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NHL Odds & Best Bets Today: Schedule, Picks for Saturday

Connor Cooper

Last Updated: February 11, 2023 10:25 AM EST • 4 min 10 sec read.

NHL best bets
NHL best bets

Saturday’s a busy day in the NHL, beginning with seven afternoon contests and concluding with seven more in the evening. Read on for our best NHL bets for Saturday, based on the best NHL odds.

After giving players some extended time off before and after the all-star break, the NHL schedule ramps back up with a 14-game slate - including seven afternoon contests. Tampa Bay Lightning-Dallas Stars and Washington Capitals-Boston Bruins highlight the early slate, while the evening action features a New York Rangers-Carolina Hurricanes showdown in Raleigh and a Colorado Avalanche-Florida Panthers clash in Sunrise.

Here are our best NHL picks for Saturday (odds via DraftKings Sportsbook, FanDuel Sportsbook, and Caesars Sportsbook; pick confidence based on a 1-to-5-star scale).

Check out our NHL picks.

Saturday’s NHL schedule and odds

(odds via Caesars)

  • Vancouver Canucks (+120) at Detroit Red Wings (-140)
  • Calgary Flames (-125) at Buffalo Sabres (+105)
  • Edmonton Oilers (-145) at Ottawa Senators (+125)
  • New York Islanders (-200) at Montreal Canadiens (+170)
  • Nashville Predators (-140) at Philadelphia Flyers (+120)
  • Tampa Bay Lightning (-105) at Dallas Stars (-115)
  • Washington Capitals (+160) at Boston Bruins (-190)
  • Colorado Avalanche (+105) at Florida Panthers (-125)
  • Columbus Blue Jackets (+260) at Toronto Maple Leafs (-315)
  • New York Rangers (+180) at Carolina Hurricanes (-210)
  • Arizona Coyotes (+155) at St. Louis Blues (-180)
  • New Jersey Devils (+100) at Minnesota Wild (-120)
  • Chicago Blackhawks (+275) at Winnipeg Jets (-330)
  • Pittsburgh Penguins (+100) at Los Angeles Kings (-120)

Saturday’s NHL best bets

  • Prop: Flames 1st period -0.5 vs. Sabres (+170 via DraftKings) ⭐⭐
  • Moneyline: Flyers vs. Predators (+122 via FanDuel) ⭐⭐⭐
  • Team Total: Bruins Over 3.5 goals vs. Capitals (-115 via Caesars) ⭐⭐⭐
  • Total: Oilers vs. Senators Under 6.5 (+110 via FanDuel) ⭐⭐⭐

Saturday’s NHL top picks

Prop: Flames 1st period -0.5 vs. Sabres (+170 via DraftKings) ⭐⭐

Remember a few years ago when teams coming off their in-season bye were consistently losing to squads that hadn’t been off for nearly a week? The NHL has figured out a better system since then, scheduling byes before and after the all-star break, but there are still situations that put teams at extreme disadvantages.

One of those situations comes Saturday when the Calgary Flames, who have played two games since the All-Star Game, visit a Buffalo squad that hasn’t seen action in 10 days. Calgary should also come into Buffalo in a bad mood, having dropped both of those games this week - including a 2-1 loss at Detroit as -150 favorites.

Calgary has either led or been tied after 20 minutes in 21 of its 27 road games this season, while the Sabres have won the first period at home just five times in 24 games at KeyBank Center. Playing Calgary on the first period moneyline at -125 odds is a safer option, since you’ll push your bet if the game is tied after one period, but the scheduling advantage the Flames enjoy is enough for me to take a shot at the bigger +170 return at DraftKings.

Moneyline: Flyers vs. Predators (+124 via FanDuel) ⭐⭐⭐

Who are the Nashville Predators to be laying this kind of price on the road? Nashville has won just 10 of its 24 games this season as the visitors, getting outscored by an average of 0.4 goals per game in the process. Making things worse for the Preds is that this is just their second game in 15 days - their only action in between was a humbling 5-1 loss at home to Vegas on Tuesday - and their first road game in nearly a month.

Philadelphia held an explosive Oilers attack to just one goal in a 2-1 shootout win over Edmonton on Thursday and has allowed just five regulation-time goals in its last four games. As long as we’re getting a price of +120 or better, I’m willing to gamble that the Flyers can keep Nashville’s struggling shooters (the Preds have scored two goals or less in five of their last seven games) in check and beat Nashville for the third straight time in Philly. 

Team Total: Bruins Over 3.5 goals vs. Capitals (-115 via Caesars) ⭐⭐⭐

The Bruins are best known for their tenacious defensive play, but Boston can put the puck in the net as well - especially at home. After potting 14 goals in their last three games at TD Garden, the B’s are averaging a robust 3.73 goals per outing this season in Beantown.

That spells trouble for a Washington team that has just one regulation time win in its last seven road games, giving up at least three goals in six of those contests. The Caps have also struggled to contain Boston’s offense, allowing five goals when these teams clashed in October and 25 in the last six meetings overall.

Rather than lay nearly -200 on the Bruins moneyline, I’ll take my chances on Boston scoring at least four goals for the fourth straight time on home ice. If this line moves up to -125, however, you might want to consider simply backing Boston to win in regulation time instead.

Total: Oilers vs. Senators Under 6.5 (+110 via FanDuel) ⭐⭐⭐

When you think about the Oilers, offense is usually the first thing that comes to mind. But while Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl have been doing plenty of damage during the Oil’s current 10-game point streak (8-0-2), the bigger reason for Edmonton’s recent success has been the Oilers’ play in their own end. Thursday’s 2-1 shootout loss in Philadelphia was the seventh time during the streak that Edmonton has held an opponent to two goals or less.

Ottawa’s attack was firing on all cylinders last time we saw the Sens, lighting up Montreal for five goals after potting 11 in their previous two games against the Habs and Leafs. However, it might be difficult for Ottawa to pick up where it left off in its first game in 11 days, especially against an Edmonton D that is in peak form.

The Oilers’ ability to hang a big number is enough to keep me from making this a bigger play, but I’m comfortable making this a 3-star bet at +100 odds or better.

NHL best bets for Saturday made 10/02/2023 at 9:14 p.m. ET.

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Written By:
Connor Cooper
Connor Cooper is a contributing writer for Sportsbook Review, specializing in the National Football League and college football, as well as the National Hockey League and National Basketball Association. A diehard Maple Leafs and Blue Jays fan growing up in Toronto, Connor quickly shed all his allegiances once he realized that making money betting on sports was much more fun than cheering for his favorite team. He still holds a soft spot for the Leafs, Jays, Toronto Raptors, Denver Broncos, and Florida Gators, but Connor won’t hesitate to bet on — or against — anybody if that’s where the value lies. In addition to analyzing recent and season-long statistics, Connor always looks to account for the human element when breaking down games, weighing situational and motivational factors into his handicapping process.