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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Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Buffalo Sabres Pick & Prediction NOVEMBER 11th 2023

Two surging teams clash Saturday night when the Buffalo Sabres visit the Pittsburgh Penguins. Buffalo will be playing on successive nights after posting a 3-2 home win against the Minnesota Wild on Friday. The Sabres are 4-1-1 in their past six games, although they didn’t feel as though they were overly dominant in the latest contest. JJ Peterka gave Buffalo a 3-1 lead early in the third, but Minnesota’s Joel Eriksson Ek scored more than
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New York Islanders vs. Washington Capitals Pick & Prediction NOVEMBER 11th 2023

The New York Islanders won’t have to look far Saturday night for proof that an early lull doesn’t have to define a season. Still, they are running out of time to prove their first impression isn’t the lasting one. The Islanders will look to snap out of their third-period doldrums and end a three-game losing streak Saturday night when they oppose the Washington Capitals in Elmont, N.Y. The Islanders’ latest setback was a 5-2 defeat
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Ottawa Senators vs. Calgary Flames Pick & Prediction NOVEMBER 11th 2023

The Ottawa Senators have one more chance to give their fans a jolt of hope before heading across the Atlantic. After the Senators play host to the Calgary Flames on Saturday, they depart for Sweden to face the Minnesota Wild and Detroit Red Wings in the Global Series next week. The Senators, who are coming off a 5-2 loss to the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday, have just one win in their past four games and
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Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Vancouver Canucks Pick & Prediction NOVEMBER 11th 2023

The surging Vancouver Canucks will attempt to earn their sixth consecutive victory Saturday night when they visit the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Canucks opened a three-game road trip with a 5-2 win over the Ottawa Senators on Thursday. Toronto needed a shootout to defeat the visiting Calgary Flames 5-4 on Friday night in the opening of Hall of Fame weekend. The game had a familiar look as the Maple Leafs failed to hold a 4-1
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Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Carolina Hurricanes Pick & Prediction NOVEMBER 11th 2023

The fact that Tampa Bay finally took a home loss in regulation on Thursday was not the issue for the Lightning. It was how it all went down. The Lightning, who host the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday, saw Chicago rookie Connor Bedard turn in his best career performance in just over one period of play as the Blackhawks stormed back from two early deficits in a 5-3 win. Bedard, 18, posted two goals and two
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Winnipeg Jets vs. Dallas Stars Pick & Prediction NOVEMBER 11th 2023

The Dallas Stars are considered a Stanley Cup contender and lead the Central Division, yet they don’t believe they have found their stride yet in the early portion of the season. As the Stars prepare to face the Winnipeg Jets on Saturday in the second installment of a three-game road swing, they are still looking for that top-tier game despite a strong record. “We’ve been playing some good hockey as a group, but it’s crazy
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Detroit Red Wings vs. Columbus Blue Jackets Pick & Prediction NOVEMBER 11th 2023

The Detroit Red Wings’ hot start is a fading memory. They’re headed overseas next week and hope to get an emotional boost when they host the equally struggling Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday afternoon. The Red Wings are 2-4-2 after a 5-1-0 start. “We came out with a ton of confidence the first five or six games and everything was going in the net for us, everyone was feeling good,” Detroit defenseman Ben Chiarot said.
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Vegas Golden Knights vs. San Jose Sharks Pick & Prediction NOVEMBER 10th 2023

The Vegas Golden Knights will try to snap their first losing streak of the season on Friday night when they face the San Jose Sharks in Las Vegas. The Golden Knights, tied with the Boston Bruins for the most points in the NHL with 23 thanks to a season-opening 12-game point streak, come in off back-to-back regulation losses on the road against the Anaheim Ducks (4-2 on Sunday) and at home against the Los Angeles
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Buffalo Sabres vs. Minnesota Wild Pick & Prediction NOVEMBER 10th 2023

Both the Buffalo Sabres and Minnesota Wild are off to middling starts, with each team looking for something positive to build on. Each tries to rebound from its latest setback when they meet on Friday night in Buffalo. Buffalo went 3-5-0 before finally winning back-to-back games on Oct. 29 and Nov. 1. That began the Sabres’ current 3-1-1 stretch, which most recently featured a 3-2 overtime loss at Carolina on Tuesday. Twice the Sabres erased

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
2024-11-05 19:07
Open
CALGARY FLAMES
7 PICKS
MONTREAL CANADIENS
NHL
2024-11-05 19:07
Open
BOSTON BRUINS
8 PICKS
TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS
NHL
2024-11-05 19:37
Open
PITTSBURGH PENGUINS
7 PICKS
NEW YORK ISLANDERS
NHL
2024-11-05 22:37
Open
COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS
14 PICKS
SAN JOSE SHARKS

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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