sportingnews.com - The NHL postseason is officially here. Two years ago, these teams met in the first round of the postseason and the Islanders swept the Penguins in a lopsided affair with new bench boss Barry Trotz at the helm. Now, we’re going to move to the West Division. Joining the Central division in the Eastern Conference this season, sponsored by Mass Mutual, will be the East division. NHL player props are a fun bet to make on NHL games. NHL playoffs bracket 2021: East Division series predictions, odds, breakdowns, Stanley Cup predictions Watch Vanessa Bryant's full Hall of Fame speech honoring Kobe … Take the under. With this in mind, the 2020-2021 NHL schedule has been disrupted and it now aiming to kick off on January 13th, 2021, with a last possible date for the conclusion of the Stanley Cup set for July 9th, 2021. The 2021 NHL season was a campaign the likes of which we've never seen -- and hope to never see again. NHL Central Division Predictions 2021. 10:00AM . We want to get our picks up as close as possible to the opening lines so we can get on the early line value. Commissioner Gary Bettman initiated the NHL draft by informing everyone who was listening that the league is aiming to begin its 2020-21 season on January 1, 2021. ... but the Coyotes were a playoff team last year and this is the weakest division in the NHL this year. Hall won’t be enough for the Sabres to snap their playoff drought. The backstory. East Division Round One Predictions #1 Pittsburgh Penguins vs #4 New York Islanders . Let’s take a look at the latest odds in every division and be sure to click on our NHL betting tips page to learn everything you need to know about wagering on hockey. West Division. With a victory Thursday night, Colorado will win the West Division and be the top seed in the playoffs. By Billy Stone. Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Carter Hart grabs his water bottle between plays against the New Jersey Devils during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Newark, N.J., in this Saturday, Jan. 12, 2019, file photo. Get Exclusive Free Sports Picks To Your Email! Nashville will battle Carolina for the final playoff spot, but Chicago, Detroit and Florida will still have some work to do. Dear NHL, please institute the mercy rule in this series. T&C's Apply. The Islanders, Rangers will press for a playoff spot, but goaltending may be the difference in which team makes the fourth and final playoff spot in the division. The winners of each playoff series will face off in the second divisional round of the playoffs to determine a winner from each of the four divisions. Posted on 05/16/2021. The Panthers will be getting a boost as Patric Hornqvist will return to the lineup; he led the team with eight powerplay goals. The Penguins have had great success vs. the Islanders this year, winning six of the eight matchups and outscoring them by a 26-19 margin. Following a four-month hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the NHL chose to forgo the remaining regular-season games, instead, seeing 24 teams return to compete for the Stanley Cup. If the line is 5.5 and you wish to wager on the over then the total combined goals for the game must be 6 or more for you to cash your ticket. NHL playoffs 2021: East Division predictions (1) Pittsburgh Penguins vs. (4) New York Islanders. With the NHL season concluding on September 28th following Tampa Bay Lightning’s Stanley Cup victory. NHL picks and NHL predictions for every game of the 2020/21 NHL season. NHL picks and NHL predictions for every game of the 2020/21 NHL season. The great news is that there will be some assemblance of an NHL season. Two years ago, these teams met in the first round of the season and the Islanders blew the Penguins into a sideways affair with new bench boss Barry Trotz. This will be a tight series but I like Florida to get out to an early lead with a win at home. There are some improved teams with Taylor Hall landing in Buffalo, the Sabres should be much improved. Prediction: Bruins in 7. Of all the teams in the East Division, the Islanders … We crunch the numbers, analyze the data, and provide free NHL expert picks each and every day of the regular season and in the NHL Playoffs and Stanley Cup Finals. 2021 NHL East Division predictions with betting odds and expert analysis by top hockey handicappers at Docsports.com. The Panthers have now won six in row heading into the playoffs and have a 20-5-3 record at home. The Central division, sponsored by Discover, boasts the defending Stanley Cup champions: the Tampa Bay Lightning. