NHL Picks and Predictions

The NHL is one of the most popular sports for betting, but choosing the right teams and players to bet on can be challenging. Thankfully, Scores and Stats has a team of talented handicappers that are always putting their blood and sweat into NHL picks and predictions. 

Whether you’re a first time sports bettor, or an experienced sharp, these predictions and NHL expert picks are up for grabs.

Latest Picks and Predictions

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Los Angeles Kings vs. Ottawa Senators Pick & Prediction MARCH 7th 2024

Even after a defeat, the Los Angeles Kings believe they have something to build upon as they host the Ottawa Senators on Thursday night. The Kings are coming off a 2-1 overtime loss to the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday. The result snapped their modest two-game winning streak but Los Angeles has found a better defensive game, having surrendered just four goals in its last three outings. “They’re playing a style of hockey that can win,
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Nashville Predators vs. Buffalo Sabres Pick & Prediction MARCH 7th 2024

A few weeks ago, the Nashville Predators resided outside of a playoff spot and envisioned making roster moves for next season. Rumors swirled about some of their players potentially getting traded, but now, things are different. “What I’m finding out in this job is it changes daily,” Nashville general manager Barry Trotz told The Tennessean. “A couple weeks ago, I was saying it looks like we’re gonna be sellers unless we do something. Then we
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Boston Bruins vs. Toronto Maple Leafs Pick & Prediction MARCH 7th 2024

The Boston Bruins are following a different track of a season than the one that led to the Presidents’ Trophy in 2022-23. Despite recent ups and downs, the Bruins are presented with an opportunity to finish a four-game season sweep of the Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday night when the Original Six rivals meet in Boston. The Bruins, who have lost 10 of their last 15 games (5-4-6), completed a back-to-back set earlier this week
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San Jose Sharks vs. New York Islanders Pick & Prediction MARCH 7th 2024

The New York Islanders headed west Wednesday, secure in the awareness they would remain together after the trade deadline — and growing increasingly confident in their ability to mount another playoff run with one of the NHL’s oldest cores. The Islanders will look to continue their hot streak Thursday night when they begin a four-game road trip by facing the San Jose Sharks. Both teams were off Wednesday after playing at home Tuesday night. The
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Vegas Golden Knights vs. Vancouver Canucks Pick & Prediction MARCH 7th 2024

After starting the season with a 12-game point streak, it looked as if the defending Stanley Cup champion Vegas Golden Knights were going to run away with another Pacific Division title. However, heading into a Thursday game against Vancouver in Las Vegas, it’s the Canucks, the sixth-place team last season, who may be running away with the Pacific crown. Vancouver owns a nine-point lead over the surging Edmonton Oilers with just 18 games to go.
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Arizona Coyotes vs. Minnesota Wild Pick & Prediction MARCH 7th 2024

Led by the red-hot Kirill Kaprizov, the Minnesota Wild will continue to battle toward a playoff spot when they visit the Arizona Coyotes on Thursday in Tempe, Ariz. The Wild broke a three-game skid (0-3-0) by beating the visiting San Jose Sharks 4-3 on Sunday, though it was hardly a flawless performance. Minnesota had to come back from two deficits after turnovers led to all three of San Jose goals, but Kaprizov was the difference-maker.
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Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Washington Capitals Pick & Prediction MARCH 7th 2024

The game Thursday between the host Pittsburgh Penguins and Washington Capitals normally would be defined by the matchup between future Hall of Famers Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin. It’s been that way for years. Oh, the two will be on the ice come Thursday. Crosby sits atop the Pittsburgh leaderboard with 32 points and 63 points, while Ovechkin ranks second among the Capitals with 45 points. However, there are a couple overriding issues this time
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New Jersey Devils vs. St. Louis Blues Pick & Prediction MARCH 7th 2024

