NHL: Preview and picks for tonight’s Leafs-Flyers, Jets-Rangers, Golden Knights-Lightning games

Article By Mark Keast

Last Updated: 2024 Mar 19

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NHL: Preview and picks for tonight’s Leafs-Flyers, Jets-Rangers, Golden Knights-Lightning games

Leafs in Rematch with the Flyers

The Toronto Maple Leafs (38-19-9-85, 3^rd in the Atlantic Division) are back in Philadelphia to take on the Flyers (34-26-8-76, 3^rd in the Metropolitan Division) tonight, after beating them handily there 6-2 on Thursday.

The first-place Winnipeg Jets (43-19-5-91, 1^st in the Central Division) visit New York to play the Rangers (45-19-4-94, 1^st in the Metropolitan Division), and the Vegas Golden Knights (36-24-7-79, 4^th in the Pacific Division) host the Tampa Bay Lightning (36-25-6-78, 4^th in the Atlantic Division), all key games with big playoff ramifications for teams both battling for positioning, but also, in the case of the Golden Knights, fighting to even make the post-season dance.

NHL Schedule: Game Details

	Date	Time	Location	How to Watch
Leafs vs. Flyers	Mar. 19, 2024	7:00 p.m. EST	Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia, PA	TV: TSN, Radio: TSN 1050
Jets vs. Rangers	Mar. 19, 2024	7:00 p.m. EST	Madison Square Garden, NY	TV: Sportsnet+
Golden Knights vs. Lightning	Mar. 19, 2024	10:00 p.m. EST	T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, NV	TV: SN1

Game 1: Leafs vs. Flyers Insights

For the Leafs, it looks like F Mitch Marner is going to be out longer than expected due to that ankle sprain. The Leafs are 6-3-1 in their last ten, coming off a tough 5-4 overtime loss to the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday, giving up a 4-2 third period lead. They’ve averaged 3.0 goals over that span, giving up three goals per game, with 3.9 penalties.

The Marner loss is big for a power play that has slipped a bit of late, but is still at 26.1 per cent, third in the NHL. F Tyler Bertuzzi has helped fill the void, with added power play time – six goals in his last 10 games. Joseph Woll (9-7-1, 2.78 GAA and a .915 SV%) is expected to start tonight, still looking to bounce back from that ankle injury that kept him out of the lineup for two months.

🏒 Bet on Maple Leafs vs. Flyers at DraftKings 🏒

Ilya Lyubushkin is also listed as out with an illness this morning, and F Calle Jarnkrok and D Mark Giordano are on LTIR now.

We’re expecting more out of the Flyers than what we saw last week, a game the Leafs dominated. The Flyers are in a playoff position, but the Washington Capitals are right on their tail in the Metropolitan Division with 75 points. The Flyers are 4-5-1 in their last ten, averaging 3.1 goals, while allowing 3.9. They’ve been averaging 4.6 penalties per game.

Samuel Ersson (19-14-5-3, 2.67 GAA, .898 SV%), is listed as probable starter in goal this morning, after letting in three goals in Thursday’s game (after taking over from starter Felix Sandstrom)

Leafs vs. Flyers Player Props

According to FanDuel today, Auston Matthews Any Time Goalscorer (1.83), William Nylander Anytime Goalscorer (2.55) and Matthews First Goalscorer (8.00) are most bet player props.

Game 2: Jets vs. Rangers Insights

Newly acquired Tyler Toffoli had two goals in the Jets’ 6-1 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets Sunday night, their last game. Toffoli, with 30 goals now, is fitting in nicely on the right side on that second line with C Sean Monahan and LW Nikolaj Ehlers.

Winnipeg is in a three-way with the Colorado Avalanche and Dallas Stars for first place in the Central Division, and are 20-10-3 on the road, 12-6-0 when scoring a power-play goal, according to Associated Press. They’re 6-4-0 in their last ten, averaging 3.4 goals, giving up just 2.2 goals per game (averaging 2.6 penalties). A big reason for those mighty goals-against numbers comes down to Vezina Trophy candidate Connor Hellebuyck (31-15-3, 4 shutouts, 2.31 GAA, .922 SV%), the probable starter for tonight.

