Tonight’s NHL card consists of eleven games taking place. With the regular season getting into the final quarter phase before playoff hockey kicks off, many teams are fighting for a ticket to the postseason. On the other hand, a lot of teams can’t wait for this season to finish as they have zero chance of making it to the postseason, so let’s get into our NHL best bets & props February 29 article and break down the NHL odds.
We are targeting an underdog on the road, the best defensive team in the league to see goals in their matchup and the league’s second-highest points scorer, Nathan Mackinnon, to get some more points on the board at the top-rated betting sites.
Picks Summary
- New York Islanders ML (+130)
- Jets – Stars Over 5.5 (-115)
- Nathan Mackinnon Over 1.5 Points (-120)
*All Odds available at Bet365 (check our Bet365 Review)
New York Islanders vs. Detroit Red Wings
Thursday, February 29, 2024 – 07:00 PM ET at Little Caesars Arena
Betting Trends
- The NY Islanders have gone 12-18-9 this season as underdogs.
- Detroit are 6-0 in their previous six games.
- The NY Islanders are three wins away from getting themselves into a playoff spot.
Detroit Hang on to Winning Streak
The Detroit Red Wings have been on fire lately, winning their previous six games, with their previous outing being their best yet with an 8-3 victory over the Washington Capitals. They have gone 7-3 in their previous 10 games, however, it must be noted that they required overtime to win four of those seven games.
On home ice, one would expect another victory for the Red Wings. But we believe this is the spot to oppose them as the NY Islanders are a team that can beat anybody on their day.
NHL Pick
The Islanders have struggled as of late, winning just 4 of their previous 10 games, but with that said they lost three of those games in overtime and they are still fighting for a playoff position within the Metropolitan Division. Just seven points separated themselves from a playoff spot and they have two games in hand.
Despite the Red Wings being on home ice and red hot, this is the perfect team to oppose them and we are prepared to back the Islanders to pick up a win on the road at +130 NHL betting odds.
We wouldn’t advise betting them any lower than +125.
NHL Pick: NY Islanders ML (+130) at Bet365
Winnipeg Jets vs. Dallas Stars
Thursday, February 29, 2024 – 08:00 PM ET at American Airlines Center
Betting Trends
- The Dallas Stars have seen 35 of their 60 games go over the total thus far this season.
- The Winnipeg Jets have seen just 19 of their 60 games go over the total.
- The Jets have allowed the least amount of goals this season, having allowed an average of 2.35 goals per game.
Soft Total Line Worth Targeting
Despite the best defensive team taking to the ice in this matchup, we believe the over is worth targeting, as the line is set at 5.5, for -115 NHL betting odds. Their opponents, the Dallas Stars, have been one of the highest-scoring teams in the league with 3.5 goals per game and mediocre defense, allowing just over three goals per game.
Despite Dallas and Winnipeg both having picked up 79 points this season and ranking 2nd (Winnipeg) and 3rd (Dallas) in the Western Conference, the Jets do hold a four-game advantage over Dallas and could be on the heels of the leaders, Vancouver, if they keep winning.
NHL Pick
Dallas have been atrocious lately having gone 1-6 in their previous seven games, whilst the Jets have been the opposite in their previous seven having gone 6-1. We like the over in this matchup, despite it looking like a potential under, this line is too low to ignore in this day and age in the NHL.
The previous two meetings between these teams went under 5.5 goals and just one of the Stars previous five went over. The time to oppose the under trend is now as the Stars will be desperate to win this one, a few early goals will help our cause.
NHL Pick: Over 5.5 Goals (-115) at Bet365
Colorado Avalanche vs. Chicago Blackhawks
Thursday, February 29, 2024 – 09:00 PM ET at United Center
Betting Trends
- Nathan Mackinnon has scored the 2nd most amount of points overall this season with 98 in total so far.
- Mackinnon has scored at least one point in his previous seven games and has scored 2+ points in five of those seven.
- The Chicago Blackhawks have allowed 3.51 goals per game (6th worst).
McKinnon Can Rack Up Points Against Blackhawks
The Chicago Blackhawks have allowed a lot of goals this season, although in recent games they have been a little better allowing only three goals in each of their previous three games (all losses). With that said they are due a blowout and the Colorado Avalanche could be the ones to hand it to them.
Chicago are the worst team in the Western Conference and the entire NHL, whilst Colorado are fighting for top spot within the Conference.
NHL Pick
We believe Nathan Mackinnon is a prime candidate to rack up the points against Chicago in this matchup, despite laying the juice on his over 1.5 points line we are pulling the trigger. Mackinnon has scored 13 points in his previous seven NHL games and will be eager to put things right following his team’s 3-2 loss to Chicago the last time these teams met five days before Christmas.
Mackinnon has played Chicago twice this season, but has only scored one point in both games, tonight could be the night he brings the pain to Chicago and given his current hot streak, we are happy to lay -120 NHL betting odds on him to do so.
NHL Pick: Nathan Mackinnon Over 1.5 Points at (-120) at Bet365
*The line and/or odds referenced in this article might have changed since the content was published. For the latest information on line movements, visit OddsTrader’s free betting odds tool.
