NHL Picks

Bo Horvat has predictably taken on a large workload with the Islanders fighting to keep their playoff hopes alive. He has logged 20+ minutes in both games under Pete DeBoer, playing more than 43 in aggregate.

Forget matchups or any other context. Horvat has piled up 3+ shots on target in 65% of his games when logging 20+ minutes this season. That number spikes to 76% when isolating home games.

A ton of his volume comes from the slot, where the Canadiens rank 22nd in shots against this season and 24th over the last 10 games.

Slaf has racked up four assists across a three-game streak and has 13 in his last 16 games. He had four points against the Islanders on March 21.

Drake Batherson has points in 69% of his games vs. teams outside the Top-10 in goal suppression and eight of nine when playing in the latter half of back-to-backs. 

He’s in a favorable spot to keep the production train chugging along. The likes of Luke Hughes, Brett Pesce, and Jacob Markstrom are sidelined with injuries, and backup Jake Allen got the nod in goal Saturday.

That means Batherson will face 3rd stringer Nico Daws, who owns an .891 save percentage in the AHL. Look for him to capitalize.

Leo Carlsson has averaged 3.7 shots on goal over his past six games, clearing 2.5 shots in five of them.

He’s in a great spot to build on that against the Vancouver Canucks. They rank near the basement in shot suppression and Carlsson has fared exceptionally well against Bottom-10 teams in shots allowed, recording 3+ shots in 74% of his games.

Carlsson’s numbers in advantageous matchups are better at home, where he has averaged four shots and gone Over in nine of the last 10.

The Ducks still have a lot to play for and will be relying on their No. 1 center to drive the bus.

Anaheim put the brakes on a 6-game slide, beating the Sharks 6-1, but this team is in danger of falling out of the Pacific Division’s Top 3. If they do, the Ducks can look at their shaky 3.51 goals against, the 4th-worst mark in the NHL. They’ve allowed four or more goals in six of seven. The Over has cashed in five of the last seven between these teams, and I expect that trend to continue on Sunday.

Matvei Gridin is second on the team in scoring since being recalled in January, with 18 points in 31 games.

Gridin has recorded a point in eight of his last 11 outings and will be a key part of Calgary's offense tonight.

Yan Kuznetsov has blocked multiple shots in 15 of his past 20 games, including four of five since returning from injury.

He is more than willing to put his body on the line to help his goaltender and he should have ample opportunity to do so against the Utah Mammoth.

They have averaged more than 66 shot attempts per 60 minutes over their last 10 games, trailing only the Carolina Hurricanes.

They are putting a ton of pucks towards the net, which should raise the floor and ceiling for Kuznetsov.