NHL Picks

Free Expert NHL picks throughout the 2025/26 NHL season. We crunch the numbers, analyze the data, and provide free NHL picks every day of the regular season and throughout the NHL Playoffs and Stanley Cup Finals.

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8:37 PM ET

Today

Prime Video, ALT

Flames

Avalanche

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Puck Line PickBest Bet

COL Avalanche -1.5(-140)

Reasoning

The Calgary Flames are traveling to Colorado to face the Avalanche for the first time this season. Calgary has shown some solid performances in its last few games, going 4-1 in its most recent outings. However, tonight’s challenge feels daunting. The Flames score an average of just 2.53 goals per game and have a poor road record of 10-22-3. They have significant weaknesses in their offense, and their defensive line is still developing. Although this game might start off closely contested, it’s likely they will fall behind as the match progresses.

On the other hand, the Avalanche have an impressive home record of 23-7-5 and have no trouble scoring goals. They average over 33 shots per game, more than any other team in the league. This matchup appears to be a significant mismatch on paper. With a six-point lead over Dallas for the top spot in the division, the Avalanche will be eager to extend that lead, so we can expect them to put forth their best effort. Unless there is an extraordinary performance from the Flames’ goaltender, Colorado is expected to win by a wide margin.

Flames vs Avalanche prediction: Avalanche -1.5 (-140) available at time of publishing. Playable at that number or better.

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Christopher Morais

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10:07 PM ET

Today

FDSNMW, NBCSCA

Blues

Sharks

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Game Totals Pick

Under 6.0(-115)

Reasoning

The St. Louis Blues and San Jose Sharks are set to meet for the second time in less than a week to finalize their season series. The Blues have won both previous matchups and are aiming for a sweep. Although the Blues are realistically unable to make a final push for a playoff spot, they continue to play quality hockey, having won 4 of their last 5 games and allowing just three goals in the last four.

The Sharks have performed better at home, but their goaltending and defense have been significant weaknesses recently. They have allowed over 3 goals in 3 of their last 5 games, while scoring more than 2 goals only once. Macklin Celebrini is a talented player, but he can’t shoulder the burden alone. Both teams struggle to generate many quality shots on goal, so we may be in for another low-scoring game.

Blues vs Sharks prediction: Under 6.0 (-115) available at the time of publishing. Playable at that number or better.

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Christopher Morais

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10:07 PM ET

Today

Victory+, KCOP-13

Maple Leafs

Ducks

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Money Line 3-Way Pick

ANA Ducks Win(-125)

Reasoning

The Toronto Maple Leafs have just 8 games remaining in what has been a severely disappointing for Craig Berube’s team. The Maple Leafs have 75 points on the season, which is the 3rd-fewest in the Eastern Conference and puts them well outside of the playoff picture. Auston Matthews is done for the season, which gives Maple Leafs fans even less faith in their team’s ability to end the season on a high note. The Maple Leafs have struggled on the road all season long, especially offensively. Toronto ranks 21st in the NHL scoring 2.81 goals per game on the road, and 30th allowing 3.58 goals per game to its opponents. Furthermore, the power play is converting at a lowly 16.7% clip on the road, which ranks 27th in the league. No matter how you slice it, the Maple Leafs are not a team to back on the road right now.

The Ducks saw their 5-game win streak come to and end at the hands of the Oilers on Saturday by a score of 4-2. Despite the loss, Anaheim is playing well and should be able to take care of business in this one. The Ducks will be happy to return home for this contest, as they are coming off a 3-game road trip and have played 8 of their last 10 games away from Anaheim. The Ducks thrive on home ice, as they are a strong 23-10-2 at Honda Center this season. Fade the Maple Leafs and look for the Ducks to pickup a regulation win in this matchup.

Maple Leafs vs Ducks prediction: Ducks 3-Way ML (-125) available at time of publishing. Playable to -130.

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10:07 PM ET

Today

SNP, SCRIPPS

Canucks

Golden Knights

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Puck Line PickBest Bet

VGS Golden Knights -1.5(-135)

Reasoning

The Vegas Golden Knights will be hosting the NHL’s worst team, the Vancouver Canucks on Monday night. The Golden Knights come into this game sitting in 3rd place in the Pacific Division, 6 points back of the Anaheim Ducks who hold the Division lead. With only 8 games remaining, it is a long shot, but winning this division gives a great advantage in the first round of the playoffs. This would be likely avoiding a first-round matchup with the Edmonton Oilers. Going up against the worst team in the league, they will have this game circled as a must win on the calendar. I expect a dominant performance from the Golden Knights from start to finish. The Canucks are both the worst offensive and defensive team in the league, so this should be an easy game for the Golden Knights. They just need to play their game and not take them too lightly. I don’t see any reason to overthink this one, as the Golden Knights are at home and the much better team. I will be taking them on the puck line.

Canucks vs Golden Knights prediction: Golden Knights -1.5 (-135) available at time of publishing. Playable at that number.