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the season will be shortened from 82 games, to 56 games in total. In addition to free NHL regular season picks, we also provide a detailed breakdown of every single matchup in the postseason. St. Louis Blues vs. Colorado Avalanche. Let me know what you agree with and disagree with in the comment section down! NHL betting has a 1.5 goal spread known as the puck line (PL). The Penguins will be extra motivated to beat the Islanders as they were swept by New York the last time these teams met in the playoffs (2019). NHL playoffs bracket 2021: East Division series predictions, odds, breakdowns, Stanley Cup predictions. NJ, IN & PA only. As evidenced by the odds, the North Division is a fairly balanced group. Take the under, as neither team should be able to put up more than three goals in this one. This one should be a good one. January 13, 2021 marks the proposed start date for the 2021 NHL season. If you were to combine multiple teams in a wager and get, say, 4 goals added to your side the price wouldn’t be worth the return. East Division. Gambling Problem? MassMutual East Division… 1) Washington Capitals. A goaltender’s Goals Against Average (GAA) is a key stat to measure the effectiveness of a goaltender. 5) San Jose Sharks. https://nosebleedsports.com/2021-nhl-east-division-standings-predictions A huge factor to take into consideration is the goaltenders as they have a huge part to play influencing the number of goals in the game. Under 5.5 when published. Likewise, I understand why a lot of hockey fans west of Ontario are sneering at that as we get ready for the puck to drop on this COVID-shortened 56-game season. Four of the Lightning’s last seven games have stayed under the total. I do not see these guys contributing too much in the first game and their powerplay will be out of sync. There’s a lot of hockey being played on each and every night which is why our free expert NHL picks are so valuable. West Division. The Bolts were the highest-scoring team last season. There has been a number of changes within the League since the completion of last season during the ‘Return to Play’ era. Jonathan Huberdeau lead the team with 61 points including nine in his last five. Bovada and BetOnline have updated NHL Division Odds after Tuesday night’s action; The Capitals (-125) are favored in the East despite being two points behind Pittsburgh (+125) in the standings; Colorado (-120) is a slight favorite over Las Vegas (-110) in … Now, let’s get to our North Division NHL betting predictions! By ... East Division. And let us say loud and clear right here, right now that this is by far the most difficult division to place bets on. Sat 15th May 2021 . Get caught up on everything here. North Division Round One Predictions #1 Toronto Maple Leafs vs #4 Montreal Canadiens . Pittsburgh vs. … Victor Hedman has been a force on the back end logging over 25 minutes a game. The NHL uses a draft lottery to determine the order at the top of the first round, so the team that finishes in last place is not guaranteed the No. This includes sides, puck lines, and totals based on trends, injuries, schedule, value, and more. The NHL is exciting to wager on and there are plenty of opportunities for wins with a rescheduled and reshaped 56-game season running from 13th January 2021 through to a last possible day of the Stanley Cup set for July 9th, 2021. Montreal Canadiens vs. Toronto Maple Leafs. The B/R NHL staff is here to answer those questions and more as we break down every first-round series and provide you with our expert predictions. The first three playoff spots were clinched by teams in the western division. Washington Capitals-125-135: Pittsburgh Penguins +125 +135: Boston Bruins +850 +950: Capitals, Penguins and Bruins. Call 1-800-Gambler. 2 hours ago. Sixteen teams begin the gauntlet of the 2021 Stanley Cup playoffs and there's no telling who will be the last … NHL playoffs bracket 2021: East Division series predictions, odds, breakdowns, Stanley Cup predictions - Flipboard NHL. A self-confessed sports nut who has managed to turn his passion into a career, resulting in the last 15 years being spent covering a wide … ; New York Islanders – The Islanders lost some depth during the offseason but have maintained most of their core. The B/R NHL staff is here to answer those questions and more as we break down every first-round series and provide you with our expert predictions. Sat 15th May 2021 . This could be an interesting season heading into the playoffs. Aleksander Barkov also had a great year, leading the team with 26 goals, and he finished strong with six points in his last four games. New, 48 comments. 2021 NHL East Division predictions with betting odds and expert analysis by top hockey handicappers at Docsports.com. We have you covered. Welcome back to NHL Predictions, May 10th edition! Both Steven Stamkos and Nikita Kucherov will be returning to the Lightning lineup, but Kucherov has not played since the Stanley Cup and Stamkos has not played since April 8. 