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. Detroit Red Wings Pick & Prediction OCTOBER 28th 2023

The top two teams in the Eastern Conference meet for an early-season showdown as the Boston Bruins host the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday night. Boston was one of three teams with an unblemished record entering Thursday, when it surrendered a two-goal lead with two minutes remaining in a 4-3 overtime loss to Anaheim. The Bruins could have set a new franchise record with seven consecutive wins to begin a season. Instead, it’s back to
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Philadelphia Flyers vs. Anaheim Ducks Pick & Prediction OCTOBER 28th 2023

The Philadelphia Flyers look to remain undefeated at home when they battle the Anaheim Ducks on Saturday afternoon. The Flyers posted a 6-2 win over the Minnesota Wild on Thursday and improved to 3-0-0 at home. Bobby Brink scored the first two goals of his career and Travis Sanheim collected one goal and two assists. Sean Couturier and Travis Konecny each had one goal and one assist while Owen Tippett contributed one goal for the
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Florida Panthers vs. Seattle Kraken Pick & Prediction OCTOBER 28th 2023

Panthers center Sam Bennett, who has yet to play this season, has returned to practice and could be back in the lineup when Florida hosts the Seattle Kraken in Sunrise on Saturday night. Bennett, who scored 44 goals over the past two years, sustained a lower-body injury against the Tampa Bay Lightning in an Oct. 5 preseason game. “It feels great,” Bennett said of his recovery. “When you’ve been out for a while, you really
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Vancouver Canucks vs. St. Louis Blues Pick & Prediction OCTOBER 27th 2023

After winning three times on a five-game road trip, the Vancouver Canucks believe their game is in a good place as they return home. They carry momentum into opening their three-game homestand, which begins Friday against the St. Louis Blues. The Canucks enter the matchup off back-to-back victories at Florida and Nashville. “We ended up having a really great road trip, and we’ve got a great blueprint on how to play to be successful,” Canucks
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Washington Capitals vs. Minnesota Wild Pick & Prediction OCTOBER 27th 2023

The Washington Capitals have something positive to build upon when they open a five-game homestand against the Minnesota Wild on Friday. After scoring only six goals, not counting a shootout winner, in their first five games of the season, the Capitals snapped a three-game losing streak with a 6-4 road victory over the New Jersey Devils on Wednesday. “Through a couple of games here where we haven’t been playing our best, we kind of carried
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Carolina Hurricanes vs. San Jose Sharks Pick & Prediction OCTOBER 27th 2023

Having halted an early-season slide, the Carolina Hurricanes now set their sights on extending the misery of the San Jose Sharks. The Hurricanes can keep the visiting Sharks winless by beating them for the second time in 10 days Friday night. Things have hardly been easy for Carolina, which has split its first eight games, and needed to rally from a late 2-1 deficit for Thursday’s 3-2 overtime victory over Seattle that snapped a three-game
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New York Islanders vs. Ottawa Senators Pick & Prediction OCTOBER 26th 2023

Neither the New York Islanders nor the Ottawa Senators are ready to worry over their defensive struggles in the early weeks of the season. A pair of teams looking to shore things up in their own zones and end losing streaks are slated to meet Thursday night, when the Islanders host the Senators in a battle of Eastern Conference rivals in Elmont, N.Y. Both teams were off Wednesday after losing at home on Tuesday, when
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Carolina Hurricanes vs. Seattle Kraken Pick & Prediction OCTOBER 26th 2023

Perhaps more than usual, the Carolina Hurricanes sure are happy to be preparing for a home game as the Seattle Kraken visit Raleigh, N.C., on Thursday night. The Hurricanes are coming off a six-game road stretch in which they went 2-4. “We’ve got to find that team game,” Carolina coach Rod Brind’Amour said. “That’s what we’ve done so well over the years and I don’t think we have to reinvent it. “It’s not really that,
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New Jersey Devils vs. Washington Capitals Pick & Prediction OCTOBER 25th 2023

A team that has scored 10 goals over its past two games squares off against one struggling to find the net when the New Jersey Devils face the Washington Capitals on Wednesday in Newark, N.J. Both teams will be playing the second of back-to-back nights after the visiting Devils defeated the Montreal Canadiens 5-2 on Tuesday while the host Capitals dropped a 4-1 decision to the Toronto Maple Leafs. Tyler Toffoli had a hat trick

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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