Top Picks, Ranked

St. Louis Blues @ Chicago Blackhawks

The under here is built on leaky defenses, but that foundation gets undercut by two goalies playing better than the league average, which is enough to keep scoring in check regardless of what the teams in front of them are doing. It sits at three stars and not higher because those netminders give you a real reason to doubt the goals materialize even when the defensive structure invites them.

New York Islanders @ New York Rangers

The Rangers get a rest edge that tips a close matchup in their favor, but this one is too tight across the board to feel like a strong lean rather than a modest one. The scoring numbers cut back against the home side's defensive softness in a way that almost cancels the rest advantage out, which is why there's no real separation from the picks below it.

St. Louis Blues @ Chicago Blackhawks

Hofer over Knight is the cleanest piece of evidence in this pick's favor, and goalie quality is a real edge in a game where both teams have struggled defensively. Chicago comes in with the better rest, though, and when the net edge is your lead argument a rest disadvantage on the away side is exactly the kind of thing that closes the gap at a spread this wide.