NHL Games to Watch on Saturday

Four NHL games on Saturday should get hockey handicappers excited: Canadiens-Jets, Capitals-Lightning, Blue Jackets-Predators, and Knights-Sharks. All four are battles between playoff-bound teams. Capitals-Lightning is a marquee matchup that every hockey fan should watch. The Caps knocked out Tampa Bay in last season’s NHL playoffs. Saturday’s match might foreshadow what happens this season.

Check out analysis, BetAmerica NHL betting odds, and free picks for five of the top NHL matchups on Saturday, March 30!

[Saturday, March 30]

Montreal Canadiens +135 at Winnipeg Jets -170 (7:00pm ET)

Montreal’s 4-2 SU in their last 6. They travel to Winnipeg to take on the Jets, losers of 3 of 4. One hot trend says Winnipeg bounces back here because the Jets are 5-1 on the moneyline in their last 6 playing on a day of rest.

Although that’s a strong trend, so’s this one: Montreal is 10-2 in their last 12 when their opponent allows 5 goals or more in their previous game. The odds imply Winnipeg’s an easy winner. Montreal has a shot, though, and deserves backing here.

NHL Free Pick: Canadiens +135

Washington Capitals +160 at Tampa Bay Lightning -200 (7:00pm ET)

Tampa’s been on fire, going 8-2 SU in their last 10. The last time the Lightning battled the Capitals, they only beat them 5-4. Tampa Bay’s 32-6-1-1 home record’s daunting, but the Caps have a nice 23-14-2-0 away record.

All the trends point to a Tampa win, but the road team is 7-3 on the moneyline in the last 10 meetings. Washington gets the nod.

NHL Free Pick: Capitals +160

Columbus Blue Jackets +105 at Nashville Predators -130 (8:00pm ET)

Nashville remains a couple of points behind Winnipeg in the Central Division standings. The Predators have played well, going 4-2 SU in their last 6. They’re also a really good 23-13-1-1 at home.

Sounds like Nashville should take this, but the Blue Jackets will be searching for their fourth straight on Saturday. Neither team has positive trends that stand out. When facing a game like this, it’s always best to back the dog. Columbus gets the call.

NHL Free Pick: Blue Jackets +105

Vegas Golden Knights +110 at San Jose Sharks -140 (9:00pm ET)

The Golden Knights’ up-and-down season has continued. They won four straight from March 15 to March 21. Since then, they’ve lost three straight to Detroit, St. Louis, and Colorado. Not only that, but Vegas has a match on Friday against the Minnesota Wild.

It’s going to be hard to beat the Sharks in the second of a back-to-back. Then again, San Jose is on a 7-match losing streak. It’s difficult to back either team in this game. The nod goes to Vegas, though, because of these two strong trends: 5-0 in their last 5 in the third game of a 3-in-4 situation, and 4-1 SU in the last 5 meetings.

NHL Free Pick: Golden Knights +110

Chicago Blackhawks -115 at L.A. Kings -110 (10:30pm ET)

Sometimes, we can find a gem of a pick when two basement-dwellers battle it out. The Blackhawks are 17-19-3-0 in away games this season, while the Kings are an awful 15-20-2-1 at home.

L.A. is on a 2-match losing streak, but they beat the Blackhawks 6-3 in the last head-to-head. Chicago is 1-6 SU in the last 7 meetings and 1-5 SU in the last 6 meetings in Los Angeles. The Kings are the shiny gem in this one.

NHL Free Pick: Kings -110   

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