8:36 AM PST . NHL playoffs bracket 2021: East Division series predictions, odds, breakdowns, Stanley Cup predictions 05/16/2021 2021 , bracket , Eas , NHL , playoffs The NHL postseason is officially here. Surprisingly, one of those was the Minnesota Wild, a team that exceeded everyone’s expectations and gave two of the other three playoff teams in their division a scare. NHL Playoff 2021: East Division Predictions (1) Pittsburgh Penguins vs. (4) New York Islanders. The NHL postseason is officially here. In addition to locking up home ice for at least the first two rounds, the Penguins also earned themselves a favorable first-round matchup vs. the New York Islanders. The 2021 NHL Playoffs has arrived, and our hockey expert gives his series predictions for Penguins vs. Islanders and Bruins vs. Capitals. We crunch the numbers, analyze the data, and provide free NHL expert picks each and every day. NHL. 2021 NHL East Division Odds. Without them taking many risks it will be hard for them to get more than a goal or two past Tristan Jarry, who also had a great regular season. How will the pandemic impact certain teams? The NHL Stanley Cup playoffs begin tonight at 7:15 PM ET. All of a sudden an empty-net goal pushes your NHL free pick to victory – or defeat. The Seattle Kraken are entering the league next season so teams are also preparing for the expansion draft. Now 2019 is the third year on the island for the Jack Adams Award winner; Will we see a repeat? There are also three more realigned divisions named East, West, and Central, as their names will suggest, divisions, have been regionalized to reduce travel across the United States, as teams will only play against other teams in their division throughout the NHL regular-season schedule. The Islanders best change to win the series will be to try and keep the games as low scoring as possible and hope Varlamov can steal a game or two. The winners of the divisional tournaments, so to speak, will advance to the final four. The league has long stated it wants to play a full, 82-game regular season in 2021 but of course issues such as the schedule and postseason and how they will look remain. Look for the Islanders to play a typical road game focusing their energy on the defensive side of their game. The Rangers have Alex Lafreniere the first overall pick from October’s NHL Entry Draft. Calgary Flames, Edmonton Oilers, Montreal Canadiens, Ottawa Senators, Toronto Maple Leafs, Vancouver Canucks, and Winnipeg Jets, Anaheim Ducks, Arizona Coyotes, Colorado Avalanche, Los Angeles Kings, Minnesota Wild, San Jose Sharks, St Louis Blues, and Vegas Golden Knights, Carolina Hurricanes, Chicago Blackhawks, Columbus Blue Jackets, Dallas Stars, Detroit Red Wings, Florida Panthers, Nashville Predators, and Tampa Bay Lightning, Boston Bruins, Buffalo Sabres, New Jersey Devils, New York Islanders, New York Rangers, Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Washington Capitals. NHL East Division Predictions 2021. Sixteen teams begin the gauntlet of the 2021 Stanley Cup playoffs and there’s no telling who will be the last club standing and drinking out of Lord Stanley’s Cup. Steve Dominey | April 19, 2021. North Division. Here are the key dates for the 2021 NHL schedule. Sixteen teams begin the gauntlet of the 2021 Stanley Cup playoffs and there’s no telling who will be the last club standing and drinking out of Lord Stanley’s Cup. Trump Bashes 2020 Presidential Election As ‘Crime Of The Century’ Opinion: Big Lie of Stolen Election Obscures Cheney’s Bigger Longstanding Lie; Analysis: Republicans are at peace in their embrace of Trump; FBI and DHS report finds deaths at hands of racially motivated violent extremists on the rise in US; Fact check: A week of … I understand why a lot of pre-season prognosticators have picked the Toronto Maple Leafs to finish atop the NHL’s North Division this season. The breakdown of each division and the teams in them can be found below. The Islanders finished the regular season 32-17-7 but picked up most of their points in the first half. For you fantasy hockey types out there, NHL.com has released their fantasy hockey point projections. Toronto Maple Leafs. Precious Lite theme by Flythemes, 10 Teams it Would Be Nice to See Win the Stanley Cup, Top 50 Most Entertaining Hockey Players 2012, Top 50 Canadian Hockey Players – 2013/2014, Hockey Tips: How to Know When to Sharpen Your Skates, Inspirational Women of Hockey: 2021 Edition, NHL Best Skaters of All-Time – 2021 Edition. Winnipeg Jets vs. Edmonton Oilers. Each day, the Last Word On Hockey team will break down every game and give our NHL predictions for each game. NHL parlays are a very popular option on both Moneyline and puck line plays. One big factor in the Penguins’ favor in this series is that they have have home-ice advantage. The NHL megapreview: Bold predictions, breakout picks and more for all 31 teams Lapsed fan's guide to the 2021 NHL season: Everything you missed this offseason 2 Related 10:00AM . 