NHL Picks March 31: Devils host Wild in headlined matchup

We’re down to the last three weeks of the NHL season with most teams still in contention for a playoff berth. There is a light schedule of four games for Monday, March 31 with the New Jersey Devils hosting the Minnesota Wild in the featured game.

Minnesota Wild versus New Jersey Devils

The Wild are 7th in the Western Conference, and the Devils are 6th in the Eastern Conference. New Jersey is 17-13-5 at home, and Minnesota has an excellent road record of 22-11-3. The Devils have a scoring differential edge of +22 to -6. Minnesota is “average up” versus “ice cold down” on the Team Strength Oscillator and +21 to +15 on the Power Ranks Indicator. The teams are trending “over” the line with a score prediction of 3-2 in favor of the Devils with 76 percent confidence.  New Jersey won the previous two games between the teams by a combined score of 8-6. Minnesota is more consistent regarding their favorite/underdog status. I like Minnesota in a road upset by a single goal in a game “over” the lne.

Nashville Predators versus Philadelphia Flyers

In this game, both teams are near the bottom of their respective conferences and aim to rebuild for next season. Nashville is 9-22-5 on the road, and Philadelphia is 17-19-1 at home. The teams combined scoring differential is -98, among the worst in the league. Philadelphia is “dead up” versus “ice cold down” on the Team Strength Oscillator and the teams are a combined 3-9 over the last 12.  The teams are trending “over” the line, but the score prediction of 3-1 with 66 percent confidence would be “under” the line. The Flyers won the first games between the teams this season by a 3-2 score as a road underdog.  Philadelphia is +21 to +3 on the Team Volatility Oscillator. I like Philadelphia at home but pass on the over/under bet.

Calgary Flames versus Colorado Avalanche

Calgary is battling for a final spot in the Western Conference playoffs, and Colorado is 4th, pushing for a top seed. The Avalanche is 25-10-2 at home, and the Flames are 15-14-6 on the road. The teams are a combined 9-3 over the last 12 with Colorado “burning hot” versus “average” on the Team Strength Oscillator and +29 to +16 on the Power Ranks Indicator. The score prediction is 4-2 in favor of the Avalanche, but the confidence is equal to that of a coin toss. Both teams are extremely consistent with regard to their favorite/underdog status.  Colorado won both previous games between the teams by a 4-2 score as road underdogs. Colorado will win again at home by a similar margin in a game “over” the line.

Dallas Stars versus Seattle Kraken

Here is a game with two teams heading in opposite directions. Dallas is 2nd in the Western Conference, and Seattle has been all but eliminated, sitting 4th from the bottom. The Kraken have a respectable home record of 17-15-5, and Dallas is 20-14-2 on the road. The Stars have a scoring differential edge of +59 to -15.  Dallas is “burning hot” after winning the last four and +31 on the Power Ranks Indicator versus “ice cold up” and +4 for Seattle. Expect a higher scoring game with both teams trending “over” the line. The Stars won the only game between the teams this season, 2-0 as a home favorite.  With little to play for, I don’t see Seattle putting up much of a fight in this one. I like the Stars by at least two goals in a game “over” the line.