
Next Games in the NHL Calendar
2024 NHL Week 24 Schedule
| Visit | Home | Time | TV |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday, March 25, 2024 | |||
| Vegas | @ St. Louis | 8:00 PM | NHL NET |
| Los Angeles | @ Vancouver | 9:00 PM | NHLPP|ESPN+ |
| Tuesday, March 26, 2024 | |||
| Boston | @ Florida | 7:00 PM | NHLPP|ESPN+ |
| Philadelphia | @ New York | 7:00 PM | NHLPP|ESPN+ |
| Carolina | @ Pittsburgh | 7:00 PM | NHLPP|ESPN+ |
| Detroit | @ Washington | 7:00 PM | NHLPP|ESPN+ |
| New Jersey | @ Toronto | 7:30 PM | |
| Vegas | @ Nashville | 8:00 PM | NHLPP|ESPN+ |
| Edmonton | @ Winnipeg | 8:00 PM | NHLPP|ESPN+ |
| Calgary | @ Chicago | 8:30 PM | NHLPP|ESPN+ |
| Montreal | @ Colorado | 9:00 PM | NHLPP|ESPN+ |
| Columbus | @ Arizona | 10:00 PM | NHLPP|ESPN+ |
| Anaheim | @ Seattle | 10:00 PM | NHLPP|ESPN+ |
| Dallas | @ San Jose | 10:30 PM | NHLPP|ESPN+ |
| Wednesday, March 27, 2024 | |||
| Ottawa | @ Buffalo | 7:00 PM | NHLPP|ESPN+ |
| Boston | @ Tampa Bay | 7:30 PM | TNT |
| Thursday, March 28, 2024 | |||
| Washington | @ Toronto | 7:00 PM | NHLPP|ESPN+ |
| Philadelphia | @ Montreal | 7:00 PM | NHLPP|ESPN+ |
| Chicago | @ Ottawa | 7:00 PM | NHLPP|ESPN+ |
| New York | @ Florida | 7:00 PM | NHLPP|ESPN+ |
| Columbus | @ Pittsburgh | 7:00 PM | NHLPP|ESPN+ |
| Detroit | @ Carolina | 7:30 PM | NHLPP|ESPN+ |
| Calgary | @ St. Louis | 8:00 PM | NHLPP|ESPN+ |
| San Jose | @ Minnesota | 8:00 PM | NHLPP|ESPN+ |
| Vegas | @ Winnipeg | 8:00 PM | NHLPP|ESPN+ |
| New York | @ Colorado | 9:00 PM | NHLPP|ESPN+ |
| Los Angeles | @ Edmonton | 9:00 PM | NHLPP|ESPN+ |
| Dallas | @ Vancouver | 10:00 PM | NHLPP|ESPN+ |
| Nashville | @ Arizona | 10:00 PM | NHLPP|ESPN+ |
| Anaheim | @ Seattle | 10:00 PM | NHLPP|ESPN+ |
| Friday, March 29, 2024 | |||
| New Jersey | @ Buffalo | 7:00 PM | NHL NET |
| Saturday, March 30, 2024 | |||
| Detroit | @ Florida | 12:30 PM | NHL NET |
| Vegas | @ Minnesota | 2:30 PM | |
| Anaheim | @ Edmonton | 4:00 PM | NHLPP|ESPN+ |
| Nashville | @ Colorado | 6:00 PM | NHLPP|ESPN+ |
| New York | @ Arizona | 6:00 PM | NHLPP|ESPN+ |
| Toronto | @ Buffalo | 7:00 PM | |
| Carolina | @ Montreal | 7:00 PM | NHLPP|ESPN+ |
| New York | @ Tampa Bay | 7:00 PM | NHLPP|ESPN+ |
| Chicago | @ Philadelphia | 7:00 PM | NHLPP|ESPN+ |
| Boston | @ Washington | 7:00 PM | NHLPP|ESPN+ |
| Pittsburgh | @ Columbus | 7:00 PM | NHLPP|ESPN+ |
| Ottawa | @ Winnipeg | 7:00 PM | NHLPP|ESPN+ |
| San Jose | @ St. Louis | 8:00 PM | NHLPP|ESPN+ |
| Los Angeles | @ Calgary | 10:00 PM | NHLPP|ESPN+ |
| Dallas | @ Seattle | 10:00 PM | NHLPP|ESPN+ |
| Sunday, March 31, 2024 | |||
| Anaheim | @ Vancouver | 3:30 PM | TNT |
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Patrik Laine will miss 2-4 weeks for the Columbus Blue Jackets after he strained a triceps muscle during practice. That’s just the latest insult dealt to the league’s last-place team, which has dealt with injuries since the season began. The team has already lost 454 man-games to injury, and this will be Laine’s third injury that has cost him extended time. He had elbow and ankle injuries last fall that also kept him out. Even with all of the missed games, the Finnish forward is second on the team with 52 points in 55 games played. The team has also been without defenseman Zach Werenski since November (separated shoulder, torn labrum). Forward Sean Kuraly just went on injured reserve with a left oblique muscle strain that will keep him on the shelf for the remainder of the season. The Blue Jackets welcome the New York Islanders on Friday night in one of our top two NHL betting picks for this weekend.
