We are now past the All Star game and eyes are on the big prize in hockey. We have a trio of picks for you today from the five games on the card.

New York Islanders at Ottawa Senators

NHL Odds: Senators -160

In this spot, the price is a little too steep on the Ottawa Senators, who have lost four straight and have lost their way. They will be playing their first game at home on Friday following a six-game road trip and it’s possible they’ll be flat after all of the away action. 

The Islanders have been warming up recently with a 4-1-1 stretch where they have played particularly well. The Isles are among the lowest scoring teams in the league but they’ve been better lately with 17 goals in their last six games. 

Ottawa will eventually snap out of their funk but with fatigue from the road and hosting the All-Star Game factoring, take a flier on the Islanders in this spot. The price on the Senators is simply a little too high given the situation. 

NHL Picks: Islanders 

 

Los Angeles Kings at St. Louis Blues

NHL Odds: Over/Under 5 

The Los Angeles Kings and St. Louis Blues are two of the stingiest teams in the NHL so it wouldn’t be surprising to see them play a low-scoring affair on Friday night. The Blues have allowed 102 goals so far this season, which is the fewest in the Western Conference. The Kings have allowed the third-fewest in the West at 113.

Jaroslav Halak has a 1.31 GAA over his last nine starts and has a 1.94 GAA against the Kings in his five starts against them as a member of the Blues. Kings goaltender Jonathan Quick has allowed two goals or fewer in 11 of his last 13 starts.

The under is 5-1-3 in the Blues last nine games and 4-2-4 in the Kings last 10. The under is also 6-2 when the Kings are on the road with a total of five.

In this series, three of the last four meetings in St. Louis have gone under as have six of the last nine meetings overall.

NHL Picks: Under

  

Columbus Blue Jackets at Anaheim Ducks

NHL Odds: Ducks -220 

The Anaheim Ducks are rolling these days while the Columbus Blue Jackets are once again toiling. 

The Ducks are coming off a loss in their opening game of a four-game homestand but they tend to struggle against the Dallas Stars for whatever reason. Goaltender Jonas Hiller is 6-2-0 with a 1.88 GAA in his last eight starts with both losses coming to Dallas. 

The Blue Jackets are just mailing in their efforts these days and are coming off a particularly stinging loss to the Los Angeles Kings. They gave up the winning goal as time expired in the third period and plenty of controversy ensued. 

They’ve lost six straight overall, are hampered by a slew of injuries and are just 2-16 when on the road with a total of 5.5. Laying the juice with the Ducks is too high, so lay the puck line to move them into an underdog role. 

NHL Picks: Ducks -1.5 +135