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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Colorado Avalanche vs. Arizona Coyotes Pick & Prediction FEBRUARY 18th 2024

The Colorado Avalanche went into the extended All-Star break on a roll and atop the Central Division standings. Two weeks later, they’re trying to regroup after a disappointing six-game road trip. Colorado went 1-4-1 in its longest road trip of 2023-24 and feels like it left some points on the table, but now pivots to the final 27 games of the season, starting by hosting the Arizona Coyotes on Sunday. The Avalanche started their trip
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Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Florida Panthers Pick & Prediction FEBRUARY 17th 2024

Two juggernauts square off Saturday afternoon in a Sunshine State showdown in Tampa — the Florida Panthers’ road brilliance versus the Tampa Bay Lightning’s home-ice dominance. In the teams’ second meeting on Florida’s Gulf Coast this season, the Panthers will haul their franchise-record 10-game road winning streak up to Tampa and try to extend it against the resurgent Lightning. On Thursday in Buffalo, Panthers backup goaltender Anthony Stolarz turned away 45 shots — the third-most
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St. Louis Blues vs. Nashville Predators Pick & Prediction FEBRUARY 17th 2024

Nashville Predators coach Andrew Brunette expressed exasperation after his team absorbed a 9-2 beating from the Dallas Stars Thursday night. “It’s disappointing,” Brunette said. “It can only be addressed so many times. Either we’re not taking it seriously enough, or we’re not understanding. So, the response and the mindset is really disappointing.” Now the Predators must regroup as they open a five-game road trip with a visit to the St. Louis Blues at Enterprise Center
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Dallas Stars vs. Edmonton Oilers Pick & Prediction FEBRUARY 17th 2024

The Dallas Stars look to keep rolling when they host the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday. The Stars are coming off a 9-2 thrashing of the Nashville Predators on Thursday, their third straight win and eighth in their past 10 games (8-1-1). That run has propelled them to the top of the Central Division standings, four points ahead of the Colorado Avalanche and five up on the Winnipeg Jets. The Stars were five points behind the
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Calgary Flames vs. Detroit Red Wings Pick & Prediction FEBRUARY 17th 2024

After a torrid stretch moved them into playoff position, the Detroit Red Wings likely were due for this step backward. The Red Wings have followed a 10-2-2 span by dropping the first two outings in a four-game road trip heading into Saturday afternoon’s tilt with the Flames in Calgary. Thursday’s 4-1 loss to the Vancouver Canucks followed Tuesday’s 8-4 setback to the Edmonton Oilers, but Detroit has not lost confidence in its ability to generate
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Chicago Blackhawks vs. Ottawa Senators Pick & Prediction FEBRUARY 17th 2024

With their season-high, four-game winning streak now in the rearview mirror, the Ottawa Senators will aim to regroup when they visit the slumping Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday afternoon. Ottawa was admittedly lethargic during Thursday’s 5-1 home loss to the Anaheim Ducks, allowing four straight goals to open the game. That effort came in sharp contrast to consecutive victories against Nashville, Detroit, Toronto and Columbus — the first three of which are playoff contenders. “We’ve been
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Boston Bruins vs. Los Angeles Kings Pick & Prediction FEBRUARY 17th 2024

The Boston Bruins hope that turning the page to a new game leads to a different result when they host the Los Angeles Kings in the sixth game of a disappointing seven-game homestand on Saturday afternoon. Thursday’s 4-1 loss to Seattle marked the Bruins’ third straight setback and fourth in a five-game span (1-3-1), but it was not for a lack of effort. Though they were rare for coach Jim Montgomery’s club last winter, these
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Arizona Coyotes vs. Carolina Hurricanes Pick & Prediction FEBRUARY 16th 2024

The Arizona Coyotes will try to snap a seven-game losing streak Friday when they host the Carolina Hurricanes in Tempe, Ariz. The Coyotes, who are eight points out of the final wild-card spot in the Western Conference entering play Thursday, have managed to garner just one point (0-6-1) during the losing stretch while getting outscored by a 31-16 margin. Arizona comes in off a 3-1 loss to the visiting Minnesota Wild on Wednesday in a
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Calgary Flames vs. San Jose Sharks Pick & Prediction FEBRUARY 15th 2024

The Calgary Flames, coming off an impressive if not perfect road trip, have something to build upon when they begin a four-game homestand on Thursday against the San Jose Sharks. The Flames took a 2-0 loss to the New York Rangers on Monday to end their four-game trek, a result that snapped their four-game winning streak. Calgary beat the Boston Bruins, New Jersey Devils and New York Islanders during the trip, with the recent surge

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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