The St. Louis Blues and New Jersey Devils share the similarities of having changed coaches while chasing wild-card berths. Both teams have also struggled of late but are hoping to turn things around, starting Thursday night when the Blues oppose the Devils in Newark, N.J. St. Louis is 19-13-2 since Drew Bannister replaced Craig Berube on Dec. 12. The Blues initially experienced the coaching change bump by going 13-6-1 in Bannister’s first 20 games, but
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Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Calgary Flames Pick & Prediction MARCH 7th 2024

The Calgary Flames and Tampa Bay Lightning will close out their two-game season series Thursday in Florida with their immediate futures heading in opposite directions. Currently grouped with the St. Louis Blues, Seattle Kraken and Minnesota Wild as contenders below the wild-card line, the Flames have not made much headway in the standings after topping the Lightning 4-2 on Dec. 16 in Alberta. Calgary general manager Craig Conroy’s three transactions — starting in January and

Free NHL Picks for Today

Looking to get a little inside information for your NHL betting? We’re handing out free NHL picks that you can use to make better wagers. These picks are a mix of handicapper selections and our computer/AI picks. 

NHL HOCKEY
NHL
2024-11-07 19:07
Open
MONTREAL CANADIENS
5 PICKS
NEW JERSEY DEVILS
NHL
2024-11-07 19:37
Open
PHILADELPHIA FLYERS
5 PICKS
TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING
NHL
2024-11-07 20:07
Open
UTAH HOCKEY CLUB
4 PICKS
ST. LOUIS BLUES
NHL
2024-11-07 22:37
Open
MINNESOTA WILD
5 PICKS
SAN JOSE SHARKS

How to Get Expert NHL Picks

If you want to get more detailed NHL picks, consider signing up for one of our membership tiers. 

Our Starter package starts at $9 per month and gives you access to loads of consensus data, odds updates, and picks from real handicappers as well as custom AI algorithm picks. 

At our Premium level, you have access to hundreds of picks each day across multiple sports, not just NHL. 

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Industry’s Best

Handicapping Membership

How to Choose an NHL Handicapper


When you’re looking for an NHL handicapper to follow for picks and predictions, here are some key considerations you should keep in mind:

Track Record of Success

Look for handicappers with a proven history of positive results, particularly over multiple seasons.

Consistency is key in sports betting, so it’s important to review their past performance, paying attention to both win percentage and return on investment (ROI).

Transparency

A good NHL handicapper will openly share their picks, results, and reasoning.

Avoid handicappers who do not provide a clear record of their wins and losses, as transparency builds trust and ensures they aren’t cherry-picking results.

Specialization in NHL

Many handicappers cover a wide range of sports, but it’s wise to follow one who specializes in the NHL.

A handicapper who focuses primarily on hockey is more likely to have a deep understanding of the league, its teams, and key betting nuances, which leads to more informed picks.

Analytical Approach

The best handicappers base their picks on data, advanced statistics, and situational analysis rather than relying on gut feelings or hype.

Look for someone who incorporates metrics like Corsi, expected goals, and goaltending stats to justify their selections.

Reputation and User Reviews

Check reviews and testimonials from other bettors to gauge a handicapper’s credibility and effectiveness.

If other followers consistently find value in their picks and praise their insights, it’s a good indicator that they are worth considering.

 

Our Best NHL Handicappers

To find our best NHL handicappers, you have to go to the Leaderboard page, accessible through the side menu. Using the table, filter by Hockey, NHL, and the timeframe to find which handicappers have had the most success betting on the NHL. 

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As you can see, Robert Ferguson has the highest win percentage in the top 10, while SAS Insider (our own computer picks) has made the most money. 

If you click on Ferguson’s profile, and sort through his list of picks, you’ll find the following stats:

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He has seen success only betting moneylines for NHL games, and he has a 67.50% win rate for straight wagers. 

If we do the same for the SAS Insider account, we’ll see the following:

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The win percentage for moneyline wagers here is lower than Ferguson’s, at 59.4%. However, both spread wagers were winners. 

That being said, if you’re looking to find a few NHL handicappers to follow, picking one that’s good at moneylines, and others that excel at spreads or totals can help diversify your betting portfolio. 

