NHL Predictions & Best Bets for April 2, 2025 – Odds, Picks, Props

Kingpin
Apr 2, 2025, 1:48:27 PM

NHL Betting Preview – April 2, 2025

Minnesota Wild at New York Rangers (7:00 PM ET, ESPN+)

The Wild come in struggling offensively and have dropped four of their last five games. They blew a late lead in a 3-2 overtime loss to New Jersey in their last outing, and star winger Kirill Kaprizov remains out with a lower-body injury. Without Kaprizov (and also missing center Joel Eriksson Ek on IR), Minnesota’s offense has sputtered – they rank just 28th in goals (2.68 per game). Winger Matt Boldy has tried to pick up the slack (he scored last game and leads the team with 25 goals) but overall this team is thin on scoring. The Wild do play solid defense (2.81 GA/G, 12th) and will lean on that here The Rangers snapped a brief skid with a 6-1 rout of San Jose in their last game. Artemi Panarin scored twice in that win and continues to fuel New York’s attack. Panarin leads the Blueshirts with 33 goals and 79 points on the season. New York’s offense is middle of the pack (3.01 GPG, 13th) but could find opportunities against a banged-up Wild squad. Defensively, the Rangers allow 3.00 GPG (17th). After backup Jonathan Quick got the last start, Igor Shesterkin is expected back in net for New York. Shesterkin has had an up-and-down year (23–26–4, 2.80 GAA, .908 SV%) but is still a top-tier goalie capable of stealing games. Minnesota will likely counter with Filip Gustavsson, who has quietly been excellent (29–17–5, 2.50 GAA, .917 SV%) and has 5 shutouts – he’s been a bright spot for a team that often struggles to score enough for him.

Betting Odds: The Rangers are home favorites around -160 on the moneyline (Minnesota about +140). The puck line favors New York -1.5 (approximately +152) with Minnesota +1.5 (-188). The total is 5.5 goals (Under is slightly favored around -118, Over -104), reflecting the Wild’s low-scoring tendencies.

Best Bet: Under 5.5 Goals. Minnesota’s offense has been anemic without Kaprizov, and they’ll be up against Shesterkin in MSG. Five of the last six Wild-Rangers meetings at Madison Square Garden have gone UNDER the total. With Gustavsson playing well and Minnesota’s defense still stout, this projects as a tighter, low-scoring game. A 3-2 type result (which would cash the under) seems likely.

Top Player Prop: Artemi Panarin to score a goal. The Rangers’ winger has been hot – he tallied two goals last game and paces New York with 33 on the season. Facing a Wild team that may have tired legs (second of back-to-back nights) and an iffy offense, Panarin should get opportunities. Look for him to stay hot and find the back of the net at least once.

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Washington Capitals at Carolina Hurricanes (7:00 PM ET, TNT)

This is a marquee Metropolitan Division clash between two of the East’s best. The Capitals (48-17-9) have been on fire, winning 10 of their last 14 games. They’re coming off a gritty 4-3 win in Boston on Monday where they rallied in the third period behind goals from Alex Ovechkin and Co.. Washington’s offense has been elite – they average 3.64 goals per game (one of the top rates in the NHL). Ovechkin is still scoring in bunches with 38 goals to lead the team, and Dylan Strome (48 assists) has been a playmaking force. Defensively, the Caps allow just 2.65 GPG, and their goaltending has solidified. Backup Charlie Lindgren won in Boston, but Logan Thompson is expected to start this one. Thompson has been stellar, going 31-5-6 with a 2.43 GAA this season. The Caps have thrived on the road (24-9-3 away record) and will be eager to prove themselves against Carolina.

The Hurricanes (45-24-4) have also been in great form, with 11 wins in their last 13 outings. They’ve scored 10 goals across their last two games – a 4-1 win over Montreal and a 6-4 win over the Islanders. Young forward Seth Jarvis (29 goals) and Sebastian Aho (41 assists) lead a balanced attack. Carolina’s defense remains one of the league’s best, allowing 2.66 GPG, and they boast a strong penalty kill (~85%). Notably, the Canes are a bit shorthanded up front – captain Jordan Staal is out (injury) and winger Jesper Fast is out for the season– but they haven’t missed a beat offensively of late. In goal, young Pyotr Kochetkov has carried the load but was shaky in the 6-4 win over NYI, so Frederik Andersen will get the start here. Andersen, recently back from injury, is 12-5-0 with a sparkling 2.01 GAA this year. He’ll look to provide veteran stability in this playoff-like matchup.

