Top NHL Betting Picks of the Week (March 7th, 2022)
We knew the 2023 Winter Classic was going to feature the Boston Bruins against the Pittsburgh Penguins at Fenway Park on New Year’s Day, and the NHL has announced a second outdoor matchup for next season: Washington against Carolina from NC State’s Carter-Finley Stadium on Feb. 18, 2023. It’s Carolina’s first outdoor game and Washington’s fourth. The Hurricanes were supposed to host an outdoor game in 2021, but that was postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Here’s a look at two intriguing early-week matchups in the NHL.
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Los Angeles Kings vs. Boston Bruins
- When: Monday, March 7th, 2022. 7:00pm ET
- Where: TD Garden, Boston, MA
- TV: TVAS, NESN, BSW
- Radio: AM 570 LA Sports (Los Angeles) // 98.5 The Sports Hub (Boston)
- Live Stream: NHL Live
- NHL Betting Odds: TBA
The last meeting of the season between the teams, although it’s not impossible they meet in the Stanley Cup Final. I wouldn’t bet on that happening, though.
The Kings were embarrassed 7-0 at home by Boston on Feb. 28. Jake DeBrusk got his first career hat trick early in his first four-point game, and Patrice Bergeron added a goal and two assists for the Bruins. Erik Haula scored two goals and Jeremy Swayman made 34 saves in his fifth career shutout for Boston.
DeBrusk scored his three goals in the first 21 minutes. He requested a trade in November from his only NHL organization, yet he has been thriving ever since he was moved onto Boston’s top line. Brad Marchand, David Pastrnak and Charlie McAvoy had two assists apiece for the Bruins. Cal Petersen replaced a struggling Jonathan Quick in the second period and allowed both of Haula’s goals in the third. The Kings were shut out for the first time since Dec. 6.
DeBrusk scored his 15th of the season Saturday. He opened the scoring in what would be a 5-4 shootout win for the Bruins over Columbus. The 25-year-old winger has seven goals in his last seven games and still wants a trade. DeBrusk has 25 points in 51 games. Swayman made 20 saves in the victory and stopped all three shooters in the shootout. He has won six straight games with just 10 goals allowed (four of those came Saturday).
The Kings won their second in a row Sunday, 3-0 in Buffalo. Andreas Athanasiou scored twice, including the 100th of his career, and Petersen stopped 19 shots. LA has won seven of nine and improved to 10-1-2 over its past 13 road games. At 31-19-7, the Kings have the most victories through 57 games since 2015-16, when they were 33-20-4. Because it’s the second of a back-to-back Monday, it should be Quick in net.
NHL Betting Pick: Bruins
Washington Capitals vs. Calgary Flames
- When: Tuesday, March 8th, 2022. 9:00pm ET
- Where: Scotiabank Saddledome, Calgary, AB
- TV: SNW, NBCSWA
- Radio: 106.7 The Fan FM (Washington) // Sportsnet 960 The FAN (Calgary)
- Live Stream: NHL Live
- NHL Betting Odds: TBA
Could be a Stanley Cup Final preview. Tampa Bay is definitely good enough to get there as the two-time Cup champion. I’m not sure Nashville is but it’s not out of the question. It’s also the 2022 NHL Stadium Series game being played outdoors at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, the usual home of the NFL’s Tennessee Titans. It’s the first-ever outdoors NHL game in Tennessee.
This is a more likely Stanley Cup Final preview. I kinda doubt Washington will get there but Calgary could out of the West. The Caps will be without veteran forward Carl Hagelin, who is sidelined indefinitely after having surgery for an eye injury. Hagelin has scored 14 points (three goals, 11 assists) in 53 games this season, his fourth with the Capitals. He has played the past two seasons regularly on the fourth line with Nic Dowd and Garnet Hathaway, and on the penalty kill.
Hagelin leads Washington forwards in shorthanded ice time (100:25), and is second in shorthanded ice time per game (1:54) behind Dowd (2:01).
“Obviously he’s a big part of our PK. He’s our No. 1 PK guy,” GM Brian MacLellan said. “He’s one of the better PKers in the league. That fourth line’s been phenomenal for us over the last couple years and he’s a big part of it. They play against top lines, they start in our own end and they do a good job, so we’re going to miss him.”
It likely will be Ilya Samsonov in net for this one. The last appearance Samsonov made was on February 28 against the Toronto Maple Leafs due to injury but he’s healthy now. He has a record of 17-9-3, along with a save percentage of .901 and a GAA of 2.93.
Calgary won 4-3 in overtime at Washington on Oct. 23. Elias Lindholm completed his second career hat trick with a one-timer 2:46 into overtime. Johnny Gaudreau had two assists, including the final feed to Lindholm for an effort that caught the body of Samsonov before trickling over the line. Samsonov replaced Vitek Vanecek to start the second period. He stopped 13 straight shots before he was beaten in overtime.
Ovechkin is currently sitting on 764 goals, two from tying Jaromir Jagr for third-most in NHL history.
NHL Betting Pick: Flames
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READ MORE: Top NHL Betting Picks of the Week (March 14th, 2022)
