posted April 2, 2008 at 16:44 in NHL Betting Trends

Boston Bruins @ New Jersey Devils

Time is running out for the Washington Capitals as they try to catch the Boston Bruins for one of the remaining playoffs spots. The Bruins have three games remaining and just a slight one point over the ninth place Capitals.

The Bruins are without leading scorer Marc Savard and have a tough road ahead. They face the Devils tonight, the Ottawa Senators on Friday and have a home game against Buffalo on Saturday. All three opponents are either jockeying for position in the East or vying for a final playoff spot.

The Devils are 22-5 ATS over the last three years in the month of April and will look to keep a modest two-game winning streak going. The Bruins, meanwhile, have covered in just one of their last 12 April games.

The Devils are 4-1-0 both ATS and SU against the Bruins at home over the last three years.

Free Pick: New Jersey

Philadelphia Flyers @ Pittsburgh Penguins

The Philadelphia Flyers are tied with the Boston Bruins in the standings and also have the same amount of games remaining. Inherently, that means that they are also trying to fend off the Washington Capitals for their playoff lives.

The Flyers and Penguins meet twice in the final week and could meet at least another four times in the weeks to come as they are a projected first-round matchup, should the standings remain the same.

Both teams enter the meeting hot right now as the Flyers, who seemed like they were going to lose their way out of a playoff spot, have made a 5-0-1 run in their last six games. The Penguins have climbed to the top of the East with wins in eight of their last 11 games.

This series has been tightly contested in Pittsburgh. Since 1996, the Penguins are 16-15-5.

The Flyers are 16-9 after scoring four or more goals in their previous game.

Free Pick: Philadelphia

Detroit Red Wings @ Chicago Blackhawks

The Detroit Red Wings and Chicago Blackhawks face off twice in the final week of the season and there is more on the line than you might think.

Although both are long shots, the San Jose Sharks could take over the Detroit Red Wings for first in the Western Conference and the Chicago Blackhawks could still make the playoffs.

The Blackhawks are rested up for this game and are 15-8 on two days rest. They are also 14-9 in home games where the total is 5.5. But the Red Wings have dominated the Blackhawks – even in Chicago – over the last three years winning eight of 11 meetings at the United Center and 16 of the last 22 games overall.

Free Pick: Chicago

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