Looking for the best NHL picks today? In this article, we’ll give you our top NHL picks for two games on March 11, 2020. These matchups include the San Jose Sharks at Chicago Blackhawks (seen on NBC Sports Network) & New York Rangers at Colorado Avalanche (seen on ESPN+).
Our NHL Picks offer you the hockey bets that offer the best value to beat the New Jersey sportsbooks.
San Jose Sharks at Chicago Blackhawks
SJ | Money Line: +140
| Puck Line (+1.5): – 195
– at –
CHI | Money Line: -162 | Puck Line (-1.5): +160
Total: 6 Goals (O: -106 | U: -115)
8:00 p.m. EST
United Center | Chicago, IL
NHL Betting Line: Sharks at Blackhawks
Two teams currently not in the playoff picture get together,
as the San Jose Sharks hit the road to face the Chicago Blackhawks. While this
game may not appeal to the masses from a betting perspective, there’s an angle
to be had here. The Blackhawks have their fourth-highest money line of the
season – in the nine highest money line totals this season, they are 6-3. On
the other hand, the Sharks have lost their last five road games, with the last
four coming by two goals or more.
Betting Forms
The Blackhawks lost two games over the weekend, giving them plenty
of motivation heading into this matchup. Not to mention, the Sharks won each of
the first two meetings in the season series. To say that Chicago is looking to
put a pounding on San Jose would be an understatement. In reality, the Blackhawks
have a mathematical chance of making the playoffs so this game does mean a lot
more to them.
Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews and Duncan Keith having a lengthy conversation as practice winds down. #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/uzTbqopi87
— Charlie Roumeliotis (@CRoumeliotis) March 10, 2020
Corey Crawford will likely get the start for Chicago. He’s
been solid over the last six games, allowing exactly two goals in five of those
games. The Blackhawks will fill in the rest of the offense behind him.
The Sharks have all but checked out on the rest of the season.
This team still has a chance of landing one of the top picks in the draft so
winning games is not high the to-do list. San Jose, as we mentioned, has not
performed well at all on the road and that puts them in a bad spot tonight.
As for the Sharks’ goaltending situation, this whole thing is
just a disaster. Both Martin Jones and Aaron Dell are essentially shooting-practice
targets at this point. Although, they’re not doing a great job of keeping pucks
out of the net. For all the games the Blackhawks lost this year, they are still
scoring just under three goals per game. In our eyes, Chicago might double that
tonight.
NHL Betting Pick: Blackhawks Puck Line -1.5 (+160)
Given the Sharks’ struggles on the road and the desperation of the Blackhawks at this point of the season, this is a great team for the home team to get back on the good foot. This is a nice plus-money opportunity to get us off on the right foot tonight. Expect plenty of offense from the Chicago side things en route to an easy victory.
New York Rangers at Colorado Avalanche
NYR | Money Line:
+137 | Puck Line (+1.5): -190
– at –
COL | Money Line: -159 | Puck Line (-1.5): +155
Total: 6.5 Goals (O: +102 | U: -122)
10:00 p.m. EST
Pepsi Center | Denver, CO
NHL Betting Line: Rangers at Avalanche
Two teams in opposite directions square off, as the New York
Rangers head into the altitude to face the Colorado Avalanche. The Rangers just
played last night, winning 4-2 over the Dallas Stars, but that win could come
at a cost tonight. After all, that altitude has a way of messing with teams and
how they operate.
Betting Forms
The Rangers did in fact win last night on the road, which is something they’ve done in 10 of their last 11 tries. What’s interesting is that the only one of those road losses came on the back-end of a back-to-back set, just like tonight’s situation. The Avalanche has the overwhelming home-ice and rest advantage in this game so we’re looking at them in the right light here.
Since Igor Shesterkin got the start in net last night, it’s
possible that we’ll see Alexandar Georgiev tonight. That’s not a good thing,
considering Georgiev has allowed 12 goals over the last three games – exactly
five of them in two of the three. Once again, the altitude will take its toll,
and the defense is the most likely of the units to take a hit.
In related news, some Colorado Avalanche players may be returning against the Rangers.https://t.co/ox9t33Ecv5
— MileHighSticking (@MHSAvalanche) March 11, 2020
It’ll be a nice sight for the Avalanche to get back home.
After all, this will be their third home game over the last 11. Even so, this
is a team that has won eight of the last 11 games and 16 of the last 23. We do even
have two of the top points-scorers in the NHL, but Nathan MacKinnon is the guy
we’re taking over Artemi Panarin.
Pavel Francouz has been plugging away in net ever since the
injury to Philipp Grubauer. Francouz has been fantastic this season, with a 2.27
GAA and .922 save percentage. Those stats will certainly be needed against a
potent offense like the Rangers. No worries, though, as they should be quite tired.
NHL Betting Pick: Avalanche Puck Line -1.5 (+155)
The Avalanche has quite a few things working in their favor tonight, mainly the home-ice and rest advantages. Look for them to take the lead early and often in this one. Not to mention, the Rangers will probably be playing with their backup goaltender in an unfriendly environment.
