Now that the dust settled on NHL trade season, teams are ready for the stretch run. Saturday brings a dozen games, including four afternoon contests. Read on for our NHL best bets for Saturday based on the best NHL odds.
Many of Saturday's games have some playoff relevance, but there are a pair of matchups that stand out with two quality teams facing off.
Sitting atop the NHL standings by 13 points over the second-place Carolina Hurricanes, the Boston Bruins have a nine-game winning streak on the line when they host the New York Rangers. The Blueshirts made a big splash deal this week, acquiring right winger Patrick Kane from the Chicago Blackhawks.
The Colorado Avalanche are in the Central Division's third place, 6 points behind the first place Dallas Stars, but the Avs have three games in hand. The Avalanche are getting healthy and will push the Stars for a top spot in the division.
Here are our best NHL picks for Saturday (odds via DraftKings Sportsbook, FanDuel Sportsbook, Caesars Sportsbook, BetMGM, and PointsBet; pick confidence based on a 1-to-5-star scale).
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Saturday's NHL schedule and odds
(odds via DraftKings)
- Tampa Bay Lightning (-165) vs. Buffalo Sabres (+140)
- Detroit Red Wings (+170) vs. New York Islanders (-200)
- New York Rangers (+145) vs. Boston Bruins (-170)
- Colorado Avalanche (-110) vs. Dallas Stars (-110)
- Pittsburgh Penguins (+100) vs. Florida Panthers (-120)
- Washington Capitals (-140) vs. San Jose Sharks (+120)
- Columbus Blue Jackets (+200) vs. Ottawa Senators (-240)
- Toronto Maple Leafs (-215) vs. Vancouver Canucks (+185)
- Edmonton Oilers (-145) vs. Winnipeg Jets (+125)
- Nashville Predators (-210) vs. Chicago Blackhawks (+180)
- Minnesota Wild (+125) vs. Calgary Flames (-145)
- St. Louis Blues (+175) vs. Los Angeles Kings (-205)
Saturday's NHL best bets
- Moneyline: Flames (-143 via BetMGM) vs. Wild ???
- Spread: Senators -1.5 (+100 via BetMGM) vs. Blue Jackets ????
- Upset: Sharks ML (+126 via FanDuel) vs. Capitals ???
- Prop: Pavel Buchnevich anytime goal (+225 via DraftKings) ????
Saturday's NHL top picks
Time is running out for the Calgary Flames to make a push for a playoff spot. With 20 games remaining for both clubs, the Flames are 5 points behind the Winnipeg Jets for the Western Conference's second Wild Card spot.
The Flames have a strong statistical profile, including r anking second in Corsi For percentage and third in five-on-five score-and-venue-adjusted expected goals percentage. They're also 29th in save percentage, so a lot of their trouble is because they can't get the stops they need.
This matchup should be just what the Flames ordered, however, as the Wild rank 32nd with 2.21 goals per game since January 1. Minnesota may not be able to take advantage of Calgary's shaky goaltending.
The Flames haven't earned a lot of fan trust this season, winning only 15 of 30 home games. Even though I like them on the moneyline, it's a three-star pick.
BetMGM offers the best price for a Flames moneyline win at -143, just ahead of DraftKings, Caesars, and PointsBet, all at -145. FanDuel has the Flames at a moneyline,-154, enough incentive to make this wager at any of the other books.
Check out our latest Sta nley Cup odds!
Winners of four straight matchups, the Ottawa Senators climbed to within 4 points of the New York Islanders for the Eastern Conference's second Wild Card spot.
The Senators played three fewer games, so they have a bona fide chance to earn their first playoff berth since the 2016-2017 season.
Ottawa steadily moved up the standings since the holiday break, going 17-10-1 over their past 28 contests. That improvement is thanks to special teams as the Sens rank eighth in five-on-four goals per game and sixth in four-on-five goals against per 60 in that span.
The improving Sens are rested and host the Columbus Blue Jackets, who played and lost 4-2 Friday night at home against Seattle. Columbus is 7-17-4 on the road this year, with 13 of 17 regulation losses coming by a margin of two goals or more.
BetMGM has the Senators as puck line favorites at even money while Caesars (-105), FanDuel (-108), PointsBet (-110), and DraftKings (-115) all add some juice to the puck line price.
After the trade deadline, both the Washington Capitals and San Jose Sharks look to the future more than the present.
As teams unlikely to reach the playoffs, both opponents moved out some veterans, which allows young players to audition for jobs.
This is readily apparent along the Capitals' blueline. Already missing John Carlson since December due to injury, Washington's defense lost Nick Jensen and Martin Fehervary to injuries last week and traded away established vets Dmitry Orlov and Erik Gustafsson.
As a result, the Capitals head into Saturday's matchup with Rasmus Sandin and Trevor van Riemsdyk atop their D, ahead of rookies and journeymen, a situation the Sharks ca n exploit.
Most of our top-rated books have the Sharks in the +118 to +120 moneyline range, but FD has San Jose at +128, more than a 2% swing in implied probability compared to Caesars' +118.
Check out our latest Norris Trophy odds!
St. Louis Blues forward Pavel Buchnevich comes off a four-assist game at San Jose, but he can finish, too.
The Blues winger scored 18 goals in 46 games, including at least one goal in eight of 20 road contests. He skates on a line with playmaking center Robert Thomas, which gives Buchnevich more opportunity to be the goal scorer.
The L.A. Kings hover around NHL average defensively on home ice, ranking 20th in goals against average and 14th in expected goals against per game.
There can be a wide range of prices when it comes to player props, so it re ally makes a difference where to place this wager.
DK has a Buchnevich anytime goal at +225, a little better than PointsBet at +220. FD is at +205 and Caesars somehow offers it at just +145, which is insulting relative to other top-rated books.
NHL best bets made 3/4/2023 at 9:05 a.m. ET.
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