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Top NHL Odds, Picks & Predictions: Tuesday (4/16)

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The NHL regular season wraps up over the next few days, and the Eastern Conference still has a wild card spot up for grabs. Below, I'll discuss two key Eastern Conference matchups and a third game out west from a betting perspective.

Here are my three favorite plays on the ice for tonight, April 16.

Our NHL Prop Bet Cheat Sheet assists bettors by comparing lines from leading sportsbooks with our daily projections >>

Tuesday’s Best NHL Bets

(Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook)

Detroit Red Wings (-160) @ Montreal Canadiens (+132) | O/U 6.5 (-110/-110)

The Red Wings erased a 4-1 deficit against the Canadiens in Motown last night, clawing all the way back and winning 5-4 in overtime. The win kept their playoff hopes alive, where they're currently tied with the Capitals (89 points) for the final wild card spot in the East. This home-and-home series shifts back to Montreal, and it's set for 7:00 p.m. ET from the Bell Centre in Quebec City. 

You just have to wonder how demoralizing it is for the Habs to blow a three-goal lead when they could've put the nail in the coffin on the Wings' season. Now they have to take the ice tonight, knowing Detroit just smoked them over the final 25 minutes of last night's game. Meanwhile, the vibes must be incredibly high in Detroit's locker room, and they'll be carrying the momentum into tonight's game. 

I won't be surprised if this game is a blowout tonight in Montreal. Rather than lay 1.5 goals with the Wings, I'll take them to win this game in regulation at even money. Not only do they have the edge in the intangibles (momentum, something to play for, etc.), Detroit's also better in overall offense (3.3 GPG vs. 2.8), overall defense (3.16 GAA vs. 3.25), on the power play (23.08% vs. 17.67%) and in penalty killing (79.32% vs. 76.45%). Let's take the Wings to win in regulation. 

Bet: Detroit Red Wings 3-Way Moneyline (+100)

Washington Capitals (+122) @ Philadelphia Flyers (-146) | O/U 5.5 (-124/+102)

The Capitals currently have 89 points and are in possession of the final wild card spot in the Eastern Conference. The Flyers, who surprised the hockey world throughout the early parts of the regular season, are trailing the Caps by two points in the race. This Metropolitan Division showdown is set for 7:00 p.m. ET from the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia. 

Both of these playoff hopefuls have won their last two games. However, prior to Philadelphia’s two-game winning streak, they endured an eight-game slide (0-6-2), where they were out-scored 42 to 18. The Flyers are not playing great hockey right now, and I don't expect them to magically turn things around tonight against another team that's gunning for the playoffs. I'm riding with the Capitals at +122 tonight. 

Washington just beat two of the toughest teams in the East, edging out Tampa Bay (4-2) and Boston (2-0) more recently. This will be the second night of a back-to-back, which is likely why we're getting a favorable payout with the Caps. Ultimately, just ask yourself if you'd rather have Alexander Ovechkin or Travis Konecny in a win-or-go-home scenario. I don't know about you, but I'll take “The Great Eight” every time. Let's lock in Washington with a plus-money payout. 

Bet: Washington Capitals Moneyline (+122)

Chicago Blackhawks (+290) @ Vegas Golden Knights (-375) | O/U 5.5 (-138/+112)

The NHL action wraps up out west as the Golden Knights host the Blackhawks. At this point, Chicago's eliminated from the playoffs, but Vegas can still move up the standings to a higher position. The Knights (96 points) are trailing the Predators (99 points through 82 games), and Vegas has two games to play still, so they could jump Nashville with a pair of wins to close the season. This Western Conference tilt is set for 10:00 p.m. ET from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. 

While there's some hope for the future, the bottom line is that Chicago's 2023-2024 season was a disaster. Connor Bedard essentially has the Calder Trophy locked up (-2500 to win the award), but that's about the extent of the success. The rookie racked up 60 points (22G, 38A), and the team managed a league-worst 173 goals this year. That translates to an average of just 2.2 goals per game, which is dead last in the NHL.

I won't overthink this one; I'm laying the 1.5 goals with Vegas tonight. They'll host a Chicago side that's 0-4-0 in their last four games, failing to cover the puck line in each contest. In addition to having the league's worst offense, the Hawks are also 29th defensively, conceding 3.34 goals per game. Meanwhile, the Golden Knights have won two straight games, racking up 11 goals over the two-game stretch. Look for Vegas to use this as a tune-up game as they prepare for the postseason. Let's play the Knights to win by 2+ goals. 

Bet: Vegas Golden Knights -1.5 (-140)

Make sure to check out our other best bets for Tuesday:

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