NHL Picks: How Trading Season Affects The Outlook

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NHL Picks: How Trading Season Affects The Outlook
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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. 

NHL Odds
March 28th | 7:00pm
Puck Line
Over/Under
Win
Blue Jackets Blue Jackets CBJ
--
U 6.5 -104FanDuel
+195DraftKings
Penguins Penguins PIT
--
O 6.5 -115Caesars
-220FanDuel
March 28th | 7:00pm
Puck Line
Over/Under
Win
Capitals Capitals WSH
--
U 6.5 -115Caesars
+150Caesars
Maple Leafs Maple Leafs TOR
--
O 6.5 +100BetMGM
-166FanDuel
March 28th | 7:00pm
Puck Line
Over/Under
Win
Blackhawks Blackhawks CHI
--
U 6.5 -120Caesars
+160DraftKings
Senators Senators OTT
--
O 6.5 +100Caesars
-178Caesars
March 28th | 7:00pm
Puck Line
Over/Under
Win
Islanders Islanders NYI
--
U 6 -105Caesars
+164DraftKings
Panthers Panthers FLA
--
O 6 -115Caesars
-190BetMGM
March 28th | 7:00pm
Puck Line
Over/Under
Win
Flyers Flyers PHI
--
U 6 -110Caesars
-155BetMGM
Canadiens Canadiens MTL
--
O 6 -110Caesars
+143Caesars
March 28th | 7:30pm
Puck Line
Over/Under
Win
Red Wings Red Wings DET
--
U 6 +110Caesars
+220BetMGM
Hurricanes Hurricanes CAR
--
O 6 -120BetMGM
-255FanDuel
March 28th | 8:00pm
Puck Line
Over/Under
Win
Sharks Sharks SJ
--
U 6 -105Caesars
+320Caesars
Wild Wild MIN
--
O 6 -115Caesars
-395DraftKings
March 28th | 8:00pm
Puck Line
Over/Under
Win
Flames Flames CGY
--
U 6 -110Caesars
+115Caesars
Blues Blues STL
--
O 6 -110Caesars
-132FanDuel
March 28th | 8:00pm
Puck Line
Over/Under
Win
Golden Knights Golden Knights VGK
--
U 5.5 +100Caesars
+110BetMGM
Jets Jets WPG
--
O 5.5 -114FanDuel
-125Caesars
March 28th | 9:00pm
Puck Line
Over/Under
Win
Kings Kings LAR
--
U 6 +100Caesars
+130Caesars
Oilers Oilers EDM
--
O 6 -120Caesars
-150BetMGM
March 28th | 9:00pm
Puck Line
Over/Under
Win
Rangers Rangers NYR
--
U 6.5 -115Caesars
+136DraftKings
Avalanche Avalanche COL
--
O 6.5 -102FanDuel
-154FanDuel
March 28th | 10:00pm
Puck Line
Over/Under
Win
Stars Stars DAL
--
U 6 -105Caesars
-113FanDuel
Canucks Canucks VAN
--
O 6 -110BetMGM
-105Caesars
March 28th | 10:00pm
Puck Line
Over/Under
Win
Ducks Ducks ANA
--
U 5.5 -105Caesars
+200BetMGM
Kraken Kraken SEA
--
O 5.5 -115Caesars
-235FanDuel
March 28th | 10:00pm
Puck Line
Over/Under
Win
Predators Predators NSH
--
U 6 -110Caesars
-164FanDuel
Coyotes Coyotes ARI
--
O 6 -110Caesars
+145BetMGM
March 29th | 7:00pm
Puck Line
Over/Under
Win
Devils Devils NJ
--
--
-115DraftKings
Sabres Sabres BUF
--
--
-104FanDuel
March 30th | 12:30pm
Puck Line
Over/Under
Win
Red Wings Red Wings DET
--
--
--
Panthers Panthers FLA
--
--
--
March 30th | 3:30pm
Puck Line
Over/Under
Win
Golden Knights Golden Knights VGK
--
--
--
Wild Wild MIN
--
--
--
March 30th | 4:00pm
Puck Line
Over/Under
Win
Ducks Ducks ANA
--
--
--
Oilers Oilers EDM
--
--
--
March 30th | 6:00pm
Puck Line
Over/Under
Win
Predators Predators NSH
--
--
--
Avalanche Avalanche COL
--
--
--
March 30th | 7:00pm
Puck Line
Over/Under
Win
Penguins Penguins PIT
--
--
--
Blue Jackets Blue Jackets CBJ
--
--
--
March 30th | 7:00pm
Puck Line
Over/Under
Win
Blackhawks Blackhawks CHI
