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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Vegas Golden Knights vs. Toronto Maple Leafs Pick & Prediction FEBRUARY 22nd 2024

After learning captain and top scorer Mark Stone will be sidelined “for a while,” the Vegas Golden Knights will try to snap a season-worst, three-game home losing streak on Thursday night when they face the Toronto Maple Leafs in Las Vegas. Stone, who has scored 16 goals and totaled 53 points, sustained an upper-body injury during a collision with Nashville’s Yakov Trenin late in the second period of Vegas’ 5-3 loss to the Predators on
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Seattle Kraken vs. Vancouver Canucks Pick & Prediction FEBRUARY 22nd 2024

In Major League Soccer, the teams from Seattle, Vancouver and Portland play for the Cascadia Cup. The cities tucked away in the Pacific Northwest — or in Vancouver’s case, just north of the U.S. border — have long had rivalries, whether in minor league baseball, minor league hockey or even, for a few years, the NBA (remember the Grizzlies and SuperSonics?). So with the NHL’s Canucks headed to Seattle to play the host Kraken on
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Los Angeles Kings vs. Nashville Predators Pick & Prediction FEBRUARY 22nd 2024

It wasn’t long ago when Los Angeles Kings forward Pierre-Luc Dubois was receiving some of the blame for the team’s sudden downturn, a 2-8-6 stretch after the Christmas break that ultimately led to the firing of coach Todd McLellan. Dubois appears to have turned things around under interim coach Jim Hiller and he’ll try to stay the course when the Kings host the Nashville Predators on Thursday night. Dubois scored two goals in a 5-1
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Anaheim Ducks vs. Columbus Blue Jackets Pick & Prediction FEBRUARY 21st 2024

Home from an up-and-down road trip that might signal better days are ahead, the Anaheim Ducks will put that outlook to the test when they play host to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Wednesday. The Ducks enter off an uplifting 4-3 victory over the Buffalo Sabres on Monday. The Blue Jackets have a quick turnaround following a 5-1 road loss to the Los Angeles Kings on Tuesday. Anaheim managed to beat Buffalo two days after
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Chicago Blackhawks vs. Philadelphia Flyers Pick & Prediction FEBRUARY 21st 2024

After absorbing a lopsided loss in an outdoor game Saturday, the Philadelphia Flyers will head back indoors for Wednesday’s contest versus the host Chicago Blackhawks. Still in the thick of the Eastern Conference playoff chase, the Flyers steadfastly are against overemphasizing falling short to the New Jersey Devils amid the pageantry of the NHL Stadium Series at East Rutherford, N.J. “We lose the game, we move by it,” Philadelphia coach John Tortorella said. “It’s only
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Montreal Canadiens vs. Buffalo Sabres Pick & Prediction FEBRUARY 21st 2024

With their fathers and mentors in tow, the Buffalo Sabres kick off a two-game road trip when they visit the Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday. Many Sabres players have their fathers joining them on the trip, while others have grandfathers or other father figures. “They have every reason … to be extremely proud,” Buffalo coach Don Granato said of their guests. “That in itself can be energizing (for the players), and it should be energizing. These
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Vegas Golden Knights vs. Nashville Predators Pick & Prediction FEBRUARY 20th 2024

After opening a five-game western road trip with an impressive 5-2 bounce-back win at St. Louis, the Nashville Predators take on the defending Stanley Cup champion Vegas Golden Knights on Tuesday in Las Vegas. It will be the second game of a back-to-back set for the Golden Knights, who snapped a two-game losing streak on Monday afternoon with a 4-0 win at San Jose. Nashville, meanwhile, has had two days off since the key game
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Colorado Avalanche vs. Vancouver Canucks Pick & Prediction FEBRUARY 20th 2024

It will be strength against strength when the Colorado Avalanche face the Vancouver Canucks in Denver on Tuesday night. At 21-5-0, Colorado has the best home record in the NHL, while Vancouver owns the sixth-best mark on the road at 18-9-4. However, the Canucks are coming off Monday’s 10-7 loss to the Minnesota Wild in Saint Paul, Minn. Vancouver led 5-2 late in the second period before the Wild rattled off six unanswered goals, later
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Winnipeg Jets vs. Minnesota Wild Pick & Prediction FEBRUARY 20th 2024

The Minnesota Wild head on the road to face the Winnipeg Jets on Tuesday feeling confident. Really, really confident. Thanks to a franchise-record performance in Monday’s 10-7 home win over the league-leading Vancouver Canucks, the Wild are only two points back of the St. Louis Blues for the Western Conference’s second wild-card spot. Minnesota is on a 5-0-1 run. “I don’t think I’ve ever been a part of something like that where they just kept

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

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. 

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