Free NHL Expert and Computer Picks For Every Game April 23, 2026
BUF
@
BOS
Thu, Apr 23 • 7:00 PM ET
Jeremy Swayman o25.5 Total Saves (-130)
The move to TD Garden won’t be enough to prevent the Sabres from piling up shots again in Game 3. Buffalo has recorded a postseason-high 36.5 shots per 60 minutes with a rock-solid 55.2 Corsi For percentage at five-on-five, after all. Swayman has been up to the task, too. He’s posted a .931 save percentage with 2.03 goals saved above expected in Round 1, and the strong play has legs, with Swayman also posting a .920 SV% with 14.21 GSAx across his final 16 regular-season starts.
Josh Doan o0.5 Points (+140)
The Sabres have generated 2.76 expected goals with Doan on the ice yet scored only once. He’s getting looks at 5-on-5 and he is skating on the top power play alongside top weapons like Tage Thompson and Rasmus Dahlin. With that kind of usage, it’s only a matter of time before results follow his chance-generation.
CAR
@
OTT
Thu, Apr 23 • 7:30 PM ET
Frederik Andersen o22.5 Total Saves (-130)
The season is on the line for the Senators, so I’m anticipating a busy night for Andersen. Ottawa averaged 2.4 more shots per game at the Canadian Tire Centre, and the Sens climbed to a third-ranked 53.9 Corsi For percentage at five-on-five on home ice compared to a 51.7% mark on the highway. Of course, Andersen has been excellent between the pipes with a .967 save percentage and 5.87 goals saved above expected during the series. Best of all, there’s enough room for Andersen's numbers to take a hit in Game 3 without threatening this Over.
Tim Stutzle o0.5 Goals Scored (+195)
There’s a disconnect between the underlying numbers for Sens star Tim Stutzle and how dangerous he’s actually been on the ice. While he’s generated just 0.86 individual expected goals on six shots and four individual high-danger scoring chances during the series, he’s done everything but find the back of the net with multiple missed Grade A chances in both games. Stutzle finally capitalizes with a goal in Game 3.
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COL
@
LA
Thu, Apr 23 • 10:00 PM ET
Alex Laferriere u0.5 Points (-115)
The prices for Laferriere in the points market are off. He’s been primarily matched up against Avalanche stars Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar at five-on-five, and when he’s not jumping the boards against them, it’s against the Colorado No. 2 line and defense pair. Simply put, Laferriere is a supporting scorer being tasked with the toughest defensive assignments, which is reinforced by his 39.5 Corsi For percentage and 39.0 expected goals percentage at 5-on-5 to start the series.
Martin Necas o0.5 Goals Scored (+195)
Necas paces the Avs in individual expected goals during the series (1.22), and he’s also failed to find the back of the net in five consecutive games dating back to the regular season despite recording 17 shots and eight high-danger scoring chances. After scoring 38 times during the regular season, Necas breaks through and scores in Game 3.
TB
@
MON
Fri, Apr 24 • 7:00 PM ET
Cole Caufield o0.5 Assists (+130)
The Lightning evidently have a game plan for the 51-goal scorer and have limited him to just three shots through two games. Fortunately, Caufield and his overshadowed vision have produced three assists in the meantime. Tampa's game plan to suppress his scoring opportunities have led to an abundance of passing options for the winger.
Josh Anderson o0.5 Goals Scored (+450)
Anderson has scored in three of his last four playoff games against Tampa, including in both games in this series and dating back to the 2021 Stanley Cup Final. He's scored in three of his last four and had his highest single-game shot total since March 3 in Game 2.
VEG
@
UTAH
Fri, Apr 24 • 9:30 PM ET
Jack Eichel o0.5 Goals Scored (+220)
Eichel has only found the back of the net three times across the past 18 games dating back to the regular season despite racking up an impressive 54 shots, 17 high-danger scoring chances and 5.97 individual expected goals. He’s pacing Vegas forwards in ice time during Round 1 and his 5.6 shooting percentage during the highlighted stretch is miles below the 11.7% mark he posted across his previous 265 regular-season games.
I'll be the first to highlight Hart posting a .932 save percentage across his first seven games back from injury was unsustainable. Still, he turned away 57 of 62 shots in this series while going well above this saves total in both games. Additionally, I'm not questioning him seeing enough rubber to go Over the number again in Game 3. Utah ranked fourth in Corsi For percentage at five-on-five on home ice during the regular season, after all.
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