NHL Picks March 4: Rangers host Panthers in featured game

As March arrives, the NHL regular season is reaching the critical stages as teams are looking for momentum for a playoff run. There are several key games scheduled for March 4 with the New York Rangers hosting the Florida Panthers in the headlined matchup.

Boston Bruins versus Toronto Maple Leafs

Bostons comes into play second in the Eastern Conference, and Toronto is fifth. The Maple Leafs are “burning hot” after a 5-1 stretch, and Boston is “average” after going 3-3 during the same period. Both teams have been involved in games “over” the line in each of the last six, and the score prediction is 4-3 in favor of Toronto with 57 percent confidence. Boston won both previous meetings between the teams this season. The Bruins are a very solid 16-5-9 on the road, and the Maples Leafs are 16-11-2 at home. Both teams are moderately consistent in performance regarding their favorite/underdog status. I like Toronto to continue their hot trend and get their first win of the season over Boston in a game “over” the line.

St. Louis Blues versus Philadelphia Flyers

Both teams are fighting for the last playoff spot in their respective conference. The Flyers are 2-4 over their last six and “ice cold up” on the Team Strength Oscillator, while the Blues are “dead” after a 1-5 stretch.  Philadelphia has a +10 to +3 edge on the Power Ranks Indicator and won the first game between the teams this season, 4-2. The teams have been trending in games “over” the line with a score prediction of 5-4 in favor of St. Louis with 75 percent confidence.  Philadelphia is 15-13-2 at home, and St. Louis is 13-15-2 on the road.  I like Philadelphia at home in this one, perhaps needing overtime to win, but I will pass on the “over/under” bet.

Vegas Golden Knights versus Columbus Blue Jackets

Vegas is in the middle of the playoff picture in the Western Conference and Columbus is bringing up the rear in the Eastern Conference. Both teams are 2-4 over the last six games and “ice cold down” on the Team Strength Oscillator. The teams have been trending in games “over” the line with a 4-3 score prediction in favor of Vegas but with only 35 percent confidence. Vegas won both games between the teams last season and this is the first meeting this season. Vegas is 14-11-5 on the road, and Columbus is 10-16-4 at home. Columbus has been the much more stable team at +17 to +3 on the Team Volatility Oscillator. I like Vegas by at least two goals in a game “over” the line.

Florida Panthers versus New York Rangers

These two powerhouse teams are battling for the team in the Eastern Conference. Both teams are “burning hot” and 5-1 over the last six games. The Rangers have a +31 to +22 edge on the Power Ranks Indicator. The teams are trending in games on opposite sides of the “over/under” line with a score prediction of 4-3 in favor of the Rangers with nearly 82 percent confidence. Florida has an exceptional 20-8-2 road record and New York is an impressive 21-7-0 at home. Florida edged New York by a 4-3 score at home in the first game between the teams this season. I like the Rangers to even the score by the same margin but will pass on the over/under bet.

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