Top NHL Picks & Predictions for Today

Free NHL Computer Picks

Our data-driven NHL computer picks provide dynamic betting analysis that can give you an edge over handicappers and help you make the best bets today.

Data is imported into a proprietary AI program that crunches numbers and projects the outcome of NHL games. Bookmark this page and return for regular professional hockey picks to consider when analyzing the NHL odds board throughout the regular season.

Popular NHL Betting Markets for Picks

The NHL offers diverse betting opportunities, catering to various strategies and preferences. From straightforward wagers to more nuanced options, each market has its unique appeal. The following sections break down popular betting markets, helping you identify the best ways to make more well-informed NHL predictions:

Moneyline Picks

Moneyline bets focus on predicting which team will win the game outright, regardless of the final score or margin of victory. This bet type is straightforward and ideal for beginners, as they simply require picking the winner. Our free NHL picks spotlight teams with strong win potential based on data like recent form, head-to-head results and advanced team metrics.

For example, if the Toronto Maple Leafs face the Boston Bruins, a moneyline bet would involve choosing one of these teams to win the game. A Maple Leafs prediction might focus on factors like their recent power play success or home-ice advantage. This market often features odds that reflect each team’s likelihood of winning, making it a key consideration for analyzing potential returns.

Puck Line Picks

Puck line bets are the NHL’s version of point spread betting, offering a unique twist by setting a 1.5-goal spread. To win a puck line bet, the favored team must win by at least two goals, while the underdog can lose by one goal and still cover the spread.

For instance, if the New York Rangers are -1.5 against the Pittsburgh Penguins, a NY Rangers backer needs them to win by two or more goals. Puck line bets provide higher potential payouts for favorites and a cushion for underdog teams, making them an attractive option for our NHL picks.

Goal Total Picks

Goal total bets (or over/under bets) involve predicting whether the combined number of goals scored by both teams will be over or under a set number. Our free NHL betting picks will highlight the teams that are consistently involved in high-scoring or low-scoring hockey games, helping you identify value bets when analyzing totals.

For example, if the total for a matchup between the Edmonton Oilers and Ottawa Senators is set at 6.5, you can bet on whether the total goals scored in the game will exceed or fall below that. These bets are not dependent on which team wins, making them a popular choice for bettors analyzing scoring trends, team dynamics or goaltender performance.

Player Prop Picks

Player prop bets focus on individual player performances rather than game outcomes. These wagers can include predictions like how many goals a player will score, the number of assists they’ll record or their total shots on goal.

For instance, you might bet on Connor McDavid to score over 1.5 points in an NHL match. Player props are ideal for hockey enthusiasts who closely follow player stats and trends, allowing you to leverage detailed knowledge of individual players when making NHL predictions.

Stanley Cup & Futures Picks

Futures bets allow you to wager on long-term outcomes, such as which team will win the Stanley Cup or which player will earn season-end awards. Futures are typically placed well in advance, with futures odds fluctuating as teams perform. Given that the odds are more favorable prior to the start of the season, you can enjoy a significant payout at the end of the hockey season if you win this popular type of bet.

Our NHL playoff predictions also come into play when evaluating futures markets throughout the NHL season. Whether you’re backing a dark horse or riding a top seed to go all the way, using NHL playoff predictions can help you time your bets for maximum value.

For example, you might bet on the Los Angeles Kings to win the Stanley Cup Playoffs at +600 early in the NHL season with one of our free picks. Futures bets often offer higher payouts and are perfect for bettors willing to take calculated risks based on season predictions.

NHL Picks & Parlay Bets

Parlay betting combines multiple NHL picks into a single wager for a higher payout potential. Instead of placing individual bets on separate outcomes, you tie them together, meaning the odds multiply and so do the potential winnings. To win, however, every selection in the hockey parlay must hit. If even one leg of the parlay loses, the entire bet is graded as a loss.

This all-or-nothing format adds risk, but it also offers the chance for big returns from relatively small wagers, especially when backing several well-researched picks on a busy NHL slate.

For example, you might combine a moneyline pick for the Chicago Blackhawks, a puck line pick for the Vegas Golden Knights and a goal total pick for the Tampa Bay Lightning. While riskier than single bets, parlay picks can offer significant rewards for bettors confident in their predictions across multiple games.

Resources for Using Hockey Picks

Our betting experts have included additional resources to help you take advantage of data-driven picks. You can use the following betting tools when placing our free picks on tonight’s games or any other upcoming games:

NHL Game Odds for This Week

You can see the full card of NHL games for any given day, along with the corresponding betting odds (spread and total) for each one. This overview is helpful as you can scan the games and decide if one interests you for betting purposes.

You can also see how the betting lines differ across online sports betting sites. It is recommended to register with multiple online sportsbooks in order to line shop so you can get the best possible price when placing our NHL betting picks.

Against the Spread Season Records

A team’s straight-up record is one thing, but this type of information is insufficient to consider because it doesn’t account for a team’s performance against the spread (ATS).

Fortunately, you can see how each team is performing against the spread at OddsTrader. When viewing a team’s ATS performance, you can determine if the top sportsbooks are correctly valuing each team for this bet type.

Oddsmakers are notoriously slow to make adjustments in less popular markets, so you can use ATS records and our free NHL predictions to find lines on teams that sportsbook oddsmakers might have yet to update.

Weekly Public Betting Consensus

The public betting consensus is the side or total that most of the public thinks will win for any given NHL game. When a bettor chooses against the NHL consensus pick, it is referred to as “fading the public.” If you like a play and you find that the public is against it, then you might feel more confident in cashing out when the final horn is blown.

