NHL Picks: How Trading Season Affects The Outlook
The NHL has hit Trade Deadline Day, with more trades expected between now and the middle of this afternoon. Again, remember that a few trades always trickle in after the 3 p.m. ET cutoff. It takes time for the league to process things.
With that being said, the weekend features an easy-to-digest schedule. This includes several afternoon and late-night options on Saturday. Sunday sneaks in a Tampa Bay-Carolina clash, too. There are some unusual start times, so be aware.
Schedule Breakdown
Let us do this by the number of games each day.
- Friday – 5
- Saturday – 12
- Sunday – 5
Saturday features just two late-night games this time. The games end a little later than usual on Friday and Sunday. That may be because of the trade deadline.
Who plays back-to-back this weekend? Here are those teams below.
- Columbus (Friday, Saturday)
- Edmonton (Friday, Saturday)
- Colorado (Saturday, Sunday)
- Detroit (Saturday, Sunday)
Again, this is pretty easy to take. The Sunday games begin at 3 p.m. ET, with the Tampa and Carolina game on TNT.
Before Today’s Trade Deadline Carnage
The weekend sees many faces with many new teams. As of press time, there were 38 trades completed in just the last week. That does not include the Dmitry Orlov trade (before last Friday). A long shot does not do general managers despite plenty of the big names being gone.
Again, the arms race in the Eastern Conference is extraordinary. Six of the top seven teams in the Stanley Cup Futures are from the East. Boston leads the way, then Colorado follows. After that, it’s Carolina, Toronto, the New York Rangers, and the New Jersey Devils.
The Western Conference still carries its sense of intrigue. Seven points separate the one through eight seeds. Anything can happen. Even Calgary and Nashville are not entirely out of a playoff spot. Expect a few more twists and turns.
A Better Saturday ABC Doubleheader
ABC/ESPN took a big hit last Saturday but redeemed themselves with two more “classic clashes.” With the Patrick Kane to New York deal and Boston’s moves, the Rangers and Bruins will be quite the way to start a Saturday afternoon.
Expect more goals in both ABC games. Colorado and Dallas renew their rivalry in the later game. The Stars tenuously hold on to a one-point lead in the West despite winning two straight games. Colorado comes in after allowing seven goals to New Jersey on Wednesday night. There should be some fireworks.
Player props might be a way to go. Consider David Pastrnak got a new extension from Boston (eight years, $11.25 million AAV). Also, Patrick Kane did not hit the score sheet on Thursday against Ottawa. Expect both to figure into the action. Edmonton, Winnipeg, Minnesota, and Calgary appear to be some challenges for bettors, too.
The games featuring selling teams may be ones to stay away from on Saturday. See how Los Angeles comes out after the Jonathan Quick trade. That will be interesting. You could sneak a tiny St. Louis Puckline bet, perhaps.
More On The Weekend
Hockey bettors get a nice treat on Sunday. That Tampa Bay and Carolina matchup expects to feature a few goals and a ton of hate. Those teams still detest one another.
Seattle and Colorado face off Sunday evening after Colorado’s big game on ABC. Seattle is flying from Columbus, but at least get a day of rest. That might be a contest to wager on the Over, as Colorado will be unrested. Goals will be on the docket.
For Sunday, Vegas figures to be excited about facing Montreal. The Golden Knights still have long memories of what happened a couple of seasons ago. However, Vegas is a mere 19-13-1 at home and under .500 on the Puckline (12-21).
Did you listen to us before today with some of our early trade deadline predictions? At gambling.com, we hope you did. There was some decent small money wagering to be made. The last six weeks of the hockey season set up the playoffs, where we will have wall-to-wall coverage daily.
Some Quick Points To Consider
- Can Seattle hold on for dear life against a Columbus team playing spoiler? Expect the Over at -110, as both teams may combine for 7+ goals.
- Nashville and Chicago. Throw out the records and watch the carnage. See if Filip Forsberg comes back for player prop bets.
- Vancouver and Toronto figure to be another high-scoring affair.
- Can Minnesota and Calgary score some goals, or will the Under reign supreme again? The Wild are playing tighter on defense out of necessity.
- Dawson Mercer, more Dawson Mercer, and even more Dawson Mercer. Expect Jack Hughes to return to the goal-scoring sanctuary too.
- See our note below.
Good luck, and once more, thanks for reading! Expect a few more plays and tips via social media later.
Thanks to BetMGM weekend lines. TSN and ESPN.com give us easy-to-follow schedules.
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