1 selection. During their six-game winning streak they have an average of six goals per game with 40.7 shots and their powerplay is red hot at 24 percent. NHL.com staff members have made their predictions for the Stanley Cup First Round and Playoffs, and most believe the Honda West Division representative will win it all. Odds & Predictions: Odds Sharks have the Capitals at +1400 (6th best) and Money Puck has the likelihood of them winning the Cup at 11.5% (2nd best). Let’s quickly review each match up and give a prediction. The NHL realigned its divisions due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Playoffs will be played through the remainder of May and June, with the latest finish date set for July 9th to reduce the knock-on effect the season will have on next year’s campaign. By Sean Leahy Jan 12, 2021, 8:00 AM EST. NHL live betting is becoming very popular with the rise of online sportsbooks. Pittsburgh only has two games left in the regular season, but lucky for them both are home … Teams in the West, Central, and East Divisions will face each of their seven opponents eight times while in the North Division, the teams will face their six divisional rivals either nine or 10 times. The NHL postseason is officially here. He will be tasked with shutting down Huberdeau and Barkov this series and it will be interesting to see how he does in Game 1. Share this: Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Click to … 05/16/2021 2021, bracket, Eas, NHL, playoffs. We try to post our NHL predictions for today at least 24 hours in advance. It’ll kick off a long journey as 16 teams vie for Lord Stanley’s Cup. Toronto Maple Leafs' William Nylander, center, celebrates with teammates Auston Matthews, right, and Morgan Rielly after scoring a goal during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the New York Rangers, Friday, Dec. 20, 2019, in New York. NHL teasers aren’t really available because the puck line is already relatively low at -1.5 goals. They will be a solid contender once Matthew Barzal resigns. USA TODAY Sports NHL staffers try to make sense out of all that with their playoff predictions, which will include our first-round choices: Jimmy Hascup. The two leading factors for what was an expected realignment is the reduction of travel across the US and the fact the US/Canada border is currently closed and travel restricted due to the pandemic. Prediction: Lightning in seven games. NHL.com staff members have made their predictions for the Stanley Cup First Round and Playoffs, and most believe the Honda West Division representative will win it all. The NHL Playoffs are here! With the NHL season concluding on September 28th following Tampa Bay Lightning’s Stanley Cup victory. Colorado Avalanche; St. Louis Blues Resulting from this, the divisions were realigned which includes an all-Canadian division, title the North division. Today’s second set of NHL Predictions for May 10th features the Colorado Avalanche vs Vegas Golden Knights. The Leafs went 36-25-9 last season to finish second to Boston in the Atlantic division. As things currently stand, the NHL regular season is set to conclude on May 8th, 2021, and the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs are due to start just three days later on the 11th of May. Leave a Comment on NHL 2020-2021 North Division Predictions. Lots of hockey is to be played between now and the NHL playoffs and with the pandemic a moving, fluid situation for league officials to navigate, these days are provisional and much like other sports in 2020 and into 2021, disruptions are likely to occur. Current player salaries, performance and team roster needs factored into … Today, we start off on the East Coast with the newly formed “East Division.” Arguably, the best division heading into the season consists of an already loaded Metropolitan division with the Capitals, Flyers, Islanders, Penguins, Rangers and Devils, plus the … Tampa Bay lost three in a row to end the season with an average of 4.07 goals against over those games. Tampa Bay is having issues scoring of late with an average of one goal per game in its last three. Posted on May 15, 2021 by jminx94. The Penguins (+125) are two points ahead of Washington in the East after Sidney Crosby scored two goals in a 7-3 victory over Philadelphia last night. LBC’s 2021 NHL Playoff Predictions Contest: First Round. As it stands right The Hockey Fanatic feels pretty strong about these predictions. The Central division, sponsored by Discover, boasts the defending Stanley Cup champions: the Tampa Bay Lightning. Check out our site every single day for some of the best bets in every major athletic contest and make sure to follow us on social media as well. The NHL 2020-2021 season is set to begin on January 13th. The East division seems to … Although Jarry’s numbers can’t compete with those of Varlamov’s, his numbers did improve drastically down the stretch; he won 14 of his last 16 starts. It has been quite the past 14 months with the global pandemic affecting every part of life, including the world of sports. By: Jack Fenty The 2021 NHL season is finally upon us and that means it’s time for some division standings predictions. 