Top NHL Odds, Picks & Predictions: Monday (4/8)
We are now in the second half of the season. Let's analyze today's matchups and give you the best bets. And for our top NHL Player Props, check out our NHL Prop Bet Cheat Sheet.
Monday's NHL Best Bets
(Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook)
Pittsburgh Penguins (+136) at Toronto Maple Leafs (-162) | O/U 6.5 (-105/-115)
So much has changed for the Penguins in the last week. This team basically threw up the white flag at the trade deadline by trading Jake Guentzel from the team that was playing inconsistently for most of the year. They have a new mindset, as they've won four straight and are now just a point off the final Wild Card spot. The big difference is they've made Alex Nedeljkovic their top goalie, and in his five consecutive starts, he's 4-0-1 with a .918 save percentage.
The Maple Leafs are playing just as well, going 4-1-0. The team has been dominant on both sides, with a +8 score differential during this five-game run. The focus will be on Auston Matthews, who's just one shy of tying Alex Ovechkin for the most goals in the 21st-century seasons.
Both defenses are playing well, but so are the offenses, especially each team's top stars. Look for this matchup to hit the Over.
Pick: Over 6.5 Total Goals (-105)
Vegas Golden Knights (+100) at Vancouver Canucks (-120) | O/U 6 (-115/-105)
Injuries are impacting the Canucks at the moment. No Thatcher Demko, one of the best goalies, ranked sixth in goals allowed (2.47) and fourth in save percentage (.917). They also still don't have Elias Lindholm, and while he hasn't been great since being traded to Vancouver, he's still a great center to have.
The Golden Knights are pretty much locked into a playoff spot, but they could move around. They are tied with Nashville in the Western Conference Wild Card race but are only a point behind Los Angeles for third place in the Pacific. Injuries have affected this team, as we've rarely seen the champs at their full form this year. Adin Hill has been absent from the cage, along with Nicolas Roy, William Carrier, and Alex Pietrangelo on the lines.
Casey DeSmith will likely be between the pipes for the Canucks, and he has struggled as the starter losing his last four games, including one against the Golden Knights, with a .847 save percentage.
Pick: Golden Knights Moneyline (+100)
Make sure to check out our other best bets for Monday: