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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Los Angeles Kings vs. Colorado Avalanche Pick & Prediction DECEMBER 3rd 2023

The Los Angeles Kings should have the fresher legs when they host the Colorado Avalanche on Sunday evening. The Kings have played just one game since Nov. 25, a 2-1 loss to the visiting Washington Capitals on Wednesday. The Avalanche, meanwhile, have played three games in that span, most recently losing 4-3 in a shootout at the Anaheim Ducks on Saturday night. Los Angeles coach Todd McLellan said he wanted to make sure the Kings
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Buffalo Sabres vs. Nashville Predators Pick & Prediction DECEMBER 3rd 2023

Teams with two-game losing streaks will collide when the Buffalo Sabres host the Nashville Predators on Sunday night. Both teams will play the second game of a back-to-back set after the Predators lost to the visiting New York Rangers 4-3 on Saturday and Buffalo fell 6-2 at the Carolina Hurricanes. Nashville squandered 2-0 and 3-1 leads against New York before Ryan Lindgren scored the go-ahead goal early in the third period. The Predators pulled their
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New York Rangers vs. San Jose Sharks Pick & Prediction DECEMBER 3rd 2023

The New York Rangers know they can pull off comebacks when needed, especially since the numbers back them up. Even with several comebacks under their belt during their strong opening quarter of the season, the Rangers would like to get off to a quick start Sunday evening to avoid being forced to rally again, especially against the NHL’s worst team. The Rangers will go for their third straight win Sunday when they host the San
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Boston Bruins vs. Columbus Blue Jackets Pick & Prediction DECEMBER 3rd 2023

The Boston Bruins will look to post their third straight win and second in as many nights when the Columbus Blue Jackets make a Sunday night visit. Last Monday’s 5-2 loss in Columbus marked the final game of Boston’s three-game losing streak, and wins over San Jose and Toronto have followed. The Bruins began a back-to-back Saturday in Toronto, scoring a 4-3 win on captain Brad Marchand’s goal with eight seconds remaining in overtime. Marchand
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Minnesota Wild vs. Chicago Blackhawks Pick & Prediction DECEMBER 3rd 2023

The Minnesota Wild will look to stay unbeaten since their coaching change when they host the Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday afternoon in Saint Paul, Minn. Minnesota has won back-to-back games since veteran coach John Hynes took over behind the bench. Hynes replaced Dean Evason, who was fired on Monday after the team stumbled to a 5-10-4 record to start the season. Hynes acknowledged that his new team seemed to be playing with a sense of
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Ottawa Senators vs. Seattle Kraken Pick & Prediction DECEMBER 2nd 2023

The Seattle Kraken haven’t been healthy up front all season. And now they’ll be even more shorthanded heading into Saturday’s game at Ottawa. The Kraken placed Jaden Schwartz, who is second on the team with eight goals, on injured reserve Thursday with a lower-body injury. General manager Ron Francis told The Seattle Times that Schwartz is expected to miss about six weeks. Forward Brandon Tanev suffered a lower-body injury in the season opener and missed
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Nashville Predators vs. New York Rangers Pick & Prediction DECEMBER 2nd 2023

The Nashville Predators will attempt to bounce back from a bad loss when they host the New York Rangers on Saturday in the finale of a four-game homestand. Nashville was on a six-game winning streak to climb above the .500 mark before dropping a 6-1 decision to the visiting Minnesota Wild on Thursday. “That’s not us,” Nashville forward Ryan O’Reilly said. “It’s disappointing because that’s a divisional team. That’s a big game for us. It’s
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Winnipeg Jets vs. Chicago Blackhawks Pick & Prediction DECEMBER 2nd 2023

The Winnipeg Jets will try to avoid a fourth straight loss when they play host to their Central Division-rival Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday. The Jets have lost back-to-back games to open a four-game homestand and three straight overall dating back to Sunday. Winnipeg’s most recent loss was a 3-1 decision to the visiting Edmonton Oilers on Thursday. “Our biggest problem tonight was faceoffs; they killed us in the faceoff circle, so you’re chasing them all
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Dallas Stars vs. Tampa Bay Lightning Pick & Prediction DECEMBER 2nd 2023

The Tampa Bay Lightning will match up for two games over a three-day span with the Dallas Stars starting Saturday afternoon in the Lone Star State. For the Lightning, their season that continues to slip away from them can be defined by one word: turnovers. Against the visiting Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday, Tampa Bay scored twice in the first period and appeared to be on the way to breaking a two-game skid after coming off

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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