NHL Predictions & Tips For April 1 & 2

The Pittsburgh Penguins have played their fair share of playoff hockey, after winning the Stanley Cup three times since last failing to make it to the post-season in 2006. While there is still a chance that they may miss out on the post-season this year, they still have a three-point advantage in the race for the last Wild Card in the Eastern Conference. 

However, the Penguins have lost five of their last seven, meaning their advantage has been chipped away in the table. 

The Boston Bruins arrive with a target on their back as they boast a massive 16 point lead in the Presidents' Trophy standings, while they have the best defensive record along with the second-best attack. 

The Bruins arrive for this one on the back of dispatching second-placed Carolina Hurricanes despite missing Patrice Bergeron, Hampus Lindholm and Brad Marchand. While none of the trio are expected to be out for long, David Pastrnak scored his 50th and 51st goals of the season, which is almost double that of his closest teammate. 

The Penguins have a better record at home than they do on the road (20-11-5 compared to 16-16-5), and they will need to be near-perfect to beat a Bruins side that are exceptional this year. 

Currently leading the chase for the Wild Card places in the Eastern Conference, the Florida Panthers sit in ninth, three points behind the Penguins with nine games still to come. With a seven-game point streak quickly making way for a three-match losing run, they have struggled to climb further up the table. 

The Panthers know how important it is to win their next match as it comes against the bottom side in the Eastern Conference. 

The Blue Jackets come into this one likely without Patrik Laine due to a triceps issue. Only three players have contributed more points than Matthew Tkachuk (97) this season. Attacking has not been a problem for the Panthers this year, as it is their defence that is letting them down, conceding 251 times. 

While the Blues will be buoyed by the poor defence of the Panthers, they are unlikely to take advantage of it. With only 196 goals scored this year, the Blue Jackets are the fourth-worst scorers around, while they have an awful defence, conceding 285 times. 

While the Panthers have not been great on the road (15-18-3), they are still the side to back, with their playoff hopes on the line and their hosts in woeful form. 

The Vegas Golden Knights have edged ahead in the fight to secure top seeding in the Western Conference following an impressive four-game winning run, thus giving them a two point lead over the LA Kings. They now face a huge test as they host the Central Division leaders, who are five points above them in the Western Conference. 

Both sides have been good at the back, with Minnesota notching 198 goals allowed, while Vegas have 205. 

Wild's John Klingberg is a doubt due to an upper-body injury, while Vegas goaltender may be out for the rest of the regular season du to injury. Vegas have won four of the last five between the pair, while the sides then face off again on Monday in what could be a season-defining double-header.