🏒 Bet on Jets vs. Rangers at FanDuel 🏒

The Rangers? Artemi Panarin, with 38 goals and 55 assists, fifth in NHL scoring, has been pacing the Rangers all season. New York is a mighty 24-8-0 at home, 6-3-1 in their last ten games, averaging 3.4 goals, giving up 2.3 goals, averaging 3.2 penalties per game.

They’re expected to go with Igor Shesterkin (29-14-2, 2 SOs, 2.61 GAA, .912 SV%) in net.

D Jacob Trouba remains out, as is F Ryan Lindgren, both with lower body issues, although the NHL injury report lists them as day-to-day. Jets’ C Gabriel Vilardi is listed as day-to-day with an upper body injury. The Jets’ official site says he was diagnosed with an enlarged spleen.

Jets vs. Rangers Player Props

On the NHL sports betting front, according to FanDuel today, Panarin Anytime Goalscorer, (2.80) Toffoli First Goalscorer (15.00), and Mika Zibanejad First Goalscorer (14.00) are most bet player props.

Game 3: Lightning vs. Golden Knights Insights

Every game is a must-win for the Golden Knights now, after making a big splash at the trade deadline, bringing in D Noah Hanifin and F Tomas Hertl. The defending Stanley Cup champions are in the thick of the Western Conference wildcard race – currently in the No. 2 spot, with the St. Louis Blues just four points behind. The Golden Knights have 15 games left in their season – eight of them at home.

Their top goalie, Adin Hill (17-9-3, 3SOs, 2.60 GAA, .917 SV%) is listed as probable starter tonight. Vegas is 21-10-2 at home, but are 4-5-1 in their last ten, averaging 3.3 goals for, 3.6 goals against, and 2.4 penalties. Hertl is out rehabbing that knee injury, and F Mark Stone is on the IR with a lacerated spleen.

🏒 Bet on Lightning vs. Golden Knights at BetMGM 🏒

William Karlsson has been among the team leaders in offence of late – five goals and four assists in his last ten games.

The Lightning aren’t exactly road warriors – 15-16-2. F Brayden Point has eight goals and seven assists in the last ten games, where Tampa has gone 6-3-1, averaging 3.9 goals, giving up 2.8, averaging 4.6 penalties. F Tanner Jeannot is a possibility to play, according to LightningInsider.com. D Haydn Fleury is day-to-day.

Not surprisingly, considering the importance of the game, Andrei Vasilevskiy (26-16-1, 2 SOs, 2.96 GAA, .898 SV%) is listed as probable to start in net tonight.

Lightning vs. Golden Knights Player Props

According to FanDuel today, Michael Eyssimont Anytime Goalscorer (6.50), Brandon Hagel Player to Record 1+ Points (1.85) and Nikita Kucherov Anytime Goalscorer (2.55) are most bet player props.

Our NHL Picks Today

On the Canadian sports betting front, BetMGM shows a big-time edge for the Leafs in spread bets (84 per cent) and money bets (84 per cent). The Leafs are more in playoff experimentation mode now, seven points up on Tampa for third in the Atlantic. With that road record (20-7-6) and Woll motivated to show his team something, we’ll take the Leafs ATS at BetMGM.

Jets and Rangers? We love what the Jets did at the deadline, bringing in Toffoli. The Rangers are motivated, with the Hurricanes four points back in the Metropolitan. Plus, they’ve won nine of their past ten home games. Rangers to Win at 1.73 with TonyBet.

The Golden Knights have banked too much on making the playoffs. The best play is the Over (6.5) at 888 Sport, when looking at Nikita Kucherov, Point and Steven Stamkos (two goals the last time these two teams met) for Tampa, and Karlsson and Jonathan Marchessault (37 goals) on the other side.

	Moneyline	Spread	Over/Under
BetMGM	Leafs 1.74, Flyers 2.15	Leafs -1.5 (2.80), Flyers +1.5 (1.45)	6.5; Over 2.00; Under 1.83
TonyBet	Jets 2.12, Rangers 1.73	Jets +1.5 (1.44), Rangers -1.5 (2.79)	5.5; Over 1.88; Under 1.92
888 Sport	Lightning 2.15, Golden Knights 1.70	Lightning +1.5 (1.45); Golden Knights -1.5 (2.75)	6.5; Over 1.95; Under 1.85