The New Jersey Devils are three points behind the Carolina Hurricanes and have an excellent opportunity to pick up two points when they host the Minnesota Wild at 7:00 pm.
The New York Rangers can gain two points in the Metropolitan Division standings when they welcome the division-leading Carolina Hurricanes at Madison Square Garden at 7:00 pm.
The New York Islanders are slotted No. 1 in the Metro Wild Card race and face Eastern Conference rival Toronto Maple Leafs for a 7:30 pm tilt at USB Center.
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Superbook requires the wager must have betting odds greater than -200 to take advantage of this offer, and Phil has three picks that more than qualify with these Tuesday night ESPN+ Hockey night predictions.
Minnesota Wild (40-22-8) vs. New Jersey Devils (45-18-7) at 7:00 pm
A pair of 2nd-place teams in their respective divisions meet for the second time this season when the Wild meet the Devils at Prudential Center.
Minnesota has won three of their last five and two of their past three away tilts – the Wild are an above .500 away team and defeated the Devils in a shootout in their previous meeting.
The Wild are bottom 10 in scoring but 8th in goals allowed. Filip Gustavsson is expected to make a start between the pipes–he’s pitched three shutouts this season and 5th in goals saved above expected.
The script is giving today 🤌 BOLDY HATTY #mnwild pic.twitter.com/2KNrcaDm1D
— Minnesota Wild (@mnwild) March 19, 2023
New Jersey snapped a three-game losing streak Sunday against a strong Tampa Bay Lightning barn and now returns to Prudential Center, where New Jersey has dropped two straight and three of their last five.
The Devils are 4th in scoring and 7th in goals allowed. Vitek Vanecek is expected to man the blue circle, and he’s posted a trio of shutouts but is 49th in goals saved above expected.
— New Jersey Devils (@NJDevils) March 20, 2023
Phil’s Bets Bet: New Jersey Devils Under 6 -110
Two top goaltenders and one low-scoring away team are featured in this one, and we should see a blue-line battle Tuesday.
Gustavsson is playing about as well as anyone in the game; he has a strong defense in front of him, and he’ll need them as New Jersey is one of the top-scoring clubs in the NHL.
The Devils have scored 13 goals over their last five home games, Vanecek seems to have overcome some tough losses, and this one should end Under 6 goals -110. Phil’s Bets Bet: New Jersey Devils Under 6 -110
Carolina Hurricanes (45-15-8) vs. New York Rangers (41-19-10) 7:00 pm
Carolina has a six-point lead over New York when they meet for the 3rd time this season when the Hurricanes face the Rangers at Madison Square Garden.
The Hurricanes have a slim, three-point lead over the New Jersey Devils and arrive at MSG having lost three of their last five but have won two of their previous three road games.
Carolina received a blow when top goalie Anti Raanta was injured on March 7 and has been out of the lineup since with no return timetable.
The Hurricanes are 12th in scoring and 2nd in goals allowed. Frederick Anderson is slated to protect the twine against New York and is 18-7 with a shutout but 81st in goals saved above expected.
We've said it once, we'll say it again
Never count this team out pic.twitter.com/DS5zoHzX4C
— Carolina Hurricanes (@Canes) March 19, 2023
The Rangers have won four straight during this five-game homestand heading into this important Metro division clash. New York is 21-11-4 at MSG and 10th in scoring but 7th in goals against.
Reigning Vezina Award winner Igor Shestrkin may not win the coveted award again this season but is 8th in goals saved above expected with two shutouts and is 18-8-3 at MSG this season.
JUST TAP IT IN. pic.twitter.com/k6LXLRlBoO
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) March 20, 2023
Phil’s Best Bet–New York Rangers -119
The Rangers have been red-hot at home, with an equally hot Shesterkin patrolling the crease. Shesterkin has allowed nine goals over his previous five starts, with the Rangers scoring 21 goals.
NY has the edge in special teams, and the Rangers’ blueline will punish the Hurricanes. New York lights the lamp at home and will do enough to win this game. Phil’s Best Bet–New York Rangers -119
Toronto Maple Leafs (42-18-9) vs. New York Islanders (36-20-8) at 7:30 pm
Two probable Eastern Conference playoff teams collide for the 3rd time this season when Toronto meets the New York Islanders at UBS Arena.
Toronto has won two straight and wants to win the season series over New York. The Leafs have a winning away record and 3-2 over their previous five road tilts.
The Maple Leafs are 9th in scoring but second on the power play while allowing the 5th fewest goals per game. Ilya Samsonov is listed but is expected to make the start.
FOOTER ENDS IT! 🦶 pic.twitter.com/yHjoc5ad8X
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) March 19, 2023
New York has won two consecutive and three of their past five–the Islanders have been terrific at home but have won three of their previous five games at UBS Center.
The Islanders are 21st in scoring but 6th in goals allowed, and the penalty kill unit is 10th. Ilya Sorokin is having a great season–the Russian native is 2nd in goals saved above expected and is 15-10-3 at UBS Center this season.
🎥 Lane Lambert Media Availability 🎥 pic.twitter.com/gVJV1xkWTk
— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) March 20, 2023
Phil’s Best Bet: Islanders Under 6 -110
Toronto isn’t a tremendous goal-scoring team, and the Islanders are lousy at it, and we won’t see many goals at all with Samsonov and Sorokin squaring off. The two Russian natives have been childhood rivals and will each want to outdo the other.
The Leafs’ blueline allows the 7th fewest shots on goal and meets a below-average Islanders scoring offense. Tuesday will be a battle, and the game will end Under 6 goals. Phil’s Best Bet: Islanders Under 6 -110