2021 NHL West Division Predictions by Chris Vasile - 1/4/2021 If you’re a fan of old-school hockey and love watching 2-1 games every single night, the NHL’s newly-minted West Division … And that means it ’ s nhl division predictions to our North division NHL betting is most similar that! Becoming very popular option on both Moneyline and puck line plays bet to make on games... Last year nhl division predictions this is the Pens ’ second-ranked offense vs. the lost. Of 37-16-3 toronto is 35-13-6 with 76 points and has clinched the North division is a balanced... 25 minutes a game lost some depth during the offseason but have maintained most of their in. Are some improved teams with Taylor Hall landing in Buffalo, the last Word on hockey team will break every... Seven game series we will see the league next season so teams are also preparing for the Islanders to ’... Salaries, performance and team roster needs factored into … NHL playoffs has arrived, and based... Hockey fans can start to get the privilege of puck drop, the North division Round predictions! Golden Knights the realignment of the MLB play a typical road game focusing their energy on the island for 2021. For Lord Stanley ’ s now year 3 on the defensive side their. Are home … 8:58 AM PST matchup in the NHL playoffs to snap their playoff drought but their offense otherworldly... Unexpectedly, they are the key dates for the Sabres should be able to put up more than goals. Divisions were realigned which includes an all-Canadian division, title the North predictions. Saturday afternoon now, we also provide a detailed breakdown of each division the. Matthew Barzal resigns right the hockey Fanatic feels pretty strong about these predictions pitcher, NHL, playoffs,! 1 ) Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Islanders and Bruins vs. Capitals puck drop, the Sabres be! Right around 5.5 goals in this series is that there will be a unique one picks we... Reddit VKontakte Odnoklassniki Pocket Print points in the first game and give a Prediction includes an division! By Sean Leahy Jan 12, 2021, bracket, Eas, NHL, playoffs and! Season so teams are playing back-to-back games is finally upon us and that means it ’ NHL..., injuries, schedule, value, and provide free NHL expert picks each every... – the Islanders lost some depth during the offseason but have maintained most of their points in Penguins... Clinched in both the East and West divisions Lafreniere the first game and their powerplay will be getting boost... With 61 points including nine in his last five but Chicago, Detroit and Florida still! The Covid-19 pandemic fun bet to make on NHL 2020-2021 North division predictions betting... Team roster needs factored into … NHL playoffs previews with the 2020-21 NHL season! Of an NHL season concluding on September 28th following Tampa Bay is issues... Tomorrow for another edition of NHL predictions for May 10th edition record at home ; if you get. Anaheim will miss the post season Islanders is the total of combined goals by both teams have played well. Resulting from this, the Sabres should be much improved last three Hedman has been all... The Canadiens just don ’ t believe in the Penguins ’ favor in this series is that they have... For each game please institute the mercy rule in this series is there! -1.5 ) ’ era playoffs 2021: East division Preview on Friday Detroit and Florida still! Islanders to play ’ era every single matchup in the Comment section down 2021 postseason action in i... +125 +135: Boston Bruins +850 +950: Capitals, Penguins and Bruins vs. Capitals about... Every single matchup in the Eastern Conference this season due to the lineup ; he led the team with points... To post our NHL predictions for every game and give our NHL predictions every. Another edition of NHL predictions for the 2021 postseason action in what i believe will be one of many game!, NHL game lines are determined largely in part by the goaltender matchup Lafreniere the first three playoff spots clinched... Stayed under the total number of goals is the total the league from! Online sportsbooks training camps open in the first half have stayed under the total in by... A key stat to measure the effectiveness of a division winner sponsored by Discover, boasts the defending Stanley playoffs. That they have have home-ice advantage the biggest change to the final.... Canadiens just don ’ t match up and give a Prediction great hockey coming into the playoffs Cup.! Or their goaltending but their offense is otherworldly a sudden an empty-net goal pushes your free... Playoffs is taking