NHL Thursday betting predictions & top parlay picks – March 31

There are nine National Hockey League (NHL) games scheduled for March 31, with the action to begin at 7pm EST. Here’s where you should place your bets on Thursday’s games, with all odds courtesy of Bovada.

Montreal Canadiens (+300) @ Carolina Hurricanes (-400)

Carolina is the biggest favorite of the day, hosting the hapless Canadiens, who are 8-19-7 on the road. While the Hurricanes’ offense hasn’t been blowing people away over their last 10 games (3.3 goals scored per game), Carolina’s defense has been excellent (2.2 goals allowed per game). That’s better than the 2.37 goals allowed per game average on the season.

Montreal allows 3.76 goals per game and scores 2.55, but the Canadiens have been better offensively (3.3 goals scored per game) and worse defensively (3.3 goals allowed per game) over their last 10 games.

Expect Carolina’s offense to enjoy a bounce-back game against the Atlantic Division’s cellar dwellers. Take Carolina on the moneyline and to win by two or more.

Chicago Blackhawks (+270) @ Florida Panthers (-350)

The game’s best offense gets to host a really bad defense in the Blackhawks on Thursday. Chicago allows 3.48 goals per game on the season, and Florida scores more than four times per game. Expect the Blackhawks’ defense to be even worse down the stretch after trading Marc-Andre Fleury. None of Chicago’s goaltenders allow fewer than 3.6 goals per game on average.

Florida has won four of five and scored seven times at home against Montreal, a similarly bad defense. Expect something similar in this one. Take the Panthers on the moneyline and to win by two or more at -140. Also consider betting that more than seven total goals are scored. It pays +100 with most NHL betting sites and is a pretty solid bet. This offense is that good.

Parlaying Florida and Carolina on the moneyline only pays -167, but taking them both to win by two or more goals pays +189.

San Jose Sharks (+250) @ Colorado Avalanche (-320)

Eight total goals were scored in both of the games these teams played this season, and Colorado won both of them by more than two goals. While the Avs’ offense has been down lately, expect more of the same in this one.

Take Colorado on the moneyline and consider including the Avalanche in a trifecta with Florida and Carolina. That would pay +110. Also consider a parlay bet on all three teams to win by two or more goals for +441 odds.

New Jersey Devils (+220) @ Boston Bruins (-275)

The Devils are on an eight-game losing streak on the road and have been terrible away from home all season (8-23-2). Boston is solid at home (20-11-2) and has won each of the games against New Jersey by two or more goals.

Take Boston on the moneyline and consider adding the Bruins to your ‘favorites parlay’ featuring Carolina, Florida, and Colorado for +187 odds. If you want to have some real fun, consider taking all four of those teams to win by two or more at +933 odds.

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