Are you looking for NHL betting picks for tonight’s games? You have come to the right place. Welcome to the Betting News NHL picks page. Here, you can find picks for every regular season and playoff game in the National Hockey League, including the Stanley Cup Finals. We have NHL moneyline picks, NHL total picks, and NHL puck line picks, as well as key betting information for each game.

The hockey picks on this page all come from trusted sports betting industry sources. The picks are aggregated then matched up with corresponding NHL odds to come up with the recommended moneyline, total, and puck line pick for each matchup.

The NHL season begins in October and ends in June, starting and ending slightly earlier than the NBA season. Each of the league’s 32 teams, which are separated into four eight-team divisions and two 16-team conferences, plays 82 games over the course of the regular season.

Following the end of the regular season, 16 teams—eight in each conference, the top three teams in each division and two wild-card teams—make the NHL playoffs, which are known as the Stanley Cup playoffs. As with the NBA playoffs, there are four best-of-seven rounds in the Stanley Cup playoffs, which conclude with the Stanley Cup Finals, the NHL’s championship series between the winner of the Eastern Conference finals and the winner of the Western Conference finals.

The 2024-25 NHL season will consist of 1,312 regular season games and potentially as many as 105 Stanley Cup playoff games. During the regular season, the daily NHL schedule will feature several games on most days, with 10 or more games taking place on the busiest days.

Where to Bet on NHL Free Picks Today

If you are on our NHL picks page, you are likely looking to bet on at least one of today’s NHL games.

At most reputable online sportsbooks, you can find and bet on NHL odds during the season and in the offseason. Which of those sports betting sites you use may depend on several factors.

What NHL betting markets are you interested in? Is the best value your top priority? Do big bonuses catch your eye? We recommend shopping around for the sports betting site(s) that matches what you seek.

Because so many great options exist, many sports bettors have multiple options (or “outs,” in sports betting lingo).

That said, many other bettors stick mostly or fully to just one book. If that is your desired approach, BetOnline is a fantastic option for NHL betting.

Even in the offseason, BetOnline offers a wide selection of NHL betting markets. Also, BetOnline provides a user-friendly experience either on a computer or mobile device. And for those who prioritize perks, BetOnline offers great welcome and reload bonuses and a rewards program. They also frequently run contests that offer lucrative prizes.

Including BetOnline, here are the sportsbooks we recommend the most for NHL betting:

Best NHL Betting Sites

Are you unfamiliar with any of the sportsbooks on this list? If so, check out our review for the book you are curious about.

Our in-depth sportsbook reviews cover available betting options, deposit and payout options, mobile betting, bonuses and promos. Many bettors consider those factors the most when deciding where to place bets.

NHL Season Structure

October to April: NHL regular season
April to June: Stanley Cup playoffs

The 2024-25 NHL season will begin on Friday, October 4, 2024, with the Buffalo Sabres and New Jersey Devils meeting in Prague.

Our NHL picks page will have picks for that matchup and all the matchups to come. So, if betting on the NHL is something you enjoy doing or want to start doing, this page and our other hockey content can be very valuable resources for you.

Types of NHL Picks

There are many types of NHL betting picks. On this page, you will find the three main types of NHL picks: moneyline picks, total picks, and puck line picks. All picks on this page are for full games only, but you can also make moneyline, total, and puck line picks on game periods as well.

It is important to note that the picks here are for the full game, which includes regulation and potentially overtime and a shootout.

A key difference between betting on the NHL and betting on international hockey competitions or other hockey leagues around the world is that most NHL game odds involve both regulation, overtime, and a possible shootout, whereas betting on international hockey competitions or many other leagues often involves only regulation.

With the latter, you will see three-way moneylines (regulation home win, regulation away win, regulation tie), which are also popular with soccer betting. However, the NHL moneyline picks here are for two-way moneylines only, while the total picks are for the full game including overtime and a shootout.

While you may have to sweat out the outcome of your moneyline bets through overtime, total and puck line bets will be decided in regulation.

For example, if you have picked the Lightning to cover the +1.5 puck line and the game goes into overtime, your bet is a winner because the most they can lose by at this point is one goal.

And if you have bet on the over 6.5 and the game goes into overtime tied at 3, your bet is already a winner whether the game is decided in overtime or a shootout.

Moneyline Picks

The first type of picks you will find on this page are NHL moneyline picks.