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Jon Picks

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7:07 PM ET

Today

NHL Network

Penguins

Islanders

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Money Line Pick

NY Islanders Win(-120)

Reasoning

The Pittsburgh Penguins will take on the New York Islanders Monday night. The Penguins come into this one losing 3 of their last 4, even with the tough playoff race that is going on. On the season, the Penguins are averaging 3.38 goals per game which ranks 7th in the NHL. The issue for the Penguins recently has been their defense. Through the last 5 games, they have allowed 24 total goals. This is much different than the Islanders who have only allowed 7 goals over the past 4 games. This season the Islanders are only allowing 2.76 goals per game compared to the Penguins 3.07 goals per game. Defense could be a major factor in this one.

As of now, the Islanders sit at 6th in the Eastern Conference just one point above the Penguins. Where the Islanders have shined recently is at home. Through their last 10 home games, they have won 7 games while scoring 34 goals and only allowing 26 goals. The shining light for the Islanders this season has been their elite goaltending with their goalies stopping 90.1% of the shots they face. Overall, I think the Islanders defense will be too much for the struggling Penguins team. I am taking the Islanders on the money line.

Penguins vs Islanders prediction: Islanders ML (-120) available at time of publishing. Playable at that number.

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Your Home For Free NHL Expert Picks For The 2025/26 Season

At Pickswise we have expert NHL picks for all of the top NHL action throughout the 2025/26 season. We crunch the numbers, analyze the data, and provide the best free NHL expert picks every day. The NHL is an exciting sport to wager on and there are plenty of opportunities for wins during the bumper 2025/26 NHL season.

Lots of hockey is to be played before we find out who the next Stanley Cup champions will be. Check out all things hockey, every day of the season with our free NHL picks and analysis.

How Do I Get NHL Picks For Today’s Games?

NHL Picks are most similar to MLB Picks, in that the most popular NHL wagering is done via the Money line (ML) where a bettor simply picks a winner or loser of the game finding value in the price. Just like an MLB pitcher, NHL game lines are determined largely by the goaltender matchup. You’re going to pay a premium price (-180 or more) for putting in an NHL free pick on a solid goaltender – but it’s one position that can win or lose the bet for you. Fatigue is also a factor in finding the best NHL picks as Team A may be playing their first game in a week while Team B is in their 3rd contest in 5 nights.

We try to post our NHL picks for today at least 24 hours in advance. However, due to the huge volume of games, this can sometimes be impossible if teams are playing back-to-back games. We want to get our picks up as close as possible to the opening lines so we can get on the early line value, but team news and research is always key to making the best possible NHL Picks.

NHL Picks Against the Spread

NHL betting has a 1.5-goal spread known as the puck line (PL). Again just like baseball betting has the run line (-1.5). NHL wagers are exciting until the very last second of the game as teams often pull their goaltender near the end to get an extra skater on the ice. All of a sudden an empty-net goal pushes your NHL free pick to victory – or defeat. Betting on the puck line provides better payout odds and NHL picks against the spread can also be pushed to higher numbers such as -2.5 or 3.5 goals for an even better return on investment.

Free NHL Over / Under Picks

Most games are listed right around 5.5 goals in the NHL. The total number of goals is the total of combined goals by both teams and you can either select over or under the total. If the line is 5.5 and you wish to wager on the over then the total combined goals for the game must be 6 or more for you to cash your ticket.

NHL over/under betting is an interesting wager. A huge factor to take into consideration is the goaltenders as they have a huge part to play in influencing the number of goals in the game. A goaltender’s Goals Against Average (GAA) is a key stat to measure the effectiveness of a goaltender.

NHL Consensus Picks

NHL Consensus Picks is a way of saying the popular pick or often referred to as a public pick. What this actually means is where the majority of the bets are being placed. If we’re looking at Money Line markets, for example, if 70% of the tickets are on the Pittsburgh Penguins to beat the New York Islanders, then the Penguins are the consensus pick for that game. Bettors can use this in their research or check possible line moves in the lead-up to a game.

Ice Hockey Betting Picks

Our ice hockey betting picks will typically follow and feature on the NHL season with picks and Predictions available all season long. Our experts will be primed and ready in times of Olympic years and select other competitions throughout the year too. Our ice hockey picks, as expected will include picks on the money line, puck line, totals, and several player and team Hockey Prop Bets

Hockey Computer Picks

With so many hockey games played each season, analytics, lineups, and small changes can make a huge difference in a matchup. These are just some of the reasons why bettors may opt to use or consider hockey computer picks, as a metric that can be rid of human bias, and offer a solely data-driven analytical look at a matchup, betting markets, and projections.

Free Hockey Picks Today

Here at Pickswise, our hockey handicappers bring you all of the top action, picks, and previews of today’s best NHL matches today. We offer free hockey picks all season, right through until the Stanley Cup Finals themselves. Each match will have an expert hockey pick on the Puck Line, Money Line, and Goals totals, accompanied with detailed analysis and stats. Check out all of our free hockey picks today.

More Than Just NHL Picks

We also specialize in every major North American sport including the following throughout their respective seasons so check out the links below for our top plays right now.