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.

Filter Picks

8:07 PM ET

Today

ESPN+

Ducks

Predators

View Preview

Game Totals PickBest Bet

Over 6.5(+105)

Reasoning

The Anaheim Ducks are locked into a first-round playoff matchup against either the Edmonton Oilers or Vegas Golden Knights. Depending on how things shake out in the Oilers final game, second place is still in reach for the Ducks. Home-ice advantage in a playoff series against the Oilers would be very nice to have, as we all know how good the Oilers can be come playoff time.

With that said, they will treat treat their final game against the Nashville Predators as a must-win. The Predators are eliminated from playoff contention, but I expect them to play with their usual roster. With nothing left to play for, expect a loose game to be played by the Predators. They will not pay much attention to the defensive details of the game, allowing the explosive offensive of the Ducks to capitalize. Combine this with the poor defensive game that the Ducks play, and this should be a high-scoring game.

The Ducks are the 4th-worst defensive team in the league, averaging 3.51 goals against per game. The Predators aren’t great either, allowing 3.23 goals per game. Give me the over in this one.

Ducks vs. Predators prediction: Over 6.5 (+105) available at time of publishing. Playable at that number.

You can bet on our Ducks vs Predators pick at DraftKings Sportsbook, which has thousands of betting options available and a great new customer offer where you can get $300 in bonus bets INSTANTLY if your first $5 bet is a winner! Click here 👈🏼 to sign up for a DraftKings account now.

BET o6.5 NOW WITH

Jon Picks

Vote on who will win!

8:07 PM ET

Today

NBCSCA, ESPN+

Sharks

Jets

View Preview

Game Totals Pick

Over 6.5(+115)

Reasoning

The San Jose Sharks and Winnipeg Jets are set to close out the 2025-26 NHL regular season on Thursday night in Winnipeg. Both the Sharks and Jets missed the playoffs this season, which means neither team has much to play for in this contest. However, despite there not being much at stake, this could still be a fast-paced, high-scoring, and entertaining matchup to watch unfold. The Sharks were pushing for a playoff spot through the second half of the season, and while they ultimately fizzled down the stretch, their young core of players have a bright future. Macklin Celebrini has already proven he’s among the best players in the NHL, and Will Smith has been a great complement to Celebrini’s game on San Jose’s top line. Winnipeg goaltender Connor Hellebuyck owns a save percentage below .900 on the season and has allowed 11 total goals in his last 2 outings. The Sharks should be able to give him some trouble.

As exciting as San Jose’s offensive core is, the Sharks have been among the worst defensive teams in the NHL this season. They are allowing 3.55 goals per game on the year, which is the 3rd-highest mark in the league. They give up way too many Grade A scoring chances, and their team save percentage of .887 is less-than-ideal. The Sharks are also playing on the second half of a back-to-back, so fatigue could be an issue in the defensive zone. Furthermore, both penalty kill units in this matchup rank in the bottom-third of the league. Make it a small play, but taking the over of 6.5 with odds of +115 or better is the play here.

Sharks vs Jets prediction: Over 6.5 (+115) available at time of publishing. Playable at that number.

If you’re looking for a new sportsbook, check out bet365, the world’s #1 sportsbook. They have an amazing sign-up offer where you can INSTANTLY receive $200 in bonus bets from a $10 wager, regardless of whether that bet wins or loses! There’s no catch, it’s really that simple. Join Bet365 right now ⏰ in time to fade or follow our experts’ Sharks vs Jets predictions.

BET o6.5 NOW WITH

Connor Grootenhuis

Vote on who will win!

9:07 PM ET

Today

Sportsnet One, FDSSC

Kings

Flames

View Preview

Money Line Pick

LA Kings Win(-130)

Reasoning

While a matchup between the Los Angeles Kings and Calgary Flames might not be the most intriguing on a normal night during the NHL season, it comes to us on the final day as one of the last remaining meaningful games for playoff positioning. The schedule makers did a great job leaving the Kings, Anaheim Ducks and Edmonton Oilers as participants on the final day, as all 3 teams’ positioning hinges on Thursday night’s results.

The Oilers sit in 2nd in the Pacific Division with 91 points, while the Ducks are in 3rd with 90. The Kings currently occupy the second wild card with 90 points, losing out to the Ducks because they have just 22 regulation wins. There is no easy way to decipher the matchups until the games are complete. Still, the most compelling potential outcomes are the Kings jumping the Ducks to face the Oilers in the first round for the 5th straight season or both the Ducks and Kings jumping the Oilers to set up an Oilers-Colorado Avalanche matchup in the first round.

The Kings have been taking care of their own business over the past 10 games, owning a 7-1-2 record to secure a playoff spot after some tense moments following the Olympic break. With Anze Kopitar’s career ending and Los Angeles adding Artemi Panarin earlier this season to improve for the postseason, missing out on the action would’ve been devastating for the organization and fans.

The Flames have been struggling to end the season, going 3-5-2 over the same 10-game span, and the Kings still have something to play for in this game. While you might say that Los Angeles would be making a mistake to want to play the Oilers after losing 4 consecutive first-round series against them, their issues this season make them a much more enticing matchup than the Colorado Avalanche, who have been torching the league all season long. Take the Kings to continue to take care of business in this one.

Kings vs Flames prediction: LA Kings ML (-130) available at time of publishing. Playable at that number.

You can bet on our Kings vs Flames pick with BetMGM, where right now new users can activate your new BetMGM account ⚡ and receive $150 in bonus bets INSTANTLY if your first $10+ wager is a winner!

BET -130 NOW WITH

Nate Duffett

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.