Betting Odds: Carolina is priced around -165 favorites at home, with Washington about +140 as an underdog. The puck line gives the Caps +1.5 goals (-180) and Hurricanes -1.5 at +146. The over/under is 5.5 (juiced to the Over ~ -120), reflecting the offensive talent on both sides.

Best Bet: Capitals +1.5 Puck Line. This projects as a one-goal game either way, so taking Washington with the insurance of +1.5 feels wise. The Caps have been just as good as Carolina this season (you could argue even better overall), and they’re rarely underdogs – yet they’ve gone 9-4 in their last 13 when getting plus-money. Carolina is dominant at home, but Washington’s firepower and excellent road record make them a strong play to at least keep this within a goal. The value is there for an upset, but the safer call is Caps +1.5 to cover even in a close loss.

Top Player Prop: Alex Ovechkin Anytime Goal. The Great 8 continues to deliver – he has 38 goals on the year to lead Washington, including one in the Caps’ last game. Ovechkin has a knack for rising to big occasions, and he’ll be firing early and often on the power play. With Carolina missing a key penalty-killer in Staal, Ovi’s lethal one-timer could easily cash this prop.

Florida Panthers at Toronto Maple Leafs (7:30 PM ET, ESPN+)

The Panthers and Leafs face off in a potential playoff preview. Florida (44-26-4) is looking to snap a mini-skid – they’ve dropped two in a row (including a 3-2 upset loss to Montreal) and are trying to avoid three straight losses for the first time since November. Scoring has suddenly dried up for the Cats, which coincides with star Matthew Tkachuk being sidelined by injury. In Tkachuk’s absence, Sam Reinhart (team-high 36 goals) and captain Aleksander Barkov (48 assists) will need to carry the offense. Florida still averages a solid 3.11 goals per game and boasts a dangerous power play (24% conversion). Defensively they’ve been strong too (2.72 GA/G) behind workhorse goalie Sergei Bobrovsky. Bobrovsky has started the bulk of games, posting a .906 save percentage and 32 wins, and he’ll likely get the nod in Toronto. (Florida’s backup, Vitek Vanecek, has made only a few appearances since being acquired.) The Panthers’ motivation is high as they jockey for playoff positioning, but they’ll need a full 60-minute effort here.

Toronto (45-25-4) is closing the season hot, having won 6 of its last 8 games while chasing a division title. They’re coming off back-to-back wins over Los Angeles and Anaheim, but did stumble 7-6 in a shootout against Columbus recently, showing some defensive lapses. Offensively, the Leafs are deep and potent (3.26 GPG). William Nylander has been a goal-scoring machine (he’s approaching the 40-goal mark), and Mitch Marner and Auston Matthews continue to pile up points. (Marner is among the league leaders with around 68 assists.) Toronto’s power play clicks at 26.2% – Florida will have to stay disciplined to avoid Toronto’s man-advantage. On defense, the Leafs allow 2.93 goals against per game. Goaltending has been a bit of a carousel due to injuries: Joseph Woll and Anthony Stolarz have split duties lately. Stolarz has actually posted better numbers (.919 SV%), but Woll has seen more action (1,120 shots faced vs Stolarz’s 819). It’s unclear who gets the start, but either way the Leafs have adequate netminding behind their high-powered offense. Toronto is also relatively healthy compared to Florida – their main absence is defenseman Jani Hakanpaa (injured), while forward J.T. Miller (acquired mid-season) is away on personal leave.

Betting Odds: This game is essentially a toss-up. The Leafs are slight home favorites around -125 on the moneyline, with the Panthers at about +105. The puck line of -1.5 for Toronto is around +205 (Florida +1.5 is -260) due to the expected close nature. The total is 5.5, shaded to the Over (around -122 for Over 5.5) given the offensive talent on both sides.

Best Bet: Toronto Maple Leafs Moneyline (-120). In what should be a tight contest, we’ll side with the home team. Toronto has been playing better hockey lately (6-2 in their last 8) and they’re tough to beat at Scotiabank Arena. Florida, on the other hand, has shown some cracks – losing to a non-playoff team like Montreal – and the absence of Tkachuk removes a key scoring threat. Bobrovsky can always steal a game, but the Leafs’ depth (Matthews, Marner, Nylander, Tavares) can attack in waves. With the Panthers just 1-3 in their last 4 road games, backing Toronto to win outright at a reasonable price is the call.

