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Tides’ Takes: Free NHL & NBA Betting Picks For Today – March 22, 2022

Timothy Buell Tue 3/22 12:42pm PT
Image Credit: Imagn

ScoresAndOdds analyst Timothy Buell gives free expert advice and betting picks for Tuesday’s NHL and NBA slates.

Happy Tuesday everyone! Welcome to this new article for ScoresAndOdds, where we will offer betting picks and advice for multiple sports that are happening on a given day.

Now that the NFL season has unfortunately come to an end, we will be focusing on NHL odds, NBA odds and props. We will also be throwing in some traditional and same game parlays as we see fit.  

Make sure to use our tools at ScoresAndOdds to find the best lines at your favorite legal sportsbook.

Today we have four NBA games and 11 NHL games. Let’s get started with the betting picks!

Free NHL Betting Picks For Today

Tampa Bay Lightning @ Carolina Hurricanes

The Carolina Hurricanes have lost four games in a row, including the last two at home against inferior opponents. The scoring chances have been there, but they just haven’t been able to finish. Now, they have to go up against a new-look Lightning team that made some trades right before the deadline to solidify their depth and that makes this team all the more dangerous. 

The Lightning are the better team and have the better goaltending in my opinion. Frederik Andersen has looked very shaky in the last couple of starts, but I assume the Hurricanes go back to him again tonight. Even if the Canes go to Raanta in net, I still like the Lightning to win this game. The Lightning did lose their last game against the Rangers over the weekend, but they were coming off a long road trip, and it was a bad schedule spot for them so I give them a pass. They should be well rested in this intense playoff type matchup in Carolina.

New York Rangers @ New Jersey Devils

The Rangers have won four of their last five games, including back to back wins against the Hurricanes and Lightning. Those are big-time statement wins.  I’ll be honest, this line does feel like a trap, but the mathematical side of this wager can’t be ignored. 

The moneyline is far too low against this Devils team coming off a three-game western Canada road trip where they lost every game 6-3.  Now, they return  home for a rivalry matchup against a far superior opponent, who added a couple of really nice depth pieces to their squad with the additions of Frank Vatrano and Andrew Copp. 

For those wondering, Copp is available to make his debut this evening, and should be centering the third line. Even though the Rangers aren’t a very good team on 5v5, they should still be able to notch the win due to their far superior goaltending. Igor Shesterkin is the best goalie in hockey, and if he gets the start tonight, I will put two units on this play.

NHL Player Prop – David Perron

The Blues have been wildly inconsistent all season and have now lost three straight games. The one bright spot in the recent struggles has been David Perron who has scored a goal in six straight games and eight of his last nine games. That is truly incredible, now you could obviously bet him to score an anytime goal at +250 or bet him to be the first scorer at +1800 but my money is going on the over 2.5 shot prop at -120. 

He has gone over this total in five straight games and has really elevated his play with some of the injuries the Blues have dealt with lately. I think he goes over this total once again and I will be putting two units on this play.

Free NBA Betting Picks For Today

Atlanta Hawks @ New York Knicks

With Julius Randle being ruled out earlier today, this line has moved two points in favor of the Hawks. I don’t think that is quite enough, despite this game being played at MSG. When these two teams played on Christmas Day, Young was one of nine Hawks that were in the league’s health-and-safety protocols. Now, let’s go back to last spring, when Young gave the crowd a bow when his team sealed its playoff series victory against this same Knicks team.

I think Young will come out firing in this game and even RJ Barrett has looked exceptional this season. I don’t think the depth pieces of the Knicks will help him enough to keep this game within three. The crowd should be truly electric, but Young and company should have their way and avoid the season sweep by the Knicks.

Los Angeles Clippers @ Denver Nuggets

The Clippers are essentially locked up for the 8th seed in the West and will have to be a part of the play-in games, once the regular season comes to an end. 

The Nuggets however are in a real log-jam of 4 teams that are trying to avoid the play-in games. Every game is vitally important at this juncture of the season. The Nuggets were embarrassed by the Celtics two nights ago, and I think they come out fully ready to dominate this game. 

I do give the Clippers credit for what they have been able to do this season with all the injuries that they’ve had, but Nikola Jokic should really be able to dominate the front court. Ivica Zubac and Isaiah Hartenstein are going to have their hands full all night. The Clippers have been one of the worst teams in defending the center position, while also one of the worst rebounding teams in basketball.

NBA Player Prop – Nikola Jokic

The Clippers are dead last in offensive rebounds allowed this season and are  27th in total rebounds allowed. Jokic should be able to feast on the glass even more than his season average of 13.6 rebounds per game.  The Clippers also rank in the bottom ten in the league in true shooting percentage. The combination of bad shooting and the inability to rebound the ball on either end of the court makes this a bet for me.