How Handicappers Find NHL Value

NHL handicappers focus on finding “value” in betting lines, which refers to identifying bets that have a higher probability of winning than the odds suggest. To do this, they rely on a combination of statistical analysis, deep knowledge of hockey, and an understanding of market dynamics. Here are some key strategies used by NHL handicappers to find value:

Analyzing Team Metrics

Handicappers dig into advanced stats like Corsi and Fenwick, which measure puck possession and shot attempts, giving a clearer picture of which team is likely controlling the game beyond simple goals and assists. Teams with better puck control often create more scoring chances, making them undervalued if the general betting public is unaware of these metrics. Other important team stats include expected goals (xG), penalty kill efficiency, and power play performance, all of which can signal an edge in specific matchups.

Accounting for Goaltending Performance

Goaltending is one of the most critical factors in hockey betting, but it can also be tricky to predict. Handicappers often look at stats like save percentage (SV%), goals saved above average (GSAA), and recent form to assess whether a goalie is performing above or below expectation. Injuries to starting goaltenders or changes in lineup can create betting opportunities when the market hasn’t fully adjusted to a new or backup goalie starting a game.

Spotting Market Inefficiencies

The NHL betting market can sometimes lag behind in adjusting to key factors like injuries, team form, or scheduling. For instance, teams on the second night of a back-to-back or playing a long road trip may be fatigued, making them more vulnerable than the odds reflect. Sharp NHL handicappers monitor these situations to find value when the market underestimates or overestimates a team’s chances of winning.

Line Movement and Public Betting

Understanding how the public and the sharps (professional bettors) are betting can give handicappers an edge. When the public heavily bets on a favorite, sportsbooks may adjust the line to balance their action, even if it doesn’t reflect the true odds. This creates value opportunities for the underdog. Following line movement and identifying reverse line movement—where sharp money moves against public betting trends—helps handicappers spot these inefficiencies.

Betting Against the Public

In NHL betting, like in other sports, fading the public is a common strategy. When the betting public strongly backs a team based on recent performance or big-name players, the odds can become skewed, often in favor of the favorite. Smart handicappers look for value by betting against the public, especially on underdogs, when the betting lines no longer accurately reflect a team’s true chances of winning.

NHL Consensus Picks

Using consensus data, which shows how the public is betting on a particular game, can help NHL handicappers identify value by understanding market dynamics. When a large majority of the public bets on one side (such as a popular team or heavy favorite), sportsbooks often adjust the lines to balance their risk. 

  • Sharp handicappers use this data to spot potential inefficiencies, such as inflated odds on favorites or undervalued underdogs. By analyzing consensus data alongside their own research, handicappers can capitalize on situations where public perception skews the betting lines, allowing them to make smarter, contrarian wagers with better long-term value.
  • Through partnerships with sportsbook, Scores and Stats is able to provide consensus data for NHL games, including number of wagers on totals, moneylines, and spreads. Plus, our data shows the total amount wagered, and identifies where the sharp money is. Our handicappers use this info to make more informed wagers, but you can also use it to make your own betting decisions. 
  • Access the consensus picks and other data in the Consensus tab of the menu. 

NHL Scores and Odds

Scores and Stats has a dedicated section for updated odds on NHL games. By using data provided by our sportsbook partners, we’re able to display the updated odds on matchups as well as the current scores for live games. 

You can access this data from any membership tier by clicking on the Scores and Odds tab in the menu. During the NHL season, expect to see stats for all major NHL games. 

Turn Pucks into Bucks with NHL Expert Picks

Take your NHL betting to the next level with expert picks from our handicappers. They use updated team metrics and in-depth player analysis to spot market inefficiencies. You can pick and choose which handicappers you want to follow based on their experience, amount won, or overall success rate. No matter if you’re betting moneylines or the puck line, there’s an NHL handicapper at Scores and Stats for you. 

WinningCappers, The most trusted name in sports handicapping