NHL News: Top Bets for the Weekend
N.Y. Islanders (-1.5) at Columbus Blue Jackets (O/U 6.5)
Friday, March 24 – 7:00 pm ET | New York (37-27-8) heads to Ohio riding a three-game winning streak after routing the Toronto Maple Leafs, 7-2, at home. Cal Clutterbuck had two goals and an assist in a game that got out of hand in the third, as the Islanders turned a 3-1 game into a laugher. The Islanders are 9-3-1 in their last 13 games and have the first wild card in the Eastern Conference, two points ahead of Pittsburgh and three points ahead of Florida. In the win over Toronto, Ilya Sorokin stopped 25 shots, giving him a 2.36 GAA and a .925 save percentage on the season. He has a 4-0-1 career record against Columbus, with a .932 save percentage and a 1.79 GAA. If the Isles go with Semyon Varlamov in net, he has a 9-5-2 record against the Blue Jackets with a .935 save percentage and a 2.26 GAA. If you like the Islanders, you see them continuing their offensive onslaught and taking advantage of the latest Columbus injury.
Columbus (22-41-7) just came back from a 2-3-0 road trip, winning their most recent game in Washington by a 7-6 score in overtime. Jack Roslovic scored his ninth goal of the season in overtime, as the Blue Jackets came back from two different two-goal deficits to force the overtime, tying the game with 47 seconds left in regulation, as Boone Jenner lit the lamp for the 24th time on the season. Daniil Tarasov had 31 saves in the game, but it will either be Michael Hutchinson (2-2-1, 4.17 GAA, .875 save percentage) or Elvis Merzlikins (7-17-2, 4.10 GAA, .880 save percentage) in net. Either way, it looks like lots of scoring for the visitors. Islanders to win and cover.
New Jersey Devils (-1.5) at Buffalo Sabres (O/U 7)
Friday, March 24 – 7:00 pm ET | New Jersey (45-18-8) is in second place in the Metropolitan Division, as their offense has been cooking, producing 3.45 goals per game. The top scorers have been Jack Hughes, Jesper Bratt and Nico Hischier, who have combined for 97 goals and 115 assists. Defenseman Dougie Hamilton has jumped into the attack as well, contributing 18 goals and 48 assists. The defense has been solid, permitting 2.66 goals per game and just four goals in the last two games. Vitek Vanecek has been more than serviceable in net, with a .909 save percentage and a 2.49 GAA.
Buffalo (33-31-6) has gotten plenty of offense, scoring 3.57 goals per game. Target Thompson, Alex Tuch and Jeff Skinner have combined for 103 goals and 118 assists, but the Sabres are still riding a four-game losing streak. The defense has been the problem, permitting 3.73 goals per game – including 24 in just the last four contests. Starting goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen has just an .890 save percentage and a 3.62 GAA. Those numbers will not get the Sabres into the last wild card. New Jersey to win and cover.
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The Philadelphia Flyers are the hottest team in the National Hockey League right now. They’ve ridden a nine-game winning streak all the way into a tie with the Washington Capitals atop the Metropolitan Division, each team with 89 points. Their in-state rivals, the Pittsburgh Penguins, have dropped two in a row and eight of ten and are now five points back in third place. In the Atlantic Division, the Boston Bruins have held off the Tampa Bay Lightning for now, leading the division by six points. In the Central Division, the inconsistency that has long marked the Dallas stars has returned, as a five-game losing streak has them now ten points back of St. Louis in the Central. The Pacific Division has seen the Vegas Golden Knights win eight of ten and lead the division with 84 points, two more than the Edmonton Oilers. What games should you include in your NHL betting this week? We have two primo picks for you.
Top Hockey Betting Picks of the Week 24
Monday, March 9
Vegas at Edmonton (9:00 pm ET)
The Golden Knights have cooled off lately, dropping two of their last four games. They lost at home to the Kings last Sunday and then beat New Jersey on Tuesday, 3-0. Then they started a Western Canada swing on Friday, getting blanked in Winnipeg, 4-0, before beating the Flames in Calgary, 5-3. In that win over the Flames, Vegas had roared out to a 3-0 lead in the second period, but Calgary had come all the way back to tie the game at three. Shea Theodore had the tiebreaking goal with just 1:10 left in the third period. Robin Lehner only saw 22 shots on the night, stopping 19 of them. Vegas won’t be able to let a three-goal lead get away in Edmonton and expect to win, though.
The Oilers have won four of their last five, with wins over Winnipeg, Nashville and Dallas coming before a loss in Chicago last Thursday. Then they came home to beat Columbus, 4-1, on Saturday, 4-1. In that game, Mikko Koskinen stopped 45 shots for the Oilers, as Alex Chiasson, Caleb Jones, Connor McDavid and Riley Sheahan all lit the lamp. Koskinen absolutely stood on his head on a night when the Oilers’ defense gave up too many odd-man rushes. Can the Oilers get another huge goaltending performance on Monday?
Final Score Prediction: Edmonton 3, Vegas 2
Tuesday, March 10
N.Y. Islanders at Vancouver (10:00 pm ET, ESPN+)
The New York Islanders have not won a game since February 23, when they beat the San Jose Sharks at home. Since then, they have lost to the Rangers, Blues, Bruins, Canadiens, Senators and the Hurricanes, falling at home to Carolina in overtime, 3-2, on Saturday. In that setback, the Islanders came back from a 2-1 deficit with a goal by Josh Bailey with less than five minutes to play. However, a power play in overtime led to a scrum in front of the New York net, and Vincent Trocheck ended up poking the goal into the net at the end of a controversial use of a high stick to bounce the puck off the crossbar.
The Isles now head west hoping to end that skid against the Canucks. Vancouver has also struggled lately, dropping five of six. They beat the Colorado Avalanche with a convincing 6-3 win on Friday but then lost at home to Columbus on Sunday, 2-1. In that defeat, Elias Pettersson scored the only goal for the hosts, who have fallen into a tie for the second wild card in the Western Conference. Vancouver went 0 for 3 on the power play, as the team is struggling to break through despite piling up chances.
Final Score Prediction: Vancouver 3, New York 1
