Now, this is how the final week of the NHL regular season should look.
After a one-game Monday (which was just as mundane as my 1-1 record picking between the Blackhawks and Flyers) we have 13 games to sift through as some massive matchups will help dictate the final playoff picture.
The Rangers continue to nip at the heels of the Carolina Hurricanes, who hold a four-point lead in the Metropolitan Division with just three games left. Lucky for hockey fans, the two square off at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday night to headline the night’s action.
NHL odds, picks: April 26
Florida Panthers (57-16-6) at Boston Bruins (49-25-5), 7 p.m. ET
The Panthers aren’t letting up. The Eastern Conference’s top team has won nine of its last 10 games while the Bruins are 5-5 during that same stretch. Florida is above .500 in its Against The Spread (ATS) and Over/Under (O/U) records this season at 41-38 ATS and 43-28-8 O/U. The Bruins haven’t been as reliable at 31-48 ATS and 35-37-7 O/U.
The Pick:
Carolina Hurricanes (52-20-8) at New York Rangers (51-22-6), 7 p.m.
These two divisional rivals are playing solid hockey coming into this mammoth matchup. Carolina is 7-3-0 in their last 10 while the Rangers are 7-2-1. ATS, the Hurricanes are 39-41 and the Rangers are 41-38. O/U, Carolina is 35-41-4 and New York is 30-46-3.
The Pick:
New Jersey Devils (27-44-8) at Ottawa Senators (31-41-7), 7 p.m.
The Devils are 3-5-2 in their last 10 games and the Senators are 5-4-1. New Jersey is 38-41 ATS and 44-32-3 O/U while Ottawa is 44-35 ATS and 32-43-4 O/U.
The Pick:
Edmonton Oilers (46-27-6) at Pittsburgh Penguins (45-24-11), 7 p.m.
The Oilers are 7-2-1 in their last 10 games while the Penguins have sputtered despite qualifying for the playoffs with a 4-5-1 mark. Edmonton is 38-41 ATS and 41-34-3 O/U while Pittsburgh is 39-41 ATS and 39-38-3 O/U.
The Pick:
Columbus Blue Jackets (36-36-7) at Tampa Bay Lightning (49-22-8), 7 p.m.
The Blue Jackets are 4-4-2 in their last 10 games as they take on a Lightning team that is slowly beginning to hit its stride as they begin their pursuit of a third-straight Stanley Cup title, going 6-3-1 in their last 10. Columbus is 46-33 ATS and 46-28-5 O/U while the Lightning is 36-43 ATS and 42-35-2 O/U.
The Pick:
New York Islanders (35-34-10) at Washington Capitals (44-33-12), 7 p.m.
A five-game losing streak has the Islanders — who made the Stanley Cup semifinals two years straight – going out with a whimper this season as they are 3-6-1 in their last 10. They are 36-43 ATS this season and 37-38-4 O/U. The playoff-bound Capitals are 7-1-2 in their last 10 with a 42-37 mark ATS this season and a 45-30-4 record O/U.
The Pick:
Detroit Red Wings (31-39-10) at Toronto Maple Leafs (52-21-7), 7 p.m.
Better times are ahead for the Red Wings, just not now. They’re 4-5-1 in their last 10 as they take on a hot Maple Leafs team that is 7-2-1 in their last 10. Detroit is 34-46 ATS and 44-32-4 O/U this season while Toronto is 37-43 ATS and 44-29-7 O/U.
The Pick:
Calgary Flames (49-20-10) at Nashville Predators (44-29-6), 8 p.m.
This looks like an early playoff matchup as these two sides are slated to meet in the first round. Most of the talk in the West is about the Avalanche, but the Flames are a force to be reckoned with heading into the playoffs as they are 8-1-1 in their last 10 games while the Predators — who have a one-point lead over the Stars for the No. 7 seed in the West — are 4-4-2. Calgary is 44-35 ATS this season and 39-33-7 O/U. Nashville is 42-37 ATS and 46-33-0 O/U.
The Pick:
Arizona Coyotes (22-50-7) at Minnesota Wild (51-21-7), 8 p.m.
The Coyotes haven’t won in their last 10 games, going 0-8-2 while the Wild just keep winning with an 8-0-2 mark. Arizona is 37-42 ATS this season and 38-36-5 O/U while Minnesota is 39-40 ATS and 45-31-3 O/U.
The Pick:
Vegas Golden Knights (42-31-6) at Dallas Stars (44-30-5), 8:30 p.m.
The Golden Knights are in desperation mode after a wild collapse to the Sharks on Sunday. They have a chance to gain ground against the team they trail by three points for the final playoff spot, the Stars, on Tuesday. Vegas is 5-3-2 in their last 10 to go with a 31-48 record ATS and a 44-32-3 O/U mark. Dallas is 4-4-2 in its last 10 with a 33-46 record ATS and 33-43-3 O/U record.
The Pick:
St. Louis Blues (49-20-11) at Colorado Avalanche (55-18-6), 9:30 p.m.
The Blues are the hottest team in hockey having gone 9-0-1 in their last 10 games. The West’s best team, the Avalanche, is 6-4-0. St. Louis is 47-33 ATS this season and has a 41-34-5 O/U record while Colorado is 38-41 ATS with an O/U mark of 40-34-5.
The Pick:
Seattle Kraken (26-46-6) at Vancouver Canucks (38-30-11), 10 p.m.
The Canucks aren’t dead yet as they trail the Stars by six points with three games to go, meaning they have to win out just to have a chance. Luckily for them (6-2-2 in their last 10), they’re taking on a last-place NHL expansion team in the Kraken that is 5-5-0 in its last 10. Vancouver is 47-32 ATS and 39-36-4 O/U while Seattle is 35-43 ATS and 41-31-6 O/U.
The Pick:
Anaheim Ducks (30-36-14) at San Jose Sharks (32-35-12), 10:30 p.m.
Two basement dwellers in the NHL. Ducks are 2-6-2 in their last 10 while the Sharks aren’t much better at 3-4-3. Anaheim has a 46-34 record ATS and is 39-37-4 O/U while San Jose is 41-38 ATS and 31-46-2 O/U.
The Pick:
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