There are a whopping 10 NHL games on the schedule for Thursday, including the red-hot Wild in Edmonton to face Connor McDavid and the Oilers in a big Western Conference showdown. Here are betting previews for the 10 matchups complete with odds, start times, records, trends, and picks and predictions from the Sides, Totals, and Puck Line markets.
Avalanche vs Capitals Prediction
| Game Time: | 7:00 EST |
| Capitals Line: | +100 |
| Avalanche Line: | -120 |
| Total: | 6.5 |
| TV: | ESPN+ |
The Capitals (13-4-1, 7-2-1 at Home) have been a real surprise this season but will face an Avalanche (10-9-0, 4-3-0 on Road) side that has suddenly now appears to be awake. The series Trends here won’t help, with both 5-5 in the last 10 and the Totals at 5-4-1 over that same span. This Avalanche vs Capitals prediction and pick is a slight lean to Washington who is 7-2-1 the last and happy to be home again and the pick the Over with both teams Capable of getting 3 goals here. Note that Alexander Ovechkin (Lower leg injury) is listed as week-to-week and now injured. Pick: Over 6.5
Utah Hockey Club vs Bruins Prediction
| Game Time: | 7:00 EST |
| Bruins Line: | -162 |
| Utah Hockey Club Line: | +136 |
| Total: | 6 |
| TV: | ESPN+ |
The brand new Utah Hockey Club (7-8-3, 3-4-2 on Road) are in Beantown to skate with the Bruins (6-9-3, 5-4-2 at Home) in an inter-conference game. Both teams come in with negative Goal Differentials. These two met in SLC last month where the hosts beat Boston 2-1 in OT. This Utah Hockey Club vs Bruins prediction and pick is to back the hosts with revenge on their minds and a win vs this franchise here last year when they were still the Arizona Coyotes. Boston fired Head Coach Jim Montgomery on Tuesday, so Joe Sacco will take over the B’s reins for now. Pick: Bruins -162
Hurricanes vs Devils Prediction
| Game Time: | 7:00 EST |
| Devils Line: | -125 |
| Hurricanes Line: | +105 |
| Total: | 6.5 |
| TV: | ESPN+ |
Another great great game but tough handicap on Thursday night sees the Devils (12-7-2, 4-3-2 at Home) hosting the Panthers (12-5-1, 5-2-0 on Road) who are playing some good hockey now (8-2-0 L10), This Hurricanes vs Devils prediction will rely on the series Trends which show Carolina is 8-2 the last 10 hookups, winning 6 in a row (21 GF-10 GA) Pick: Hurricanes +105
Golden Knights vs Senators Prediction
| Game Time: | 7:00 EST |
| Senators Line: | +100 |
| Golden Knights Line: | -120 |
| Total: | 6.5 |
| TV: | ESPN+ |
The Senators (8-6-1, 5-2-1 at Home) welcome the Golden Knights (11-5-2, 3-3-2 on Road) to Quebec for an inter-conference game. VGK is playing better, but this The Travel, Time Zone differences for the visitors, the weak Golden Knights Road record, the decent Ottawa Home mark, and the American team playing in Canada theory are all edges to the Sens. The series Trends which show VGK is 9-1 in the last 10 although the Senators did win the last meeting at Home, 4-3 in a PK Shootout. With the last 3 meetings all high-scoring (10, 7, 9), this Golden Knights vs Senators prediction and pick will back the Over. Pick: Over 6.5
Lightning vs Blue Jackets Prediction
| Game Time: | 7:00 EST |
| Blue Jackets Line: | +164 |
| Lightning Line: | -185 |
| Total: | 5.5 |
| TV: | ESPN+ |
This Eastern Conference mismatch sees the Blue Jackets (7-9-2, 5-3-0 at Home) entertaining the Lightning (9-6-1, 3-5-0 On Road) in Columbus. The series Trends show that Tampa Bay is 8-2 over the last 10 series meetings and 5-1 the last 6. This Blue Jackets vs Lightning prediction is to back the Lightning against a Blue Jackets team who has played 7 of its last 8 games on the Road and may be tired. Pick: Lightning -185
Islanders vs Red Wings Prediction
| Game Time: | 7:00 EST |
| Red Wings Line: | -110 |
| Islanders Line: | -110 |
| Total: | 6 |
| TV: | ESPN+ |
Two teams in mini slumps, the Red Wings (7-9-2, 4-5-1 at Home) and the Islanders (7-7-4, 5-4-2 on Road) meet in Hockeytown in this Eastern Conference matchup. The series Trends reveal that Detroit has won 4 of the last 5 Home meetings (18 GF-12 GA). This Islanders vs Red Wings prediction and slight lean is to simply back the Home team. Pick: Red Wings -110
Sharks vs Blues Prediction
| Game Time: | 8:00 EST |
| Blues Line: | -245 |
| Sharks Line: | +200 |
| Total: | 6 |
| TV: | ESPN+ |
Jordan Kyrou (15 points) and the Blues (8-10-1, 4-5-0 at Home) host a team they can beat, the Sharks (6-10-4, 2-6-3 on Road), and a side they have gone 7-3 against in the last 10, although San José has won 3 of the last 4 after losing 6 straight to St. Louis. This Sharks vs Blues prediction looks at the Total market with the Under 3-1-1 the last 5 (6.0 gpg). Pick: Under 6
Panthers vs Blackhawks Prediction
| Game Time: | 8:30 EST |
| Blackhawks Line: | +180 |
| Panthers Line: | -218 |
| Total: | 6 |
| TV: | ESPN+, Hulu |
This inter-conference game from the Windy City between Chicago (6-11-1, 2-4-0 at Home) and Florida (12-5-1, 6-2-0 On Road) seems like the best of the early games to wager on. The Panthers are 6-4 in the last 10 series meetings but 3 of those wins were in Florida. I have no idea why 8 of the last 11 meetings have been in the United Center, where the Blackhawks won 4 of the 7. But it’s too hard recommending Chicago vs Sergei Bobrovsky and this impressive Florida squad. Pick: Panthers -218
Wild vs Oilers Prediction
| Game Time: | 9:00 EST |
| Oilers Line: | -155 |
| Wild Line: | +130 |
| Total: | 6 |
| TV: | ESPN+ |
The Wild (11–3-3, 7-1-2 on Road) have been good away from Home while the Oilers (9-8-2, 4-5-1 at Home) have been poor in Edmonton. That reality along with the fact that Kirill Kaprizov and Minnesota have gone 8-2 the last 10 vs the Oilers, and this Wild vs Oilers prediction and pick will be to back the Road Underdogs with the decent plus-money. Wild Goalie Filip Gustavsson (2.08 GAA) has been at the top of his game and has allowed just 2, 0, 2, 2, and 2 goals in his last 5 starts. Pick: Wild +130
Rangers vs Flames Prediction
| Game Time: | 9:00 EST |
| Flames Line: | +142 |
| Rangers Line: | -170 |
| Total: | 6 |
| TV: | ESPN+ |
The Rangers (11-4-1, 6-1-0 on Road) continue their Western swing at the Scotiabank Saddledome where they will trade elbows with the Flames (9-6-3, 6-3-0 at Home). Unlike most NHL teams, the Broadway Blueshirts are playing much better on the Road than at Home. This Rangers vs Flames prediction will bank on that quirkiness and take the Road team. The series Trends show Calgary is 6-4 in the last 10 but have lost 3 of the last 4 meetings with the last 3 all going Under (2, 4, and 5 goals) Pick: Rangers -170