NHL Picks

Jake Sanderson has logged five points in his past three games, finding the score sheet in all three contests while recording two points in his last two outings. The blueliner has given Ottawa an offensive boost as the Sens enter Saturday on a three-game win streak with at least five goals in each of those victories. 

Rickard Rakell is one of the hottest offensive players in the NHL. He has points in 16 of his last 18 games, averaging a healthy 1.3 points per game. 

Rakell has three times as many multi-point performances (six) as scoreless efforts (two) along the way, highlighting his incredible consistency.

While the Capitals still have a lot to play for, you wouldn’t know it looking through their defensive metrics. They rank 29th in high-danger chance share at 5-on-5 over the last 10 games, and have conceded six power play goals over the last seven.

They are vulnerable, and Rakell should take advantage.

Connor McDavid has seen a sudden surge in his shot volume recently, averaging 5.66 shots on goal per game over his last six outings. Those shots have led to six goals for the Edmonton Oilers captain in that span, including his Wednesday night hat trick vs. the Sharks. McDavid now has at least one goal in seven of his last nine games, and with Leon Draisaitl still out during the Oilers late-season playoff push, the burden to produce is still squarely on McDavid’s shoulders.

Boldy has cashed the Over in helpers in three straight, and in four of his last five appearances. He just had two helpers in Thursday’s tough loss to the Dallas Stars, and has already grabbed five assists in April.

The Flyers and Jets both profile as defense-first teams, playing at Bottom-10 paces while ranking Top-14 in suppressing shots and goals. 

Factor in the playoff implications and there’s every reason to believe this one will be played tight to the vest.

That’s certainly been a consistent theme in Jets home games against plus-defensive teams. When isolating home matchups in which the Jets are working on a day of rest and facing Top-10 defenses, an average of 5.22 goals have been scored and seven of the nine games featured five goals or fewer.

That points toward another low-scoring game Saturday night.

The Over has cashed in three straight meetings between these teams, and the total is set at a generous 5.5 Saturday night.

The Czechia native is averaging 2.61 SOG per game this season, and he’s hit the Over in six appearances in a row. Necas already has 19 shots on net in April, and he’s always creating chances in the offensive end. He’s averaging three SOG per game across two meetings with the Vegas Golden Knights.

Eight of the Sharks' last nine home games following a road loss have gone Under the total.