--
--
--
Flyers Flyers PHI
--
--
--
March 30th | 7:00pm
Puck Line
Over/Under
Win
Bruins Bruins BOS
--
--
--
Capitals Capitals WSH
--
--
--
March 30th | 7:00pm
Puck Line
Over/Under
Win
Senators Senators OTT
--
--
--
Jets Jets WPG
--
--
--
March 30th | 7:00pm
Puck Line
Over/Under
Win
Hurricanes Hurricanes CAR
--
--
--
Canadiens Canadiens MTL
--
--
--
March 30th | 7:00pm
Puck Line
Over/Under
Win
Maple Leafs Maple Leafs TOR
--
--
--
Sabres Sabres BUF
--
--
--
March 30th | 7:00pm
Puck Line
Over/Under
Win
Islanders Islanders NYI
--
--
--
Lightning Lightning TAM
--
--
--
March 31st | 3:30pm
Puck Line
Over/Under
Win
Ducks Ducks ANA
--
--
--
Canucks Canucks VAN
--
--
--
April 1st | 7:00pm
Puck Line
Over/Under
Win
Penguins Penguins PIT
--
--
--
Rangers Rangers NYR
--
--
--
April 1st | 7:00pm
Puck Line
Over/Under
Win
Avalanche Avalanche COL
--
--
--
Blue Jackets Blue Jackets CBJ
--
--
--
April 1st | 7:00pm
Puck Line
Over/Under
Win
Red Wings Red Wings DET
--
--
--
Lightning Lightning TAM
--
--
--
April 1st | 9:00pm
Puck Line
Over/Under
Win
Oilers Oilers EDM
--
--
--
Blues Blues STL
--
--
--
April 2nd | 7:00pm
Puck Line
Over/Under
Win
Panthers Panthers FLA
--
--
--
Canadiens Canadiens MTL
--
--
--
April 2nd | 7:30pm
Puck Line
Over/Under
Win
Blackhawks Blackhawks CHI
--
--
--
Islanders Islanders NYI
--
--
--
April 2nd | 8:00pm
Puck Line
Over/Under
Win
Senators Senators OTT
--
U 7.5 -135DraftKings
-120DraftKings
Wild Wild MIN
--
O 7.5 +105DraftKings
-110DraftKings
April 3rd | 10:00pm
Puck Line
Over/Under
Win
Canucks Canucks VAN
--
--
--
Coyotes Coyotes ARI
--
--
--
April 4th | 7:00pm
Puck Line
Over/Under
Win
Penguins Penguins PIT
--
--
--
Capitals Capitals WSH
--
--
--
April 4th | 7:00pm
Puck Line
Over/Under
Win
Panthers Panthers FLA
--
--
--
Senators Senators OTT
--
--
--
April 4th | 7:00pm
Puck Line
Over/Under
Win
Lightning Lightning TAM
--
--
--
Canadiens Canadiens MTL
--
--
--
April 4th | 7:00pm
Puck Line
Over/Under
Win
Bruins Bruins BOS
--
--
--
Hurricanes Hurricanes CAR
--
--
--
April 4th | 8:00pm
Puck Line
Over/Under
Win
Flames Flames CGY
--
--
--
Jets Jets WPG
--
--
--
April 4th | 8:00pm
Puck Line
Over/Under
Win
Avalanche Avalanche COL
--
--
--
Wild Wild MIN
--
--
--
April 4th | 8:00pm
Puck Line
Over/Under
Win
Blues Blues STL
--
--
--
Predators Predators NSH
--
--
--
April 4th | 10:30pm
Puck Line
Over/Under
Win
Kings Kings LAR
--
--
--
Sharks Sharks SJ
--
--
--
April 5th | 7:00pm
Puck Line
Over/Under
Win
Capitals Capitals WSH
--
--
--
Hurricanes Hurricanes CAR
--
--
--
April 5th | 10:00pm
Puck Line
Over/Under
Win
Kraken Kraken SEA
--
--
--
Ducks Ducks ANA
--
--
--
April 6th | 3:30pm
Puck Line
Over/Under
Win
Panthers Panthers FLA
--
--
--
Bruins Bruins BOS
--
--
--
April 6th | 4:00pm
Puck Line
Over/Under
Win
Jets Jets WPG
--
--
--
Wild Wild MIN
--
--
--
April 6th | 7:00pm
Puck Line
Over/Under
Win
Devils Devils NJ
--
--
--
Senators Senators OTT
--
--
--
April 6th | 7:00pm
Puck Line
Over/Under
Win
Flyers Flyers PHI
--
--
--
Blue Jackets Blue Jackets CBJ
--
--
--
April 6th | 7:30pm
Puck Line
Over/Under
Win
Predators Predators NSH
--
--
--
Islanders Islanders NYI
--
--
--