How does NHL moneyline betting work? The outcome of moneyline bets is solely dependent on who wins and who loses.

Say, for example, the Florida Panthers are facing the Tampa Bay Lightning at home.

If the Panthers defeat the Lightning by any margin, any moneyline bets on the Panthers win.
If the Lightning defeat the Panthers by any margin, then any moneyline bets on the Lightning win.

With that in mind, how do the moneyline picks on this page work?

In this example, the Panthers are favored to defeat the Lightning at home, and 100% of our NHL picks sources back the Panthers for the win. The best moneyline odds for the Panthers can be found at BetOnline, where they are -155 to win. Therefore, Panthers -155 at BetOnline will be listed as the recommended moneyline pick for this matchup.

Total (Over/Under Picks)

The second type of picks you will find on this page are NHL total picks, which are also known as NHL over/under picks.

How does NHL total betting work? While moneyline and puck line betting both directly depend on the outcome, total betting only depends on the number of goals scored.

To continue with the Lightning-Panthers example, the total for the matchup is set at 6.5. What does that mean?

If the Lightning and Panthers combine for seven or more goals, any bets on over 6.5 goals win.
If the Lightning and Panthers combine for six or fewer goals, any bets on under 6.5 goals win.

So, how do the total picks on this page work? In this example, 80% of our NHL picks sources back the over. The best total odds can be found at Bovada, where over 6.5 goals is available for odds of -105. Therefore, over 6.5 goals (-105 at Bovada) will be listed as the recommended total pick for this matchup.

Puck Line Picks

The third type of picks you will find on this page are NHL puck line picks.

How does NHL puck line betting work? The puck line in hockey betting is the hockey equivalent of the point spread in football and basketball betting and the run line in baseball betting. The puck line favorite has to win by a certain margin, and the puck line underdog has to either win outright or lose by a certain margin. As with MLB run line betting, most puck line odds you will see are -1.5/+1.5.

Using the Lightning-Panthers example, here’s what this all means:

In this example, the puck line will be Panthers -1.5 and Lightning +1.5.
That means that if the Panthers win by two or more goals, any bets on Panthers -1.5 win.
However, if the Lightning either win outright or lose by one goal, any bets on Lightning +1.5 win.

How do the puck line picks on this page work? Of our hockey picks sources, 60% back the Panthers to cover the puck line and win by two or more goals. The best puck line odds can be found at BetOnline, where Panthers -1.5 is available for +145 odds. Therefore, Panthers -1.5 (+145 at BetOnline) will be listed as the recommended puck line pick for this matchup.

Other Types of NHL Picks

Moneyline, total, and puck line picks are the three types of picks you will find on this page, but our content team provides several other types of NHL picks in other content on the site and social media.

NHL Player Prop Picks

Betting on NHL player props does not have the same reach as NBA player props betting or NFL player props betting, but it is increasing in popularity.

Throughout the season, our content team provides NHL player prop picks on a daily basis, both in the betting analysis you will find on the site and on our social content.

The most popular types of hockey player props are shots on goal props and scoring props. For example, our betting analysis of tonight’s Lightning-Panthers game could include a pick for Matthew Tkachuk to record at least one assist.

NHL Team & Game Prop Picks

As with the NFL, NBA, and MLB, you can also bet on a variety of NHL player props at many of the best sports betting sites.

Some of the main types of NHL team and game props include margin of victory props, first team to score props, and timing of goal props.

Most of the NHL prop picks made by our team of hockey betting experts will be player prop picks. But there is a lot of value in NHL team and game props, so picks for those kinds of bets will regularly feature as well.

NHL Futures Picks

Betting on NHL games is the most popular way to bet on the NHL, whether you are betting on moneylines, puck lines, totals, or props.

But even when no action is taking place on the ice, you can bet on NHL futures odds. NHL championship odds are the most popular type of NHL futures odds, but you can also bet on NHL award odds (e.g., Hart Trophy for the NHL’s most valuable player, Art Ross Trophy for the league’s leader in points, Calder Trophy for NHL top rookie, and the Conn Smythe Trophy for the MVP of the Stanley Cup playoffs), NHL team point totals, and division and conference winner odds.

Whether it’s the thick of the NHL season or the dust is clearing after a hectic free agency period, our content team keeps up with the latest NHL futures odds. Be on the lookout for our analysis of the latest NHL futures, which often includes picks and predictions based on major headlines or notable performances.

