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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Carolina Hurricanes vs. St. Louis Blues Pick & Prediction JANUARY 6th 2024

Not only are the Carolina Hurricanes riding their best stretch of the season, they also will arrive for Saturday night’s game against the St. Louis Blues in Raleigh, N.C., coming off one of their best periods. The Hurricanes scored five times in the third period Friday night to rally past the host Washington Capitals 6-2. That gave Carolina its season-high fifth victory in a row. “We always talk about sticking with our game, and we
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New Jersey Devils vs. Vancouver Canucks Pick & Prediction JANUARY 6th 2024

The Vancouver Canucks have spent the first half of the season becoming one of the NHL’s surprise teams. On Saturday night, the Canucks will face a stern test when they continue a season-long seven-game trip by visiting the New Jersey Devils in Newark. The Canucks were off Friday, one day after beginning their trek with a 2-1 loss to the St. Louis Blues. The Devils, meanwhile, will complete a back-to-back set after overcoming a pair
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Vegas Golden Knights vs. New York Islanders Pick & Prediction JANUARY 6th 2024

With an 11-0-1 start to the season, it appeared the Vegas Golden Knights had avoided the dreaded Stanley Cup hangover. But that topic has resurrected itself lately. The Golden Knights have lost seven of their last nine games (2-7-0) heading into Saturday night’s game with the New York Islanders in Las Vegas. They have dropped into second place in the Pacific Division and sit just three points in front of the third-place Los Angeles Kings,
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Edmonton Oilers vs. Ottawa Senators Pick & Prediction JANUARY 6th 2024

As the struggling Ottawa Senators visit Saturday, the Edmonton Oilers are riding a six-game winning streak and a 14-3-0 run that has them on the verge of vaulting into a playoff position. Two months ago, the Oilers sat 31st in the standings and fired coach Jay Woodcroft shortly after losing to the NHL’s last-place team, the San Jose Sharks. It would be easy to say Edmonton’s turnaround is solely due to stars Connor McDavid and
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Dallas Stars vs. Nashville Predators Pick & Prediction JANUARY 6th 2024

Just as the Dallas Stars are on the verge of getting one key player back from injury, they will be without another when they host the Nashville Predators on Saturday night. Dallas defenseman Miro Heiskanen collided with his own goalie, Scott Wedgewood, on Thursday night against the Colorado Avalanche and left with an apparent knee injury early in the third period. Heiskanen, the team’s leading scorer among defensemen, did not return to witness the Stars
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San Jose Sharks vs. Toronto Maple Leafs Pick & Prediction JANUARY 6th 2024

The Toronto Maple Leafs will go for three consecutive victories when they complete a three-game road trip Saturday against the San Jose Sharks, who have lost 10 straight. The Maple Leafs won the first two games of their trip — 3-0 over the Los Angeles Kings on Tuesday and 2-1 in overtime over the Anaheim Ducks on Wednesday. The Sharks lost 2-1 at home to the Winnipeg Jets on Thursday for their 10th consecutive loss
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Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Buffalo Sabres Pick & Prediction JANUARY 6th 2024

The Pittsburgh Penguins, who host the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday, appear to be making a push to get into a playoff position, and they are doing it heavily on the back of their 36-year-old captain. Pittsburgh has won four of its past five, is 8-2-1 in its past 11 games and is coming off a big win Thursday against one of the top teams in the league — thanks very much to center Sidney Crosby.
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Montreal Canadiens vs. New York Rangers Pick & Prediction JANUARY 6th 2024

The Montreal Canadiens have a quest to make home a happy place again. As they prepare to play host to the New York Rangers on Saturday, the Canadiens are coming off a 6-1 home loss to the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday, leaving Montreal with only two victories in its last 11 home affairs (2-7-2). “(The) home record should be good,” Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki told Postmedia. “We definitely play well on the road, but we
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Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Minnesota Wild Pick & Prediction JANUARY 6th 2024

It has not been an easy week for the Minnesota Wild. Amidst a four-game losing streak and a rash of injuries, the Wild hope to get back on track when they visit the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday. Minnesota is coming off a 4-1 setback against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday, their fourth straight regulation defeat. While the streak is not the longest they’ve gone through this season, it is the longest stretch without

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
2024-11-06 19:07
Open
NASHVILLE PREDATORS
3 PICKS
WASHINGTON CAPITALS
NHL
2024-11-06 20:07
Open
DETROIT RED WINGS
1 PICKS
CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS
NHL
2024-11-06 20:37
Open
VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS
2 PICKS
EDMONTON OILERS

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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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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