There are 10 NHL games on Thursday night, including a rematch between the Jets and Lightning, this time in Tampa. Here are handicapping previews for all 10 games with picks and predictions from the Sides, Totals, and Puck Line markets.
Jets vs Lightning Prediction
| Game Time: | 7:00 EST |
| Lightning Line: | -111 |
| Jets Line: | -108 |
| Total: | 6.5 |
| TV: | ESPN+ |
The Jets (15-1-0, 7-0-0) try to stay unbeaten on the Road when they are in Tampa to face the Lightning (7-6-1, 4-1-1 at Home) in a rematch of a game played Nov. 3 in Winnipeg and won by the hosts. Winnipeg became the first team in NHL history to win 15 of its first 16 games when it beat the Rangers in MSG on Tuesday. This Jets vs Lightning prediction will stick with the hottest team in the NHL in years as well as the series Trends which see Winnipeg having won 5 straight in the series (21 GF-12 GA) and 7 of the last 10. Pick: Jets -111
Devils vs Panthers Prediction
| Game Time: | 7:00 EST |
| Panthers Line: | -134 |
| Devils Line: | +112 |
| Total: | 6.5 |
| TV: | ESPN+ |
This quirky Eastern Conference matchup sees the Devils (11-6-2, 7-3-0 on Road) in Sunrise, Florida (again) to play the Panthers (11-4-1, 5-2-1 at Home) for the second time in three nights—something extremely rare in the NHL. New Jersey iced Florida, 4-1 in that meeting and ended a 7-game Florida winning streak. Despite the fact the Panthers are 8-3-0 in the last 11 meetings and 8-2-0 in its last 10 overall, our Devils vs Panthers prediction will side with recency bias and take Jesper Bratt (21 points) and the team that’s 7-3-0 away from Home. Pick: Devils +112
Sharks vs Rangers Prediction
| Game Time: | 7:00 EST |
| Rangers Line: | -420 |
| Sharks Line: | +320 |
| Total: | 6.5 |
| TV: | ESPN+ |
This inter-conference matchup sees the Sharks (5-9-3, 2-5-2 on Road) heading to the Big Apple to play the Rangers (9-4-1, 4-3-1 at Home) in a game which sees the hosts as massive Favorites and maybe best suited for a parlay element. Both sides lost their last skates, SJ to the Flyers (4-1) and the Broadway Blueshirts to the Jets (6-3). This Sharks vs Rangers prediction will rely heavily on the series Trends which see NY 8-2 the last 10 meetings, winning 4 of 5 at MSG and the Under 7-3 with 6 Under in the last 7 meetings in games that averaged just 4.7 gpg. Pick: Under 6.5
Flyers vs Senators Prediction
| Game Time: | 7:30 EST |
| Senators Line: | -178 |
| Flyers Line: | +168 |
| Total: | 6.5 |
| TV: | ESPN+ |
The Senators (8-7-0, 5-2-0 at Home) welcome the Flyers to Ottawa in an Eastern Conference game which sees the Broad Street Bullies coming in off a loss and the Senators on a 2-game win streak. The series Trends show Ottawa winning 4 of the last 5 including 2 in Quebec with 3 Overs in the last 4 meetings. This Flyers vs Senators prediction and free NHL pick is to back the Canadian team playing the American team in Canada. Pick: Senators -178
Blues vs Sabres Prediction
| Game Time: | 7:30 EST |
| Sabres Line: | -152 |
| Blues Line: | +126 |
| Total: | 6.5 |
| TV: | ESPN+, Hulu |
This inter-conference game from Buffalo sees the Blues (7-9-0, 3-4-0 on Road) facing the Sabres (7-8-1, 5-5-0 at Home) in a collision between two mediocre teams. With St. Louis on a 3-game losing skid and 3-7 in its last 10 and the series Trends showing the Sabres are 0-2 the last meetings, let’s side with a Totals pick in this Blues vs Sabres prediction with the Over 8-2 the last 10 meetings (7.1 gpg). Pick: Over 6.5
