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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Boston Bruins vs. Washington Capitals Pick & Prediction FEBRUARY 10th 2024

For the Boston Bruins, it has been a tale of two vastly different games to begin a lengthy seven-game homestand on the back side of the NHL All-Star break. The Bruins dropped a 4-1 decision to the Calgary Flames on Tuesday in their return to action. But on Thursday, they dominated the Vancouver Canucks in a 4-0 shutout. On Saturday, the Bruins will look to continue riding the winning track when they host the Washington
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New York Islanders vs. Calgary Flames Pick & Prediction FEBRUARY 10th 2024

After a slight delay, the New York Islanders are enjoying the new-coach bounce and are looking for more when they play host to the Calgary Flames on Saturday afternoon in Elmont, N.Y. With Thursday’s 6-2 thumping of the Tampa Bay Lightning, the Islanders are riding a two-game winning streak and are on a 3-2-1 run since Patrick Roy took over coaching duties from the fired Lane Lambert. “We have so much depth. We have four
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Montreal Canadiens vs. Dallas Stars Pick & Prediction FEBRUARY 10th 2024

The Dallas Stars are sitting pretty in the Western Conference, but their penalty kill has been an issue of late. Meanwhile, the Montreal Canadiens’ power play is starting to heat up. Looking to improve on special teams, the visiting Stars also aim to avoid a sweep of the season series at the hands of the Canadiens on Saturday afternoon. Tied atop the Central Division, Dallas saw its 5-0-1 stretch halted with Wednesday’s 5-4 loss at
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Detroit Red Wings vs. Vancouver Canucks Pick & Prediction FEBRUARY 10th 2024

The Detroit Red Wings return from the All-Star break striking an unusually optimistic tone given their genuine chance to end their seven-year playoff drought. Eager to get back to work, the Red Wings will play host to the Western Conference-leading Vancouver Canucks on Saturday afternoon. Detroit currently holds the last wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference after going 9-2-2 in January. “It’s a fun time of year,” Red Wings defenseman Ben Chiarot said. “That’s what
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Buffalo Sabres vs. St. Louis Blues Pick & Prediction FEBRUARY 10th 2024

After getting stymied by Dallas Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger on Tuesday, the Buffalo Sabres will seek an offensive breakthrough when they host the St. Louis Blues on Saturday afternoon. The Sabres fell to the Stars 2-1 despite outshooting Dallas 48-30. “I think we outplayed them the entire game,” Sabres forward Tage Thompson said. “I thought defensively we were strong. We played a pretty tight game, didn’t really give up too much. I think their goalie
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New York Islanders vs. Tampa Bay Lightning Pick & Prediction FEBRUARY 8th 2024

The Tampa Bay Lightning will have little time to process a potentially serious injury when they return to action Thursday night against the New York Islanders in Elmont, N.Y. During the Lightning’s 3-1 road loss to the New York Rangers on Wednesday, Tampa Bay defenseman Mikhail Sergachev was stretchered off due to a left leg injury. Sergachev tried to deliver a hit to Rangers left winger Alexis Lafreniere with about 13 minutes left in the
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New Jersey Devils vs. Calgary Flames Pick & Prediction FEBRUARY 8th 2024

The Calgary Flames and New Jersey Devils will look to follow up an impressive win over tough competition when they face off on Thursday in Newark, N.J. Looking to get back into the playoff picture down the stretch, Calgary and New Jersey each took a step forward on Tuesday in their first games after the All-Star break. The Flames notched a 4-1 win over the Eastern Conference-leading Boston Bruins, while the Devils also topped a
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Florida Panthers vs. Washington Capitals Pick & Prediction FEBRUARY 8th 2024

The Washington Capitals, who have lost a season-worst five straight games, are about to play four of the top five teams in the NHL — all in a row. It starts on Thursday night, when the Capitals visit the Panthers in Sunrise, Fla. After that, Washington will visit the Boston Bruins and then play host to the Vancouver Canucks and Colorado Avalanche. “This is not a great time to lose five in a row,” said
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Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Dallas Stars Pick & Prediction FEBRUARY 7th 2024

The Dallas Stars will put a four-game winning streak on the line Wednesday night when they visit the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Stars opened a three-game road trip Tuesday night with a 2-1 victory over the Buffalo Sabres. Dallas goaltender Jake Oettinger made a career-high 47 saves and Sam Steel scored what proved to be the winning goal midway through the second period. Matt Duchene also scored for Dallas, and Joe Pavelski played in his

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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