NHL Picks

Nikolaj Ehlers is playing his best hockey since joining the Carolina Hurricanes. He has hit the scoresheet in 12 of his last 18 games, tallying 17 points along the way.

He’s in a good spot to continue producing against the Penguins, who rank Bottom-6 in shots, expected goals, and goals allowed at 5-on-5 over their last 10 games.

They have also struggled to keep the puck out in back-to-backs this season. The Penguins have conceded an average of 3.40 goals over the last 10 second legs they have played.

Expect the red-hot Ehlers to take advantage.

Death, taxes, and Thomas Harley blocks against Vegas. He has picked up at least two in six straight head-to-head meetings and 12 of the last 13.

There should be plenty of volume to step in front of again tonight. The Golden Knights sit 10th in total attempts this season and have scored once during their three-game losing streak.

They don’t have a lot of wiggle room in the playoff race and will be desperate to jumpstart the offense and distance themselves from the teams trying to hunt them down.

Look for Harley to be active in the defensive zone.

The Vegas Golden Knights and Dallas Stars consistently play playoff-style hockey, and the 4-6-0 mark to the Under in their last ten meetings proves it. Vegas has struggled to light the lamp, and those struggles will continue with zero rest. Play the Under. 

Troy Terry has averaged 2.59 points per 60 minutes of 5-on-5 play while riding shotgun with No. 1 center Leo Carlsson. That is high-end 1st line efficiency.

Given as much, it should be no surprise Terry has points in eight of 11 home games in which he has skated with Carlsson.

The Sabres are a good team but they rank 22nd in expected goals against at 5-on-5 over their last 10. They also play a high-event brand of hockey and have conceded more than 30 shots on average spanning the past 10 road dates.

Terry and the Ducks’ offense should cause the Sabres problems.

Matt Coronato has become an even bigger focal point of Calgary’s absence with Nazem Kadri no longer in the picture. The added responsibility and uptick in volume should serve him well against the Lightning. They’re playing in a road back-to-back, which means Andrei Vasilevskiy will get the night off. Backups generally start the second leg, making it no coincidence the Lightning have allowed 3.67 goals per game in the back half of B2B’s.