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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Florida Panthers vs. Ottawa Senators Pick & Prediction FEBRUARY 20th 2024

The Florida Panthers, who have surged to the second-best record in the Eastern Conference and are tied for the third-most points in the NHL, will face the lowly Ottawa Senators on Tuesday night in Sunrise, Fla. Florida has won nine of its past 10 games, and only two of those victories were by one goal. The Panthers’ defense held the opposition to two or fewer goals in all 10 games. Ottawa is 8-3-2 over its
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Washington Capitals vs. New Jersey Devils Pick & Prediction FEBRUARY 20th 2024

The New Jersey Devils have reversed course from a dismal stretch by recording wins in three of their last four games. New Jersey aims to continue its recent good fortune and salvage a split of its four-game season series against the Capitals on Tuesday when the teams reconvene in Washington. The Devils stepped away from their home in Newark, N.J., and made the short trek to MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford to post a 6-3
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Pittsburgh Penguins vs. New York Islanders Pick & Prediction FEBRUARY 20th 2024

It will be a Metropolitan Division showdown with plenty of implications Tuesday when the New York Islanders visit the Pittsburgh Penguins. Both teams are on the outside looking in as they chase a playoff spot, while each failed to protect leads while losing in a special event game. And neither team has played all that much lately against division opponents. The Penguins, who are three points behind the Islanders in the wild-card chase with two
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San Jose Sharks vs. Vegas Golden Knights Pick & Prediction FEBRUARY 19th 2024

Following back-to-back home losses for the first time in over a year, the Vegas Golden Knights take a quick one-game road trip to San Jose to play the struggling Sharks in a Monday afternoon matinee. Vegas holds an eye-popping 23-2-5 all-time regular-season mark against San Jose, including 3-0-0 this season. It’s the start of a four-day stretch that sees the defending Stanley Cup champions play three games with home contests against Nashville on Tuesday and
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Seattle Kraken vs. Detroit Red Wings Pick & Prediction FEBRUARY 19th 2024

Veteran goaltenders know they need to be sharp at a moment’s notice. Like the Detroit Red Wings’ James Reimer and the Seattle Kraken’s Philipp Grubauer, who could very well play against each other in a Monday matinee in Seattle. Both are coming off impressive victories following long layoffs that snapped losing streaks for their respective teams. The 35-year-old Reimer, making his first appearance since Jan. 23 and his first start since Jan. 14, stopped 38
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Calgary Flames vs. Winnipeg Jets Pick & Prediction FEBRUARY 19th 2024

The Winnipeg Jets look to extend their winning streak to four games when they visit the streaky Calgary Flames on Monday. After struggling through an 0-4-1 stretch that spanned the All-Star break, the Jets have rebounded with three straight victories, including Saturday’s 4-2 road win over the league-leading Vancouver Canucks. Defeating the NHL’s top team is always a major achievement, but the nature of the win signaled a breakout for Winnipeg’s offense. In their eight
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Buffalo Sabres vs. Anaheim Ducks Pick & Prediction FEBRUARY 19th 2024

One of the few things that’s been predictable about the Anaheim Ducks and Buffalo Sabres this season is defensemen Cam Fowler and Rasmus Dahlin will spend plenty of time on the ice. Heading into their teams’ matchup on Monday afternoon in Buffalo, Fowler is seventh in the NHL in ice time for the Ducks at 25:08, while fellow defenseman Dahlin is sixth for the Sabres at 25:20. Because of injuries, Dahlin, 23, played a season-high
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Boston Bruins vs. Dallas Stars Pick & Prediction FEBRUARY 19th 2024

The Boston Bruins look to salvage what largely has been a forgettable homestand when they host the Dallas Stars on Monday afternoon. Boston has dropped from the top spot in the Eastern Conference after losing four straight (0-2-2) and going just 1-3-2 over the first six contests of the seven-game homestand. A win against the Stars, who have the second-most points in the Western Conference, will send the Bruins out for a four-game road trip
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St. Louis Blues vs. Toronto Maple Leafs Pick & Prediction FEBRUARY 19th 2024

After experiencing costly defensive breakdowns in their last game, the St. Louis Blues will need to clean up their play on Monday afternoon when they host the explosive Toronto Maple Leafs. Winners of three in a row, the Maple Leafs roll into this matinee with the Blues after thrashing the Anaheim Ducks 9-2 on Saturday. “It’s a great effort from our team all the way around,” Toronto coach Sheldon Keefe said. “It’s not often over

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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