Canadiens vs Wild Prediction
| Game Time: | 8:00 EST |
| Wild Line: | -260 |
| Canadiens Line: | +210 |
| Total: | 6.5 |
| TV: | ESPN+ |
Another inter-conference game sees the Canadiens (5-9-2, 2-5-1 on Road) heading to Saint Paul to play the Wild (10-2-3, 3-1-1 at Home) as one of the teams with the fewest points in the NHL (12) runs into a team off to a hot start. The series Trends show Minnesota is a dominating 9-1 the last 10 meetings vs Les Habs and 5-0 at Home (20 GF-9 GA), so the simple Canadiens vs Wild prediction is to take the hosts on the Puck line. Pick: Wild -1.5 -104
Bruins vs Stars Prediction
| Game Time: | 9:00 EST |
| Stars Line: | -170 |
| Bruins Line: | +140 |
| Total: | 5.5 |
| TV: | ESPN+ |
This inter-conference skate from the Big D sees the Bruins (8-7-2, 3-4-1 on Road) playing the Stars (9-5-0, 6-1-0 at Home) in a bad scheduling spot for the B’s on a Road trip. Although the series Trends show Boston is 7-3 in the last 10 series meetings and has won 4 of 5, this Bruins vs Stars prediction is on a team that has been on the rise the last two seasons vs an aging Bruins side. Dallas was 26-11-4 at Home in 2023 and is 32-12-4 the last 48 at the American Airlines Center (66.7%). Pick: Stars -170
Predators vs Oilers Prediction
| Game Time: | 9:00 EST |
| Oilers Line: | -172 |
| Predators Line: | +142 |
| Total: | 6.5 |
| TV: | ESPN+ |
This Western Conference meeting sees two teams off to weak starts facing each other with the Predators (5-9-2, 1-3-2 on Road, 12 points) are in Edmonton to face the Oilers (8-7-1, 3-5-1 at Home). This Predators vs Oilers prediction is easy for many reasons, including the USA team in Canada angle, Nashville being one of the four worst teams in the league, and the Oilers impressive 8-2 record in the last 10 in the series, including winning the last 3 meetings, all by 2 or more goals (13 GF-4 GA). Pick: Oilers -1.5 +142
Islanders vs Canucks Prediction
| Game Time: | 10:00 EST |
| Canucks Line: | -176 |
| Islanders Line: | +146 |
| Total: | 6.5 |
| TV: | ESPN+ |
The Islanders (6-6-4, 4-3-2 on Road) are another American team in Canada on Thursday, facplaying Quinn Hughes (15 points) and the Canucks (7-3-3, 1-2-3 at Home), a team with just 1 win in Vancouver and 3 OT/SO losses. A look at the series Trends reveals that the Canucks are 6-4 in the last 10 meetings, winning 3 in a row with Over hitting 8 straight (8.1 gpg). This Islanders vs Canucks prediction and free NHL picks are to bang the Over and bet against the team from the USA playing in the Great White North, three Time Zones and many miles away. NYI will sleep in a hotel with lousy room service while the Canucks will sleep comfortably in their own beds. Picks: Canucks -176, Over 6.5
Blackhawks vs Kraken Prediction
| Game Time: | 10:00 EST |
| Kraken Line: | -176 |
| Blackhawks Line: | +146 |
| Total: | 6.5 |
| TV: | ESPN+ |
Another Over-heavy Western Conference series sees the Blackhawks (6-9-1, 4-5-1 on Road) in the Emerald City to play the Kraken (6-8-1, 3-3-1 at Home) in another game between subpar clubs. The Over is 7-2 in this series, winning 6 straight in incredibly high scoring games (8, 8, 7, 10, 13, 9), averaging 9.2 gpg and Seattle has won 4 of the last 6 and the last 4 at Climate Pledge Arena. Because of the strength of these Trends, these Blackhawks vs Kraken predictions and picks are clear, but because of the high Moneyline price, maybe parlay the Rangers, Wild, and Kraken together? Picks: Kraken -176, Over 6.5