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NHL picks & best bets today
Every day of the NHL season, the Sportsbook Review team brings you our favorite hockey bets and predictions for that night’s slate. We break down key NHL betting markets like moneylines, puck lines, totals, and player props - including picks for goals, assists, power-play points, shots on goal, blocked shots, and goalie saves.
Our picks widget above highlights the top NHL bets each night of the season, along with our favorite futures, with live NHL odds from the top legal sportsbooks. Whether it’s a heavyweight clash or a late West Coast puck drop, you’ll find value picks on the teams and players you care about most.
At SBR, we offer expert daily predictions on puck lines (spreads), Over/Unders, moneylines, and NHL player props. Our previews also include parlays and same-game parlays (SGPs), mixing high-confidence plays with long shots to enhance your betting night. We always focus on value - whether that’s backing a hot goalie, fading a tired team on a back-to-back, or riding a power-play unit that’s clicking.
We use advanced stats and matchup insights to support each pick, including expected goals (xG), high-danger scoring chances, goalie save percentages, and more. Our experts keep an eye on injury reports, starting goalie confirmations, and line changes to help you make smarter bets.
Check back daily for NHL picks, player props, and hockey betting advice from the SBR team.
Free NHL moneyline picks
A moneyline bet in hockey is simple - just pick the team you think will win. Overtime and shootouts count.
Example:
| Team | Moneyline odds |
|---|---|
| Toronto Maple Leafs | –130 |
| Montreal Canadiens | +110 |
- Bet $100 on the Leafs (‑130) → Win $77 (total payout $177)
- Bet $100 on the Habs (+110) → Win $110 (total payout $210)
You can also bet the moneyline for individual periods.
Free NHL Over/Under picks
Totals betting in hockey focuses on how many goals will be scored in a game - regardless of who wins.
- Typical line: Over/Under 6.5
- Pick Over if you expect a high-scoring affair, or Under for a tight-checking game
- Odds are often around –110
- If the final score is 4-3 (total 7), Over hits. If it’s 3–2, Under wins
Totals are often made with a .5 attached. That represents the hook, and helps avoid a push. A push is when the game’s combined score lands exactly on the betting line, and all bets on either side are voided and refunded.
Hockey totals are most commonly set at 6.5, but they may rise or drop later in the season depending on the matchup and the starting goalies.
You can also bet team totals, period totals, or alternate totals if you want more or less risk.
Free NHL spread (puck line) picks
The puck line (hockey’s form of spread betting) is typically set at 1.5 goals and bettors need to make their picks against the spread for either team to cover the line rather than win the game.
- Favorite must win by 2+ goals to cover -1.5
- Underdog covers +1.5 by winning outright (by any amount) or losing by just one
- Great for finding value when you think a team will dominate or keep it close
Puck lines become especially popular in late-season mismatches, when injuries or goalie matchups are a factor, or when a favorite is red hot on home ice.
Free NHL prop picks
NHL player props let you bet on individual performance - goals, assists, shots on goal, or goalie saves.
Example props:
- Connor McDavid Over 1.5 points (+120)
- Igor Shesterkin Over 29.5 saves (-110)
- Kirill Kaprizov to score a goal (+180)
These bets are great for backing your favorite players or fading struggling stars. Use stats like power-play usage, opponent penalty kill percentage, or shot volume to find edges.
Alternate lines offer the opportunity to get higher or lower odds when you’re more or less confident in the standard prop bet line. Are you convinced Auston Matthews will go Over his standard points line of 0.5? Try betting on Matthews to finish with 2+ points.
Alternate lines with shorter odds can be added to parlays and SGPs to boost the overall payout while maintaining a high probability of each leg hitting.
Best anytime goal scorer predictions today
A goal scorer prop is one of the most popular NHL prop bets. You’re simply picking a player to score at least one goal in a game.
Example:
- David Pastrnak to score a goal: +140
➤ Bet $10 to win $14 profit if he lights the lamp
The odds depend on the player, their recent form, opponent defense, and goalie matchup. These bets are ideal for small stakes with high upside.
Free NRFI/YRFI-style NHL bets
While hockey doesn’t use “NRFI/YRFI” terms, the first-period goal market is the equivalent.
- Goal in 1st Period - Yes or No
- Also popular: Goal in First 10 Minutes, First Goal Scorer bets, or Team to Score First
- Look for games with fast-starting teams or vulnerable goalies
How we make our NHL picks & predictions
We prioritize one thing - getting you the best line. Odds change fast, so shopping around for the top number is key. Why settle for -125 when you can get -110 on the same puck line at another book?
We dig into advanced stats like expected goals (xG), PDO, Corsi, Fenwick, and high-danger scoring chances. These analytics help identify teams due for positive regression or slumps that might continue. Our NHL prop picks often rely on trends in ice time, power-play usage, and goaltending splits.
Favorites don’t always win, and underdogs can deliver big value, especially in tightly priced matchups or rivalry games. Our advice: stay objective, bet the best number, and trust the data.
Why trust our NHL experts?
Sportsbook Review has delivered betting insights for over 20 years. Our experts live and breathe hockey, and they’re giving you picks they believe in.
Each play comes with a 1-to-5-star confidence rating based on the matchup, the line, and the odds value at our best NHL betting sites. You’ll rarely see 5-star picks on long-shot props, because we’re realistic about the odds, but we’ll still flag those high-upside bets when they make sense.
From October through the Stanley Cup Final, we’re locked in with the data, trends, and picks to help your bets hit the net.
If you're betting on hockey, you want picks from people who know the game inside and out. That’s where Sportsbook Review’s NHL experts come in. Here’s why you can feel confident following their advice:
- Decades of experience: SBR has been helping bettors for more than 20 years, with a long track record of success across every major sport - especially the NHL
- Trusted reviews and insights: We're not just about picks. We also give honest, unbiased reviews of the best sportsbooks so you know where to get the best value
- Experts bet their own picks: Our hockey analysts only recommend bets they’d make themselves. If they’re not confident enough to back it with their own money, it won’t show up in our picks
- Backed by real data: Every prediction is based on strong research - think advanced stats like expected goals, goalie splits, and power-play trends - not just hot streaks or gut calls
When you're betting on the NHL, lean on a team that lives and breathes the sport - backed by data, experience, and a track record you can trust.