NHL Picks & Predictions for Friday, March 18, 2011

Friday NHL Free Pick

(The Spread) – Can the Montreal Canadiens slow a New York Rangers team that is starting to pick up some momentum as the season draws to its finish?

View Current NHL Hockey Odds

Oddsmakers from online sports book Sportsbook.com have made the Rangers -158 money line favorites over the Canadiens, who are +146 on the money line. The over/under total for this contest is currently sitting at 5 goals.

The Habs enter Friday night’s game with a 39-25-4-3 record overall and a 17-16-1-0 road mark. According to latest NHL trends, the under is 40-22 in all Montreal games this season, and 25-7 when the Habs play on the road.

The Rangers come into tonight’s game with a 37-30-2-2 record and a 16-16-1-2 home record. The under is 40-27 in all New York games this season, although the over is 17-16 when the Rangers play at Madison Square Garden.

NHL Free Pick: The Canadines have beaten the Rangers on five consecutive occasions, including all three of their matchups with New York this season. But while Montreal looks like a nice value at +146, the under appears to be the best bet here. The under is 3-0-1 in the last four meetings between these two teams and 12-4-1 in the last 17 games between the Habs and Rangers in New York. The under is also 5-1-1 in the Rangers last seven games on Friday 3-1-1 in the Canadiens’ last five games overall. Both teams have a lot of injuries and seeing as how we’re drawing closer to the end of the season, both squads might be tired as well. I like the under.

NHL FRIDAY FREE PICK: CANADIENS/RANGERS UNDER 5

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