NHL: Devils and Wild to keep play-off dream alive
Published:
The UK’s ice hockey action drew to a close over the weekend but there is still much to play for in the NHL.
Tonight sees two playoff chasers take to the ice in the shape of New Jersey and Minnesota, while the already qualified Anaheim Ducks are set to all but end Vancouver’s hopes.
Backing a trio of the Devils, Wild and Ducks builds a Monday night treble paying out at 9/2, with a £10 stake returning a tasty £55.05.
New Jersey (34-28-16) are still clinging on to their playoff hopes and as such will welcome a home match against the already eliminated Calgary Flames (33-38-7).
Bob Hartley’s side are 8-15 from 23 on the road and having lost four of six away games with the hosts will not be confident of improving that run.
The Devils have won four of their last six at the Prudential Center and given their superior record against the visitors have to be backed here.
Minnesota (40-26-12) have struggled against Winnipeg (35-34-10) in recent meetings and as such will be pleased that Paul Maurice’s side have nothing to play for as they visit the MTS Centre.
The Jets are already eliminated from playoff contention and therefore their four wins from six home meetings with the Wild will be largely irrelevant as Mike Yeo’s side look to secure a postseason berth.
Maurice’s men are 5-12 from 17 and 2-7 from nine at home and with one eye on their end of season holidays can be relied upon to crumble again in this one.
Anaheim (50-20-8), like Winnipeg and Calgary, have already sealed their fate but while the Flames and Jets are out the Ducks have already secured a safe passage to the postseason.
Vancouver (35-32-11) are still in the hunt and will be confident when welcoming a Ducks side that has lost its last two matches.
However, those defeats will have riled Bruce Boudreau and the Anaheim head coach will demand a return to form from his men.
This shouldn’t prove too tough a challenge though, with the Canucks losing five of their last six to Anaheim when hosting and tasting defeat 17 times in their last 25 games overall.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
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