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NHL Betting Odds, Picks & Predictions: Tuesday (4/4)

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We continue to inch closer to the end of the regular season and the playoff races in each conference couldn’t be hotter. And while it may appear to be just your typical mundane Tuesday in April, there’s a thrilling 11-game slate in the NHL tonight. A few of the key matchups include the Penguins taking on the Devils, the Predators squaring off against the Golden Knights, and the evening concludes with a Pacific Division tilt between the Oilers and Kings. 

Let’s dive into my top three betting plays on the ice tonight!

NHL ‘22-’23 Record: 19-33 (-15.87 Units)

Today’s Best NHL Bets

Odds courtesy of Caesars Sportsbook

Vegas Golden Knights (-125) vs. Nashville Predators (+105) | O/U 6.0 (-105/-115)

The Predators return home on the heels of a crushing 5-1 defeat to the Stars last night in Dallas. As for the Golden Knights, they edged out the Wild in a 4-3 shootout, increasing their Pacific Division lead to three points. These two Western Conference foes get underway tonight at 8:00 p.m. ET from Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, TN.

I’m rolling with Vegas on the moneyline as short favorites tonight. With both teams entering on a back-to-back and each of their playoff lives intact (although far from similar circumstances), I have to give the edge to the more veteran squad. Nashville came into the year with some veteran players; however, their season has essentially been derailed by injuries to Filip Forsberg, Roman Josi, and Matt Duchene. Furthermore, offloading Mattias Ekholm to Edmonton at the deadline probably didn’t inspire much confidence heading into the stretch run. 

On top of that, Juuse Saros (30-22-7) went last night against Dallas and he’s been the backbone of this team. Even if he does get the start, I expect the Golden Knights to do enough to secure a win against a potentially fatigued goaltender. Let’s back Vegas in this spot. 

Bet: Vegas Golden Knights Moneyline (-125) 

Chicago Blackhawks (+328) vs. Calgary Flames (-430) | O/U 6.0 (-125/+105)

The Flames (87 points) sit just ahead of the Predators (84 points) in the Western Conference Playoff race, albeit still sitting on the outside looking in themselves. Calgary trails Winnipeg (89 points) for the final Wild Card spot, with each team having played 77 games. The Flames host the Blackhawks tonight and the two squads are set for a 9:00 p.m. ET puck drop from the Saddledome.

After a brief five-game winning streak in the final third of February, the Blackhawks returned to playing some pretty poor hockey. They’ve only won three games since February 27th, going 3-14-1 over the 18-game span. What’s even more insane than all of those losses, is that during their current eight-game slide they’ve gone 0-8 against the puck line. It’s safe to say that Tank for Bedard is back on in the Windy City. 

I don’t expect them to turn it around tonight when they make the trip to a hostile Scotiabank Saddledome. Calgary has rattled off four straight wins in their own right, so look for them to build off of that and win once again. Taking on a Blackhawks team that’s literally last in offensive production (2.4 GPG), presents an excellent opportunity for Jacob Markstrom (22-20-10, 2.98 GAA, .890 SV%) to secure a confidence-building victory. Let’s lock in Calgary to cover the puck line at home. 

Bet: Calgary Flames -1.5 (-160)

Colorado Avalanche (-235) vs. San Jose Sharks (+192) | O/U 6.5 (-105/-115)

The Sharks snapped a nine-game slide last week and they’ve now won their last three games. They’ll get set to host an Avalanche (96 points) team that’s third in the Central, trailing the Stars and Wild by just two points. Puck drop is scheduled for 10:30 p.m. ET from the SAP Center at San Jose in San Jose, CA. 

I’ll make the not-so-bold claim that San Jose’s three-game win streak comes to a halt this evening. The Avalanche are gunning for the Central Division Championship, which would see them avoid a first-round matchup with the Stars or the Wild. It’s also worth noting that Colorado has a pair of games in hand, which means they control their destiny right now. 

I’ll back the Avs on the puck line here. Their offense has been dialed in, amassing 49 goals over their last 12 games (4.1 GPG). They’re an impressive 10-2-0 over the sample and they’ve won half of those 12 contests by at least two goals. Being that the Sharks are the 28th-best team defensively (3.5 GAA), Colorado should have no issue stretching this lead out to at least two goals. We’re also getting a slight plus-money payout with this play, which is likely due to the Sharks’ recent hot streak. But, as I said, that’s coming to an end tonight. Let’s ride with the Avs -1.5. 

Bet: Colorado Avalanche -1.5 (+115)

Check out our other best bets for Tuesday:

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