It's a busy 11-game slate Saturday, and the action begins with Hart Trophy favorite Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers visiting the Columbus Blue Jackets. Read on for our top NHL picks based on the best NHL odds.
The NHL trade deadline is less than a week away, and there are a number of games on Saturday's docket with postseason implications.
A bout between the Dallas Stars and Vegas Golden Knights pits the Western Conference's top-two teams against each other, while the Colorado Avalanche host the Calgary Flames. Center Nazem Kadri returns to Ball Arena after winning the Stanley Cup with the Avs last spring.
It's also an important night in the Metropolitan Division, with all eight teams hitting the ice. The slumping Pittsburgh Penguins and Washington Capitals find themselv es outside the playoff picture and need to string wins together.
Here are our best NHL picks for Saturday (odds via DraftKings Sportsbook, FanDuel Sportsbook and BetMGM; pick confidence based on a 1-to-5-star scale).
Check out our NHL picks.
Saturday's NHL schedule and odds
(odds via DraftKings)
- Edmonton Oilers (-245) vs. Columbus Blue Jackets (+205)
- New York Rangers (-145) vs. Washington Capitals (+125)
- Pittsburgh Penguins (-155) vs. St. Louis Blues (+135)
- Anaheim Ducks (+360) vs. Carolina Hurricanes (-450)
- Ottawa Senators (-165) vs. Montreal Canadiens (+140)
- Philadelphia Flyers (+245) vs. New Jersey Devils (-295)
- Boston Bruins (-260) vs. Vancouver Canucks (+220)
- Tampa Bay Lightning (-155) vs. Detroit Red Wings (+135)
- Calgary Flames (+115) vs. Colorado Avalanche (-135)
- Chicago Blackhawks (+160) vs. San Jose Sharks (-190)
- Dallas Stars (+100) vs. Vegas Golden Knights (-120)
Saturday's NHL best bets
- Puck line: Devils -1.5 vs. Flyers (-115 via BetMGM) ???
- Upset: Flames vs. Avalanche (+115 via DraftKings) ??
- Parlay: Bruins moneyline + Under 6.5 (+180 via DraftKings) ??
- Prop: Nathan MacKinnon Under 1.5 points (+108 via FanDuel) ????
Saturday's NHL top picks
This is a horrible schedule spot for the Philadelphia Flyers. Not only does Philadelphia play the second consecutive night after losing 5-2 to the Montreal Canadiens Friday, the Flyers haven't had back-to-back games in the same city since Feb. 12.
The New Jersey Devils also round back into form with a 3-1 stretch since star center Jack Hughes returned from an upper -body injury. New Jersey is in the positive in both Corsi For percentage and expected goals for percentage at five-on-five when adjusted for score and venue since the All-Star Break and ranks third in both metrics, too.
Philadelphia was without leading scorer Travis Konency (upper body) Friday against the Canadiens, while New Jersey enjoys a healthy lineup.
| DraftKings | FanDuel | BetMGM | Caesars | PointsBet |
| -115 | -120 | -115 | -120 | -120 |
There isn't a huge disparity across our best sportsbooks, but an edge is an edge. The -115 odds available via DraftKings and BetMGM are a positive 2% expected value Over the -120 number through FanDuel, Caesars and PointsBet.
Take the New Jersey moneyline as a four-star play, but covering the number downgrades it slightly.
There's been early money on the Over in this contest, but that's an overreaction to the Boston Bruins winning 6-5 over the Seattle Kraken Thursday.
Bruins goalie Linus Ullmark paces the NHL in SV% (.937), GAA (1.88) and goals saved above average (33.5), while Boston surrendered the fewest five-on-five goals per 60 minutes (1.76) and boasts a league-high 86.2 PK%.
Don't expect the Vancouver Canucks to score more than twice Saturday, so it's on Bo ston's offense to take this total Over the number. Also, the total was 6.0 or lower in each of the Bruins' past eight contests with the Under cashing in five of eight.
Adding the Bruins moneyline just boosts the odds. Vancouver enters with an active 5-8-2 record and just one of those wins came against a team occupying a playoff position. I'd price Boston in the -300 range on the moneyline, so you also land value here.
| DraftKings | FanDuel | BetMGM | Caesars | PointsBet |
| +180 | +166 | +180 | +165 ?? | +166 |
The +180 number available from DraftKings and BetMGM is a positive expected value of 6% Over the +165 number via Caesars. The Bruins' moneyline is a four-star bet, but I'm not as confident in the number because of the Canucks' incredibly inconsistent defense.
Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon is scorching hot with six consecutive multi-point outings of six goals and eight assists. However, plus-money odds for this Under caught my attention immediately.
Before the highlighted heater, MacKinnon recorded fewer than 2 points in 22 of 39 games, and last year he failed to hit the 2-point benchmark in 58 of 85 contests, including the playoffs.
Based on the +108 odds, the implied probability the superstar center hits the Under is just 48.1%. MacKinnon is projected for 1.34 points Saturday, and I'd price MacKinnon to register Under 1.5 points in the -175 range. That's a huge gap.
Statistical correction looms, and as previously noted, I'm pegging this as a tough schedule spot against an underachieving team for the Avs. It's also worth noting the next best odds for a player to go Under 1.5 points through DK is Oilers center Leon Draisaitl at -125.
| DraftKings | FanDuel | BetMGM | Caesars | PointsBet |
| +105 | +108 ?? | +105 | N/A | +105 |
While there isn't a huge edge for this prop across our best sportsbooks, I'm more focused on them all listing a target-worthy price. Based on my line of -175, there's a positive expected value of 30% on the +108 odds through FanDuel.
Bet against any NHL player to post fewer than 2 points at plus-money odds. It doesn't mean it's a lock, obviously, but I'm happy to don the Fun Police badge.
NHL best bets made 2/25/2023 at 11:58 a.m. ET.
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