NHL Parlay Picks

All NHL picks on this page are for individual selections, but they can be used in your NHL parlays.

If there are multiple games or betting lines you are interested in or confident about, you can combine them in a parlay.

Individual selections account for most of the NHL expert picks you will find in our NHL betting breakdowns, but from time to time, our team will recommend NHL parlay picks. That includes same-game parlays, also known as SGPs. In recent years, SGPs, which involve betting on multiple lines from the same game, have become a very popular way to bet on sports, including hockey.

Why Are Our NHL Free Picks Useful?

Have you been betting on the NHL for many years? Or are you just beginning to learn how to bet on hockey? No matter how long you have been betting, one of the key factors to maximizing your chances of success is prioritizing research.

Is it a must for you to know everything about the NHL or about hockey? That isn’t necessary.

But it is important to keep up with and know where to find basic information, from NHL team and player stats, the latest NHL standings and results, and important NHL betting trends and stats. Also, reading or watching trustworthy betting analysis or checking out picks like these as part of your daily or weekly prep can significantly aid your chances of success, whether you are betting on sports online or in person at a casino.

Whether it is computer picks from established sources, expert picks that come with well-sourced and informative analysis, having information from sources you trust can aid your decision-making process. The game picks found here are all from such sources.

Will they be right 100% of the time? No, they won’t be.

Will you side with them 100% of the time? Even when percentages favor one side, you may opt to go with the other side.

But these picks are meant to be only part of your NHL betting research. We want you to trust the information here. But we don’t want you to do so blindly, and we don’t aim or expect to be the only resource you use for NHL betting advice.

Should You Pay for NHL Picks?

The NHL moneyline, total, and puck line picks on this page, as well as any of the other picks we provide in the content on our site or on social media, are all free NHL picks. And like Betting News, many other sources provide hockey betting picks and analysis for free.

However, many sports handicappers and handicapping services offer betting picks and analysis for a price.

Are those premium hockey picks worth it?

We are not here to tell you not to pay for sports betting picks. In fact, if you are looking for where to buy premium sports picks, there are several places that we recommend.

Premium sports picks can be a great way to supplement your research. Many handicappers and services repay the investment and then some by offering valuable analysis and information behind the paywall.

That said, we do highly recommend using caution with any handicapper or handicapping service that mentions “100% guaranteed winner” or other similar phrases or buzzwords.

No human, computer, or betting system or strategy will win 100% of the time. If someone says that a pick is a 100% guaranteed winner, they are not being truthful. Should you absolutely avoid them as a result? No. However, you should be very careful if you use one of those handicappers or handicapping services.

Also, weigh whether the price of the pick(s) is worth it relative to your bankroll, potential betting stake, and potential winnings.

For example, if your average NHL bet is $100, paying $25 for a pick may be worth it. But if your average bet is $50, paying $25 for a pick might not be as worth it.

Other NHL Betting Information

As stated above, we actively encourage and recommend using the internet and social media to find trustworthy sports betting resources. The sports betting space is only growing, and we don’t aim to be the only resource you use.

However, we do aim to be one of your go-to hockey betting resources. Whether you want to learn more about the ins and outs of NHL betting or you’re looking for betting analysis, predictions, and picks for today’s NHL games, we strive to be a source you trust and turn to regularly.

Do you find our NHL picks useful? Here is some of the other NHL content we offer at Betting News.

Related Links

NHL Odds for Today’s Games
Daily NHL Predictions & Betting Analysis
NHL Betting Guide
How to Bet on NHL Puck Lines

Also, follow Betting News on X/Twitter, Twitch, TikTok, and YouTube. On each of those channels, you can get more NHL betting insight from the Betting News content team.

Betting News on Social Media

NHL Picks FAQ

How do our NHL betting picks work?

We aggregate NHL moneyline, total, and puck line picks for the day’s games from trusted sports betting industry sources and match them up with corresponding NHL odds to determine the recommended picks for each matchup.

Will NHL picks always win?

Even if all of the data supports a pick, that does not mean it will win. No one wins 100 percent of the time, human or computer. But by utilizing reliable computer picks and other content–like the content found on Betting News–and other research resources, sports betting can be very profitable.

Should I pay for NHL picks?

Many reputable handicappers and handicapping services offer premium hockey picks. We recommend using caution when buying NHL picks, but they can be a helpful part of your NHL betting research.