NHL Best Bets for April 8: Expect Fireworks in Blackhawks vs. Penguins Rematch
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Eric Kelly
- April 8, 2025
Top NHL Pick: Blackhawks-Penguins Over 5.5 (-120) at BetOnline (visit our BetOnline Review)
We’ve got a 10-game NHL slate this Tuesday, and top-rated sportsbooks are offering the best odds and lines across the board.
Tonight, we are going with two totals, one over and one under, and both with a 5.5 line. Our plus money bet takes us to Florida, whilst we are laying the juice in Pittsburgh.
Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Florida Panthers
Tuesday, April 08, 2025 – 07:00 PM EDT at Amerant Bank Arena
Panthers Fallen Apart
Despite the Florida Panthers being guaranteed to make the playoffs, they have gone on a horrible run as of late with a 3-7 record. They also have gone 0-5 in their previous five NHL games.
So knowing all this, it might surprise you to see they are the favorites to win here (yes they are on home ice) but overall the sportsbooks are trusting their home form having gone 8-2 in their last ten games at the Amerant Bank Arena.
It also must be noted their injury list is starting to pile up with players like Alexsander Barkov, Aaron Ekblad and Matthew Tkachuk unavailable right now. These three players are key to their potential post-season success and a chance at retaining the Stanley Cup.
Toronto has been impressive, going 8-2 in their previous ten games, but it must be noted only two of those 8 wins came against teams who are currently heading into the playoffs.
Toronto & Florida Trends & Facts
- The total has gone under in 4 of Toronto’s last 5 games.
- Toronto is 1-4 in their last 5 games when playing on the road against Florida.
- The total has gone under in 11 of Florida’s last 14 games against Toronto.
- Florida is 7-1 in their last 8 games at home.
The Pick
Maybe because it’s the final few games of the regular season, but the totals going over have dropped off completely with a lot of teams failing to score or bag more than two goals a game.
With the Florida Panthers having limited firepower in front of the crease through injuries and Toronto games failing to see more than five goals in the previous 5 NHL games, we are more than happy to take the plus money available on the under 5.5 here.
Factors in their previous matchups have been low scoring affairs, we would happily believe that the under odds hold some value down to as low as -105.
NHL Pick: Maple Leafs-Panthers Under 5.5 (+105) at BetOnline
Chicago Blackhawks vs. Pittsburgh Penguins
Tuesday, April 08, 2025 – 07:00 PM EDT at PPG Paints Arena
Take Number Two
Yes these two teams met only two days ago, where the Chicago Blackhawks came away as 3-1 winners on the night, this time around we believe we could be in for a goal-feast or, at the very least the total going over.
You see, the last time the Penguins faced Chicago, they had been playing the night before on the road and put in maximum effort to come away as 5-3 winners on the night in Dallas.
This lead to a bad performance against Chicago. That was just the Blackhawks’ 3rd win in their previous 15 games, and it was also the first time in their previous 17 games they kept the opposition to less than one goal.
Tonight, we believe with both teams fresh, and we should see some goals on the scoreboard.
Chicago & Pittsburgh Trends & Facts
- The total has gone over in 5 of Chicago’s last 6 games against an opponent in the Eastern Conference.
- Chicago is 14-4 in their last 18 games against Pittsburgh.
- The total has gone over in 9 of Pittsburgh’s last 11 games.
- Pittsburgh is 5-1 in their last 6 games at home.
The Pick
Despite the last two games between these teams going under 4.5 goals, tonight we believe there could be easily six goals scored in this one, and the odds on over 5.5 goals at -120 seem very fair right now. We would bet this down to as low as -130.
Both teams have bottom 10 defences, and although their offences don’t generate a whole lot either, they have some outstanding individual talent that can push this total over five goals.
NHL Pick: Blackhawks-Penguins Over 5.5 (-120) at BetOnline
*The line and/or odds on picks in this article might have moved since the content was commissioned. For updated line movements, visit BMR’s free betting odds product.
