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SUNRISE, FL - JANUARY 15: Patric Hornqvist #70 celebrates his third period goal with Ryan Lomberg #94 of the Florida Panthers against the Columbus Blue Jackets at the FLA Live Arena on January 15, 2022 in Sunrise, Florida. Joel Auerbach/Getty Images/AFP (Photo by Joel Auerbach / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)

There are eight games on the ice Tuesday and plenty of betting opportunities. We lay out our favorite leans with our NHL expert picks.

Our hockey experts select their top moneyline and Over/Under picks for Tuesday's NHL matchups (odds via DraftKings Sportsbook; pick confidence based on a 1-to-5-star scale).

Tuesday's Top Expert NHL Picks

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SEE ALSO: Top NHL Parlay Picks for Tuesday

Top NHL Expert ML Picks

Panthers (-145)

The hottest team in the NHL right now, the Florida Panthers have gone nine straight games without a regulation loss since returning from the December pause in the schedule. The Panthers have scored 54 goals in those nine games, an outrageous offensive explosion, and they are one of two teams (the Colorado Avalanche are the other) that is averaging more than four goals per 60 minutes. The one note of caution is that Florida has a decided tilt towards home ice, with 24 of their 38 games at home, and five victories in 14 games on the road.

Two weeks ago in Florida, the Calgary Flames lost by a 6-2 score, and Calgary has been slumping, with just two wins in the past 10 games. The Flames are on the opposite end of the spectrum, with 12 of their 34 games played at home, but Calgary has had a hard time on home ice anyway, earning four wins in those 12 games. Maybe the location should help the Flames but the way that these two teams have been playing recently, the edge is still with the Panthers. - Cullen

Senators (-140)

This is a bet where I'm fading the Buffalo Sabres just as much as I'm backing the Ottawa Senators.

Buffalo lost 3-2 in overtime at home against the Detroit Red Wings on Monday afternoon after blowing a 2-0 lead in the third period. The Sabres have now lost seven of their eight games since the break.

The back-to-back situation is crucial here. Buffalo is 0-4-3 on no days rest this season and 0-2-2 after a loss. They'll have to turn to Aaron Dell again in net on Tuesday or Michael Houser will make his season debut. Ukko-Pekka Luukonen and Malcolm Subban joined Craig Anderson and Dustin Tokarski on the injured list last week.

Ottawa, on the other hand, just had two upset victories in Calgary (4-1) and Edmonton (6-4). They're back at home, rested, and should get the job done tonight. - Gilbert

Panthers -1.5 (+160)

The Panthers are terrorizing the NHL right now.

They are blowing teams out as six of their eight victories since the break has come by two-plus goals. Although this ridiculous production likely isn't sustainable, the Panthers do have elite underlying numbers, ranking in the top-two in expected goals (first), expected goals percentage (second), and Corsi for percentage (first).

Despite being one of the stingier defensive teams in the NHL (2.56 goals surrendered per game), the Flames are currently embroiled in a four-game losing streak in which they've allowed five goals per game. All four of those losses have come by three-plus goals, so there's a ton of value in betting the high-octane Panthers by two-plus at +160. - Smith

Top NHL Expert O/U Picks

Hurricanes-Bruins Over 5.5 (-110)

The Carolina Hurricanes continue to play well, with just two regulation losses in the past 13 games, and four of their six games since the schedule pause have hit totals of six or more.

Since the break, the Boston Bruins are playing better, winning eight of nine games. Like many teams, the Bruins have also been involved in higher-scoring games as the Bruins' total has hit six or higher in seven of nine games since the pause. - Cullen

Flyers-Islanders Under 5.5 (-115)

We’re going right back to it tonight. This hit last night in New York with the Islanders winning 4-1 on an empty-net goal after a scoreless first period. I'm expecting a similar outcome tonight.

This game may be even lower scoring with Carter Hart (7-12-4, 2.94 GAA, .911 SV%) starting for the Flyers and Semyon Varlamov (2-6-1, 2.59 GAA, .917 SV%) is no slouch either.

Barry Trotz has the Isles playing a defensive style and the already-slow pace we saw on Tuesday night will drop even further with both teams tired. This is another great spot for the Under 5.5. - Gilbert

Panthers-Flames Over 6.5 goals (-120)

I'm betting on the Flames and Panthers to combine for seven-plus goals for all of the reasons I've mentioned above.

Since the break, Florida has topped the seven-goal plateau three times on its own and has combined with its opponents to score seven-plus goals in all nine games. Although the Flames have an excellent goaltender in Jacob Markstrom, the towering Swede has been struggling lately, surrendering 10 goals over his past two appearances. In one of those losses, he coughed up six goals to … you guessed it, the Florida Panthers.

The oddsmakers were right to peg the goal total at 6.5, and I think the Panthers' unrelenting firepower will put them Over. - Smith

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