Free NHL Expert and Computer Picks For Every Game April 17, 2026
OTT
@
CAR
Sat, Apr 18 • 3:00 PM ET
Dylan Cozens o0.5 Points (+115)
Cozens has registered a point in five of his last six games. Perhaps more importantly, he strung together a four-game point streak en route to the Sens punching their ticket to the playoffs. He notched two points in a 6-3 win over Carolina on April 5. The 25-year-old scored four points in two games against the 'Canes this season.
Andrei Svechnikov o0.5 Goals Scored (+195)
Svechnikov has scored in six of his last seven games, including just three games ago against the Senators. He's scored in three straight games against Atlantic Division opponents, and the recently turned 26-year-old led the 'Canes with eight playoff goals last season.
MIN
@
DAL
Sat, Apr 18 • 5:30 PM ET
MIN (+105)
The Stars limped into the postseason with a 7-5-2 record, and just three of those wins came against postseason teams. More concerning, Dallas ranked 20th in expected goals percentage at five-on-five. For comparison, Minnesota ranked fourth in xGF% at 5-on-5 during the same stretch. Dallas will also be without two-way center Roope Hintz, and No. 1 defenseman Miro Heiskanen (lower body) is likely to play at less than 100% after missing the final three games of the regular season and being deemed questionable for the series opener.
Joel Eriksson Ek o0.5 Goals Scored (+325)
Eriksson Ek has only scored twice with a 4.6 shooting percentage across his past 17 games despite piling up an impressive 7.96 expected goals and 29 high-danger scoring chances. There’s statistical correction coming in the goals column for Eriksson Ek considering he’s been dangerous and also posted an 11.3 SH% across 387 games since the beginning of the 2020 campaign.
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PHI
@
PIT
Sat, Apr 18 • 8:00 PM ET
u6.5 (-130)
Flyers were dominant defensively at five-on-five down the stretch with the fewest goals against and second-fewest expected goals against per 60 minutes during their NHL best 15-5-1 run after the March 6 trade deadline. Excellent defense will be critical against Pittsburgh because the Pens paced the league in goals per 60 minutes and team shooting percentage at 5-on-5 during the same result. I’m anticipating the solid Philly defense to help kick-start statistical correction to the shooting efficiency from Pittsburgh and pave the way to this total going Under the number in Game 1.
Travis Konecny o0.5 Goals Scored (+270)
Konecny only scored twice across his final 13 games of the regular season despite recording 3.67 individual expected goals and 14 high-danger scoring chances while averaging 18:20 of ice time and jumping the boards with the No. 1 power-play unit. His 7.4 shooting percentage during the skid was also way below his 17.7% mark through the first 64 games of the season.
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