NHL Best Bets Today, 3/29: Picks, Predictions & Player Props - Saturday
Welcome to our expert NHL Best Bets today!
It might be March Madness and the start of the MLB season, but we have a loaded NHL slate, so let's dive in!
NHL Picks, Predictions & Best Bets Today, 3/29
The torrid scoring continues across the league in some recent games and I'm anticipating that it will slow down. We're nearly at the playoffs and every point matters, which means teams should be looking to tighten up on defense.
Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Ottawa Senators Prediction: Saturday, March 29th
The Columbus Blue Jackets are coming off a wild win last night over the Vancouver Canucks and turn right around into a tough matchup against the Ottawa Senators.
With the Blue Jackets' win last night, they move into the second wild-card spot, while the Senators are holding down the first wild-card spot. This is as important a late-season game as you can possibly imagine, and while I don't expect to see a ton of scoring overall, the shots should be there.
Take any and all shots you can get on net, but true, quality scoring chances will be few and far between. If we're talking shots and we're talking the Ottawa Senators, it starts and ends with Brady Tkachuk.
He leads the team with 289 shots on goal, a cool 130 more than the next player on the team, and those 289 shots are also good for the third-most in the entire league. A total of 45 shots on goal over his last 10 games is where you'd expect him to be and with the Blue Jackets allowing 58.89 Total Shot Attempts per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations since the start of March, the 11th-worst in the league, Tkachuck should have plenty of looks at the net tonight.
- Expert Picks Blue Jackets vs. Senators
- Brady Tkachuk Over 3.5 Shots on Goal (-135 on FanDuel)
Dallas Stars vs. Seattle Kraken Prediction: Saturday, March 29th
The Dallas Stars are an absolute wagon, and their offense is firing on all cylinders with at least three goals in eight of their last 10 games, a perfect spot to look for some chances.
While Jason Robertson has been hot with the goals lately, I want to look at his shots, since those are far more consistent and the matchup against the Seattle Kraken is awesome. Since the start of March, the Kraken have allowed 62.22 Total Shot Attempts per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations, which is good for the seventh-worst in the league.
Robertson has been good but not great in the shot department with 21 over his last 10 games, notably, posting 10 in the last three games. With time on the first forward line and the first power-play unit, combined with the matchup, the time and looks should be there for Roberton to up his level of shots.
- Expert Picks Stars vs. Kraken
- Jason Robertson Over 2.5 Shots on Goal (-102 on FanDuel)
Best NHL Prop Bets & Other Picks Today, 3/29
- Macklin Celebrini Over 3.5 Shots on Goal (+102 on FanDuel)
Player News
Dolphins signed No. 13 overall pick DT Kenneth Grant to a four-year contract.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports that Grant will sign his contract today. The former Michigan defensive tackle is expected to fill a major void left by Christian Wilkins, who left for the Raiders in the 2024 offseason. Grant totaled 32 tackles, three sacks, and seven TFLs in his final season at Michigan and excelled at stopping the run while also generating 27 pressures in his final season, per PFF.
Daulton Varsho picked up three hits, three RBI and a homer in a win over the Angels on Thursday.
Varsho has only played in seven games this year, but they’ve been seven good ones. He’s homered three times already, and his slugging percentage is a remarkable — and entirely unsustainable — .727 over 22 at-bats. Varsho has been a mediocre offensive player in his two seasons with the Blue Jays, but it’s possible at the age of 28 he’s having a breakout campaign. Far from a guarantee, but possible.
Taylor Ward hit a two-run homer in a loss to the Blue Jays on Thursday.
Ward, 31, gave the Angels a 2-0 lead with a two-run homer off Chris Bassitt in the first inning. He’s now gone deep in two of his last three games, and it ‘improves’ his slash to .181/.224/.391. Ward has been one of the most hot/cold players players in the sport over the last few years, so fantasy managers who can afford to make some roster moves may want to look at Ward while the going is good.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. picked up three hits and scored twice in an 8-5 win over the Angels on Thursday.
Guerrero also drew a walk. It gives the first baseman multiple hits in back-to-back games, and it’s the third time in May that he’s reached that mark. That’s helped raise his average from .268 to .295, and the only thing fantasy managers can be disappointed with is his .432 slugging percentage. That number should continue to climb as the season unfolds, but Vladdy Jr. has had some inconsistent seasons when it comes to power production.
Chad Green picked up his first save of 2025 with a scoreless ninth against the Angels on Thursday.
Green got the save after Jeff Hoffman worked in back-to-back games — and struggled — in the first two contests against the Angels. He struck out two and looked the part while needing just nine pitches to get through the inning. Hoffman should remain the closer, but Green is on his tail if the struggles were to continue.
Chris Bassitt allowed five runs — four earned — while working six-plus innings against the Angels on Thursday while picking up a win.
Bassitt allowed three runs over the first two innings on a pair of homers, but settled down over his next four frames. He came out to work the seventh, but ended up being charged for two more runs after leaving the contest. The 36-year-old veteran has forged a 3.35 ERA and outstanding 49/8 K/BB ratio over the first quarter of the season, but this wasn’t him at his best. He’ll get the Rays next week if the rotation order stays the same for Toronto.