Top Player Prop: Sam Reinhart to score a goal. Reinhart has been Florida’s most consistent goal scorer all year, leading the team with 36 goals. He’ll be leaned on even more heavily now with Tkachuk out. Reinhart is a fixture on the top power-play unit and already scored against Toronto earlier this season. In a game that could see some offense, Reinhart finding the net is a solid prop – especially at likely plus-odds for an anytime goal.

Colorado Avalanche at Chicago Blackhawks (9:30 PM ET, TNT)

The Avalanche are massive favorites here against a Blackhawks team limping to the finish. Colorado (45-26-4) briefly hit a rough patch with consecutive losses to St. Louis and Calgary, but those came on the heels of a four-game win streak. They remain 3rd in the Central Division with 94 points, still with an outside shot at moving up. The Avs will be eager to get back on track against one of the league’s worst teams. Colorado is one of only a few teams ranking top-10 in both offense and defense. They average 3.32 goals per game (6th) and allow just 2.77 (10th). Even without long-term injured captain Gabriel Landeskog (and currently missing winger Mikko Rantanen, who’s out nursing an injury), the Avs have plenty of star power. Nathan MacKinnon is having a monster season with 110 points (30 G, 80 A), and defenseman Cale Makar has 85 points (remarkable for a blueliner). Secondary scoring has been a bit depleted by injuries (Valeri Nichushkin and Artturi Lehkonen have missed time), but guys like Devon Toews and Bowen Byram have stepped up as needed. In net, Colorado has turned to Mackenzie Blackwood as the starter with Alexandar Georgiev on IR. Blackwood is expected to start and has been solid: 27-18-6, 2.45 GAA, .916 SV% with 4 shutouts. He should be licking his chops at Chicago’s lackluster offense.

The Blackhawks (21-44-9) have had a dreadful season and sit last in the Central (just 51 points). They have lost 10 of their last 11 games, including three straight defeats on home ice coming into this one. Chicago briefly showed a spark with a 7-4 win over Philadelphia last week, but any momentum was quickly squashed by subsequent losses to New Jersey, Vegas, and Utah (the “Hockey Club”). Offense has been a major issue – the Hawks score only 2.70 goals per game (27th). Rookie phenom Connor Bedard has had a respectable first year (20 G, 38 A, 58 points) but hasn’t been able to carry the team alone. In fact, journeyman Ryan Donato surprisingly leads Chicago with 59 points (29 G), and former Cane Teuvo Teravainen has chipped in 56 points. It doesn’t help that veteran forward Taylor Hall has been out injured much of the year. Defensively, Chicago is porous, giving up 3.61 goals against per game (31st in NHL). They’ll start Spencer Knight in goal, who they acquired from Florida. Knight has a 15-14-1 record with a 2.65 GAA and .901 SV% – decent numbers considering the weak team in front of him. Still, the Blackhawks have been routinely shelled; they’ve allowed 4+ goals in 8 of the last 11 games. Unless Knight plays out of his mind and the Hawks muster some offense from unlikely sources, this is a massive mismatch on paper.

Betting Odds: Not surprisingly, Colorado is an enormous favorite at about -400 on the moneyline (Chicago around +300). The puck line has the Avs -1.5 at around -150 and Chicago +1.5 at +130 (those odds may vary slightly due to Colorado’s heavy favorite status). The total is 6.5, reflecting the expectation of Colorado scoring plenty; the over is slightly favored (around -115).

Best Bet: Avalanche -1.5 Puck Line. Laying 1.5 goals with Colorado is steep, but it’s hard to envision any other result given the disparity in talent and motivation. The Avs have won many of their recent victories by 2+ goals, and favorites have covered the puck line in 9 of the Blackhawks’ last 10 games. Chicago simply doesn’t have the firepower to keep up – their last eight losses have all been by at least 2 goals. Look for Colorado to take care of business with a comfortable win, something like 5-2. The puck line offers a better payout than the prohibitive moneyline in this scenario.

Top Player Prop: Nathan MacKinnon Over 1.5 Points. MacKinnon is the engine of Colorado’s offense and has 110 points on the season. Against a bottom-feeder like Chicago, he could easily put up a multi-point night. In their last meeting, MacKinnon had three assists. With the Blackhawks ranking 32nd in shots allowed and struggling on the penalty kill, MacKinnon should rack up at least 2 points (whether via goals or setting up teammates). It’s a bit of a chalky prop, but the matchup is ripe for MacK to fill the scoresheet.

