Detroit Red Wings defenseman Marc Staal (18) knocks Florida Panthers center Aleksander Barkov (16) off the puck in the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Feb. 20, 2021, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
- There are 13 NHL games on the ice on Saturday, March 20th
- Robert Duff won his Sunday pick, leaving his NHL record at 19-11 (+6.00 units won)
- The Florida Panthers are 3-1 in their last four games against the Nashville Predators
Among the surprise teams this season, few pundits would’ve been projecting the Florida Panthers as a playoff club in their preseason NHL picks. Nonetheless, the Panthers sit second overall in the Central Division. They’re just two points back of the division-leading Tampa Bay Lightning.
The Nashville Predators, on the other hand, are likely weighing which players they’ll be selling at the upcoming NHL trade deadline. The Preds are sixth in the Central, six points out of a postseason position.
These two teams meet Saturday and the Panthers are solid -210 favorites. Nashville, though, is 2-0 both straight up and against the spread over the past two games. That includes a 2-1 win at Florida on Thursday.
The Pittsburgh Penguins have won three of five from the New Jersey Devils. Pittsburgh has won six of its last 10 visits to New Jersey.
March 20th NHL Odds
| Team | Moneyline | Spread | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pittsburgh Penguins | -155 | -1.5 (+160) | O 6.0 (+102) |
| New Jersey Devils | +104 | +1.5 (-195) | U 6.0 (-125) |
| Team | Moneyline | Spread | Total |
| Nashville Predators | +176 | +1.5 (-143) | O 6.0 (-113) |
| Florida Panthers | -210 | -1.5 (+120) | U 6.0 (-107) |
| Team | Moneyline | Spread | Total |
| Minnesota Wild | +205 | +1.5 (-175) | O 6.0 (-106) |
| Colorado Avalanche | -245 | -1.5 (+143) | U 6.0 (-115) |
| Team | Moneyline | Spread | Total |
| Chicago Blackhawks | +205 | +1.5 (-125) | O 6.0 (-106) |
| Tampa Bay Lightning | -245 | -1.5 (+106) | U 6.0 (-115) |
| Team | Moneyline | Spread | Total |
| Dallas Stars | -200 | -1.5 (+120) | O 5.5 (-107) |
| Detroit Red Wings | -163 | +1.5 (-160) | U 5.5 (-131) |
| Team | Moneyline | Spread | Total |
| Columbus Blue Jackets | +155 | +1.5 (-140) | O 5.5 (-105) |
| Carolina Hurricanes | -190 | -1.5 (+130) | U 5.5 (-105) |
| Team | Moneyline | Spread | Total |
| Philadelphia Flyers | +118 | +1.5 (-200) | O 5.5 (+105) |
| New York Islanders | -143 | -1.5 (+180) | U 5.5 (-115) |
| Team | Moneyline | Spread | Total |
| Calgary Flames | +128 | OFF | OFF |
| Toronto Maple Leafs | -155 | OFF | OFF |
| Team | Moneyline | Spread | Total |
| Vancouver Canucks | +157 | OFF | OFF |
| Montreal Canadiens | -195 | OFF | OFF |
| Team | Moneyline | Spread | Total |
| St. Louis Blues | -200 | OFF | OFF |
| San Jose Sharks | +115 | OFF | OFF |
| Team | Moneyline | Spread | Total |
| Winnipeg Jets | +110 | +1.5 (-200) | O 6.5 (+115) |
| Edmonton Oilers | -132 | -1.5 (+180) | U 6.5 (-125) |
| Team | Moneyline | Spread | Total |
| Arizona Coyotes | -125 | -1.5 (+195) | O 5.5 (+120) |
| Anaheim Ducks | +115 | +1.5 (-221) | U 5.5 (-131) |
| Team | Moneyline | Spread | Total |
| New York Rangers | OFF | OFF | OFF |
| Washington Capitals | OFF | OFF | OFF |
Odds as of March 19th at DraftKings/PointsBet.
The Boston Bruins-vs-Buffalo Sabres game was postponed after several Boston players ended up entering the NHL’s COVID-19 protocol.
Keeping It Close
Thursday’s game was the fifth of the season between the Panthers and Predators. It was the fourth that finished with a one-goal verdict. Nashville won the first meeting 6-5 in a shootout.
Florida then won three in a row, including 5-4 and 2-1 decisions. The other was a 6-2 Panthers triumph. Three of the five Panthers-Predators meetings have gone over.
Jonathan Huberdeau buries a beautiful Hornqvist dish❗🍽️
0 #NSHvsFLA 1 #FlaPanthers #OneTerritory #NHL
Watch @FlaPanthers 🏒 on:
📺: FOX Sports Florida
📱: https://t.co/rvlCnZzn1y pic.twitter.com/CscRMeNBwK— FOX Sports Panthers (@FOXPanthers) March 18, 2021
Nashville ended a three-game losing streak against Florida on Thursday. The Preds also brought a halt to Florida’s overall four-game winning run. It’s been 10 games since Florida lost two in a row.
Thursday’s defeat was just the second at home in regulation for the Panthers this season. Florida is 10-2-1 at home.
In his first game back off of IRL, Nashville goalie Juuse Saros made 40 saves in Thursday’s victory.
Pick: Over 6.0 (-113)
2021 Stanley Cup Odds Tracker
Penguins Look Vulnerable
Just when the Pittsburgh Penguins were getting on a roll, the injury bug slapped them down hard. Four key forwards – Evgeni Malkin, Jason Zucker, Teddy Blueger and Jared McCann – are out.
It’s impacted the Penguins’ lineup from top to bottom. Evan Rodrigues is now a top-six center. Sam Lafferty and Mark Jankowski comprise two-thirds of the third line. Colton Sceviour, who was on waivers this season, and Frederick Gaudreau, seeing his first NHL action since 2018-19, are fourth-line regulars.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9x6LrrqaMIk?feature=oembed
The Devils played Thursday without goalie MacKenzie Blackwood and forward Pavel Zacha. New Jersey is 26th in NHL scoring (2.52 goals per game).
Their last four New Jersey games all went under. Just one of the Devils’ past seven games went over.
Pick: Under 6.0 (-125)
An industry veteran, Bob literally taught the course on the history of sports at Elder College. He has worked as a Sports Columnist for Postmedia, appeared as a guest on several radio stations, was the Vice President of the Society For International Hockey Research in Ontario, and written 25 books.