Free NHL Expert and Computer Picks For Every Game April 23, 2026
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.
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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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