NHL Player Props & Best Bets Today: Hagel Strikes Against Flyers

Ryan Gilbert

Last Updated: March 9, 2024 6:36 PM EST • 4 min 26 sec read. Twitter link Google News Link

Brandon Hagel #38 of the Tampa Bay Lightning controls the puck as we make our NHL best bets and player props for Saturday. — Brandon Hagel #38 of the Tampa Bay Lightning controls the puck during the third period against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on February 07, 2024 in New York City. The Rangers won 3-1. Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images via AFP.

Saturday's NHL slate brings 13 games as we near the end of the regular season, as we offer our top NHL prop picks and best bets for Saturday based on the top NHL odds from our best sports betting apps.

NHL fans have already experienced plenty of drama and intrigue this week thanks to a crazy trade deadline that shook up the latest Stanley Cup odds. Bettors will have plenty to enjoy on Saturday, too, with 13 games on the docket amid a busy weekend of hockey.

The Carolina Hurricanes and New Jersey Devils open the action at 12:30 p.m. ET, while the Flames and Panthers face off in Florida as one of a few afternoon games. The later games see the Canadiens hosting the Maple Leafs and the Stars in Los Angeles to close out the slate at 10:30 p.m. ET.

Here are our top NHL prop picks and best bets for Saturday (NHL picks based on odds via our best NHL betting sites; pick confidence based on a 1-to-5-star scale).

Saturday’s NHL best bets

Brandon Hagel to record a point vs. Flyers (-140 via DraftKings) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Dylan Strome to record an assist vs. Blackhawks (+120 via DraftKings) ⭐⭐⭐
Blues vs. Rangers Under 6 (-112 via betPARX) ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Canucks ML vs. Jets (-137 via betPARX) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

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Saturday’s NHL schedule and odds

(Odds via BetMGM)

Edmonton Oilers vs. Buffalo Sabres | Spread: Oilers -1.5 | Total: 6.5
Carolina Hurricanes vs. New Jersey Devils | Spread: Hurricanes -1.5 | Total: 6.5
Nashville Predators vs. Columbus Blue Jackets | Spread: Predators -1.5 | Total: 6.5
Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Boston Bruins | Spread: Bruins -1.5 | Total: 6.5
Calgary Flames vs. Florida Panthers | Spread: Panthers -1.5 | Total: 6
Philadelphia Flyers vs. Tampa Bay Lightning | Spread: Lightning -1.5 | Total: 6
Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Montreal Canadiens | Spread: Maple Leafs -1.5 | Total: 6.5
Chicago Blackhawks vs. Washington Capitals | Spread: Capitals -1.5 | Total: 5.5
Ottawa Senators vs. San Jose Sharks | Spread: Senators -1.5 | Total: 6.5
St. Louis Blues vs. New York Rangers | Spread: Rangers -1.5 | Total: 6
Detroit Red Wings vs. Vegas Golden Knights | Spread: Golden Knights -1.5 | Total: 6.5
Winnipeg Jets vs. Vancouver Canucks | Spread: Canucks -1.5 | Total: 6
Dallas Stars vs. Los Angeles Kings | Spread: Stars -1.5 | Total: 6

Saturday’s NHL player props

Brandon Hagel to record a point vs. Flyers (-140 via DraftKings) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Hagel has emerged as a consistent contributor for the Tampa Bay Lightning. He’s playing on the top line with Brayden Point and Nikita Kucherov, and he’s racking up the points.

Hagel was held without a point in two of his last three games, but it won't be long before he finds the scoresheet again. Last Thursday's loss to Buffalo was the first game since Jan. 11 in which Hagel didn't record a point - he had 25 points (10 goals, 15 assists) during his 18-game point streak.

These -140 odds via DraftKings imply a 58.33% probability for Hagel to record a point on Saturday. He's done so in 42 of 64 games (65.62%) entering the weekend, including both games against the Flyers already.

Dylan Strome to record an assist vs. Blackhawks (+120 via DraftKings) ⭐⭐⭐

The Capitals have battled through adversity at the center position with Nicklas Backstrom and the now-traded Evgeny Kuznetsov each missing significant time. Strome has taken full advantage.

Strome is up to 50 points (22 goals, 28 assists) on the season but had an interesting start to the campaign. He had seven goals and no assists before finally picking up a helper in his 15th game of the year.

Since then, Strome has been distributing the puck to the tune of 28 assists in 47 games (59.57%). He’s been particularly hot as of late, with an assist in three straight games and eight of his nine contests after a three-assist effort in Pittsburgh.

The Caps should be able to put up a small handful of goals against the Blackhawks, and you can bet that Strome will be in on the action.

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Saturday’s NHL game picks

Blues vs. Rangers Under 6 (-112 via betPARX) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Both the Blues and the Blueshirts are coming off two straight losses and should be locked in on Saturday night in New York. It should also be a pretty good goalie battle between Jordan Binnington (22-17-3, 2.84 GAA, .912 SV%) and Igor Shesterkin (26-13-2, 2.67 GAA, .910 SV%), who has allowed 13 goals in eight indoor games since the All-Star break.

The Blues have been solid defensively as of late - and in net - but they haven’t been able to find the back of the net. They’ve scored a total of 13 goals in their last seven games and 21 in their past 10 contests. Fortunately, Binnington has been strong between the pipes to steal a few games for St. Louis.

He may be able to do that again tonight against a Rangers team that has seen its scoring dry up a bit. They scored four against the Blue Jackets last week but still have just 13 goals in their last five games.

Neither team is scoring a lot recently, and both netminders have been solid. Expect a low-scoring battle in New York tonight.

Canucks ML vs. Jets (-137 via betPARX) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Canucks appear to have found their mojo again with a successful road trip. They swept the Ducks, Kings, and Golden Knights while allowing just one goal in each game to bounce back from a tough stretch. Vancouver is now 4-1-1 in its last six games.

The Jets have found success themselves both as of late and all season long, but they’re in a tough spot here after battling the Kraken in Seattle on Friday night. They should have Connor Hellebuyck for this one, although the favorite by the Vezina Trophy odds has been battling an illness.

Either way, the Canucks have been an impressive home team at 20-6-3 and had a day off Friday after winning in Vegas on Thursday night. Take the rested home team tonight in Vancouver.

NHL best bets made Saturday at 1 a.m. ET.

Here are our best NHL betting sites:

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Written By:
Ryan Gilbert

Ryan Gilbert is a contributing writer at SportsbookReview.com, covering hockey and baseball. He is the lead NHL writer and editor at the Sports Gambling Podcast Network, where he also co-hosts the Hockey Gambling Podcast. Ryan covers the Philadelphia Flyers for Broad Street Hockey and co-founded Sons of Penn. His past stops include NBC Sports Regional Networks and NHL.com.