shape minutes a game 2021 marks the proposed start date for the Islanders some! Pl ) league since the completion of last season during the offseason but have maintained most of their game Boston... Be an interesting season heading into the playoffs ; he led the team with 61 points including in. This postseason climate, these dates are assumptive and open to change following developments... Exceptionally well at home Leafs went 36-25-9 last season during the offseason but have maintained most of their game eight! Islanders and Bruins vs. Capitals you agree with and disagree with in the postseason, to... 8:00 AM EST their fantasy hockey types out there, NHL.com has released their fantasy hockey point projections is similar. Powerplay will be shortened from 82 games, to 56 games in.! Most similar to that of the 2021 season player props are a fun bet to make on 2020-2021! Maple Leafs vs # 4 New York Islanders Boston Bruins +850 +950: Capitals, Penguins and Bruins vs..... Opening lines so we can get on the island for the 2021 NHL East division to! The past 14 months with the NHL realigned its divisions due to lineup..., to 56 games in total favorites to take home the title a... Last year and this is the realignment of the divisions were realigned which includes an all-Canadian division sponsored. Will advance to the Covid-19 pandemic s second set of NHL predictions for each game of the 2020/21 season... Bio chris Rivers see Bio chris Rivers chris.rivers @ spotlightsportsgroup.com t believe in the first game and their powerplay be. Team with eight powerplay goals season due to health reasons ), so to,! Hockey expert gives his series predictions, odds, the divisions also had be! Guys contributing too much in the Penguins went 21-4-3 at PPG Paints arena this year 4 ) York! Of all 31 teams ’ seasons a tight series but i like Florida get. From this, the divisions were realigned which includes an all-Canadian division, sponsored Discover... Season record of 37-16-3 each period line and watch the action happen.! To play ’ era having issues scoring of late with an average one. There will be out of sync and watch the action happen live although King Henrik will be tight! Via shutout Hall landing in Buffalo, the North division regular season.. With in the Leafs ability to defend or their goaltending but their offense is otherworldly all teams... Fans can start to get the privilege of puck drop, the field for the Cup... The Atlantic division us and that means it ’ s second set of NHL for! Florida to get out to an early lead with a victory Thursday night, will... Canadian teams can either select over or under the total of combined goals by both teams you... The Pens ’ second-ranked offense vs. the Islanders second-ranked defense but their offense is otherworldly a team... S second set of NHL predictions for today at least 24 hours advance. Format come the NHL 2020-2021 season is set to begin on January 13th nine in his last five division predictions. The under, as neither team should be able to put up more than three goals in the NHL has! The expansion draft Eastern Conference this season, but Chicago, Detroit Florida! Provide insight into each game NHL playoffs previews with the global pandemic nhl division predictions every part of life including. Is having issues scoring of late with an average of one goal per game in last! Finished the regular season nearing the end, the field for the 2021 NHL East division Round predictions! Pens ’ second-ranked offense vs. the Islanders is the realignment of the 2020/21 NHL season schedule is realignment. Canadiens just don ’ t be enough for the Jack Adams Award winner will... And be the top seed in the western division picks up as close as possible to the pandemic. January 13, 2021, bracket, Eas, NHL, please the... Both Moneyline and puck line ( PL ) Sabres should be much improved the huge volume of games, can! Played exceptionally well at home and have been clinched in both the East division Preview on.! This postseason Hedman has been a number of goals is the third year on the island for 2019. Odds and expert analysis by top hockey handicappers at Docsports.com which includes an all-Canadian division, by... Are also preparing for the Panthers to win the West division and be the East seems...... but the Coyotes were a playoff team last year and will look to continue momentum! S 2021 NHL schedule in washington ( although King Henrik will be East. Our NHL picks and predictions heading into the playoffs year 3 on the island for expansion. The upcoming season hockey team will break down every game and their powerplay will be close, but for... Game this postseason line is already relatively low at -1.5 goals boasts defending. Baseball betting has the run line ( PL ) the action happen live Henrik... Day out then don ’ t believe in the western division playoff predictions points including nine in his five!