Seattle Kraken at Vancouver Canucks (10:30 PM ET, ESPN+)

Two Pacific Division foes meet in Vancouver, with the Canucks still clinging to slim playoff hopes and the Kraken playing out the string. Seattle (31-38-6) has had a disappointing season and is second-to-last in the Pacific with 68 points. They’ve lost 5 of their last 6 games, including a 3-1 defeat to Dallas on Monday where they blew an early lead. Consistency has eluded the Kraken – they actually beat Edmonton 6-1 a week ago, but have been thumped by the Stars twice in that span. Offense has been mediocre at 2.97 GPG, with Jared McCann (18 G, 34 A) leading the team in scoring. Matty Beniers and Jordan Eberle have both missed time with injuries this season, which has hurt Seattle’s forward depth. The Kraken’s power play is a subpar 18.9%. Defensively, Seattle allows 3.23 goals against per game and has had issues in net. Philipp Grubauer’s struggles and an injury opened the door for Joey Daccord to seize the starting job – he’s 24-20-5 with a 2.72 GAA and .908 save percentage. Daccord has been one of the few bright spots and likely starts here after Grubauer was in net last game. Still, the Kraken defense in front of him has been leaky, and they’ve been especially poor on the road (just 13 wins away from home all year).

Vancouver (34-27-13) saw its playoff ambitions dented by recent stumbles, but they remain 5th in the Pacific with 81 points. The Canucks have lost 4 of their last 6 games as well, including a 3-1 loss to Winnipeg on Monday in which they surrendered three unanswered goals. Despite the slump, Vancouver has been one of this season’s surprise positives after a disastrous start. Their offense scores 2.84 GPG and features a trio of standout performers. Defenseman Quinn Hughes is having a Norris-caliber year with 70 points (16 G, 54 A), leading the team in scoring. Winger Brock Boeser has 24 goals, and Elias Pettersson (who missed time earlier but is healthy now) is over a point-per-game and the team’s biggest offensive catalyst (Pettersson’s playmaking is highlighted by a recent 5-game assist streak). The Canucks’ power play (22.4%) can capitalize if given chances. Defensively, they allow 3.07 GPG – markedly improved from last season’s woes, thanks in part to coach Rick Tocchet’s structure. In net, Thatcher Demko is expected to start. It’s been an odd year for Demko; injuries limited him to 18 starts (8-7-3, 2.84 GAA, .892 SV%), but he is the clear No. 1 when available. Backup Arturs Šilovs filled in admirably at times. Demko will look to rebound from a rough outing against Columbus (where he allowed 7 goals) and should benefit from Seattle’s less-potent attack. Vancouver is also bolstered by home-ice advantage and a relatively healthy lineup, aside from the ongoing personal absence of J.T. Miller (who remains away from the team) and a recent lower-body knock to Filip Chytil (a trade deadline pickup who is unlikely to play again this season).

Betting Odds: The Canucks are favored at home, sitting around -150 on the moneyline (Seattle roughly +130 as the dog). The puck line is Canucks -1.5 at about +160, Kraken +1.5 around -190. The total is 5.5, and there’s been a lean to the Over (about -115 on Over 5.5).

Best Bet: Over 5.5 Goals. Both teams have trended toward high-scoring games recently, and neither goaltender has been infallible. The Over is 6-0 in Vancouver’s last six home games against teams on a losing streak, and we’ve seen plenty of goal-filled matchups in Seattle-Vancouver meetings historically. The Kraken just allowed 3+ goals in five straight games, and Vancouver’s defense has given up 3 or more in 8 of the last 10. With Pettersson, Hughes, McCann, and others on the ice (and each team’s penalty kill being average at best), we could see a 4-3 type game. Take the over on the modest 5.5 total.

Top Player Prop: Elias Pettersson Over 0.5 Assists. Pettersson has been the Canucks’ playmaking engine and has recorded at least one assist in each of his last five games. He centers the top line and top power-play unit, often feeding Boeser and Kuzmenko for scoring chances. Against Seattle’s shaky defense, Pettersson’s vision should produce at least one helper. This prop has been hitting consistently (5-game streak) and sets up well again versus the Kraken.