Weekly NHL Injury Report

It is imperative to periodically check the injury report and other key NHL news regarding players and teams for NHL games because when you’re betting on teams to play or score many or few goals, ultimately, you are betting on the abilities of players as a collective group.

Traditionally, NHL injuries are common and goalies (a vital position) tend to get “rest games” during the regular season. These types of situations have an impact on the betting odds, which is why OddsTrader delivers daily updates and a report for every hockey game on the NHL card.

Best Online Sportsbooks for Hockey Betting

The fact is that not all online sports betting sites out there are trustworthy. However, it pays to use a licensed sportsbook so you can get the best quality when it comes to betting on the NHL. OddsTrader paves the way by breaking down the best NHL sportsbooks in the online sports betting industry.

When choosing an online sportsbook for hockey betting, you’ll want to consider factors like market variety, betting lines, ease of use, bonuses and the availability of mobile apps. The top sportsbooks consistently provide competitive NHL odds, comprehensive betting markets (including player props, puck lines and futures) and a user-friendly platform that lets hockey fans get in on the NHL action fast.

Additionally, the best NHL sportsbooks offer attractive promotions specifically geared toward hockey bettors, such as enhanced betting odds on key matchups, risk-free bets or parlay boosts during the NHL playoffs. These bonuses can help you increase your potential winnings or reduce risk on wagers.

Top-rated NHL betting sites like FanDuel Sportsbook, DraftKings Sportsbook, Caesars Sportsbook and BetMGM each stand out by offering extensive NHL markets, quick and secure payouts, excellent customer support and trusted reputations within the sports betting industry. Registering accounts with multiple sportsbooks also allows you to compare the odds and consistently lock in the best prices.

NHL Betting Strategies & Tips

Maximizing success in NHL betting requires more than just following picks. Understanding strategies and applying smart betting practices can make a significant difference in your outcomes. Below are some actionable tips to help you make the most of your NHL picks and improve your overall betting strategy.

• Analyze Team Trends & Matchups: Look at recent team performance, head-to-head matchups and home/away records to identify potential edges with your NHL predictions.
• Stay Updated on Player News: Injuries and lineup changes, particularly involving goalies, can significantly impact game outcomes and betting odds.
• Shop for the Best Odds: Compare the betting odds across multiple online sports betting sites or mobile sports betting apps to ensure you’re getting the best value for your wagers. Popular options include FanDuel Sportsbook, DraftKings Sportsbook and Caesars Sportsbook.
• Use Sportsbook Bonuses & Promo Codes: Take advantage of promotions like risk-free bets or deposit bonuses to reduce your risk and increase your potential payout at your preferred online sportsbooks.
• Incorporate Advanced Metrics: Dive into stats like Corsi, expected goals (xG) and power play efficiency to gain deeper insights into team and player performance.

Implementing these betting tips can help you make smarter, more informed hockey bets. Combining well-researched NHL picks with a disciplined approach increases your chances of long-term success with your betting decisions.

More Than Just NHL Picks

While our NHL computer picks provide valuable insights for hockey bettors, they’re only part of what we offer. Our advanced AI-driven models generate accurate predictions and sports picks for all major sports leagues in the U.S., including the NFL, NBA, MLB, college football and college basketball, making sure you can be more profitable with your betting decisions.

Whether you’re looking to bet on a football spread, a basketball moneyline or a baseball total, our computer picks deliver data-backed predictions to help you make informed decisions. By using these picks across different leagues, you can diversify your betting portfolio and find value in various markets throughout the year.

Conclusion

Since computers are able to process a lot of data and information in a short period of time, they can be a great tool when it comes to NHL picks. While other resources are also valuable, computer picks are worth looking at before placing your NHL bets because they go through a rigorous statistical analysis to formulate hockey picks.

From that analysis, the computer creates strong, stats-driven NHL picks that are not swayed by human emotion. Instead of just following betting trends, hockey computer picks are formulated using data from all the players’ game performances in order to make smart game predictions.

With all this information already synthesized, hockey fans can have a better perspective without having to do the hard work and number crunching, allowing for a smoother betting experience. Instead, these free NHL picks can help you pin down the best betting opportunities in seconds.

NHL Picks: Frequently Asked Questions

What is a 3-way moneyline in hockey?

A 3-way moneyline in the NHL includes three outcomes: home win, away win or a tie at the end of regulation. Overtime and shootouts do not count for this bet type. If the game goes past regulation, only those who wager on the tie will be able to cash out.

How often do NHL underdogs win?

NHL underdogs win about 40% of the time on average. However, the exact percentage varies by season and matchup. Smart bettors analyze stats, injuries, and trends to find value in underdogs that are undervalued by oddsmakers.

What is a puck line bet?

A puck line bet is hockey’s version of a point spread. The favorite is usually -1.5 goals, meaning they must win by 2 or more. The underdog team is +1.5 and can cover by winning or losing by 1 goal. It offers better odds than a moneyline bet.

Do most NHL games go over or under?

Most NHL games finish under the posted total, but it depends on the individual teams, goalies and pace of play. Scoring trends shift throughout the hockey season, so monitoring recent performances and head-to-head matchup data is key when betting on over/under goal totals.

How many hockey games are in a season?

In a standard NHL season, each team plays 82 regular-season games, with 41 at home and 41 on the road. This adds up to a total of 1,312 games across the league before the Stanley Cup Playoffs begin.