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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7:07 PM ET
Today
ESPN+
Anaheim Ducks
Columbus Blue Jackets
Ducks
Blue Jackets
Game Totals Pick
Over 6.5(-115)

The Anaheim Ducks will be in Columbus to take on the Blue Jackets in the second half of a back-to-back situation. This game will feature two of the weaker defensive teams in the NHL. Heading into action on Monday night, the Ducks were averaging 3.34 goals against per game, while the Blue Jackets average 3.47 per game, which is fourth worst in the league. On the flip side of this, the Ducks are one of the best offensive teams in the league. Heading into action on Monday, they averaged 3.44 goals per game, good for second-best in the NHL. Prior to Monday’s game, the over was 5-1 in their last six games played. The Ducks are loaded with talent up front. They have three players with 30+ points, one of whom has eclipsed the 40-point mark in 32 games. The Blue Jackets have some players of their own who are no stranger to putting the puck in the net also.

With this being a back-to-back for the Ducks, they will have netminder Ville Husso starting in goal. He has a 3.17 GAA and .888 SVP on the season. With two of the weaker defensive teams in the league going at it, I think we are in for a high-scoring game. Give me the over in this one.

Ducks vs. Blue Jackets prediction: Over 6.5 (-115) available at time of publishing. Playable at that number.

Vote on who will win!

7:07 PM ET
Today
ESPN+
Philadelphia Flyers
Montreal Canadiens
Flyers
Canadiens
Money Line Pick
MTL Canadiens Win(-140)

The Montreal Canadiens will be welcoming the Philadelphia Flyers to the Bell Centre on Tuesday night. They are hosting a Flyers team that is riding a three-game losing streak. Their offensive struggles seem to be continuing. They are averaging only 2.81 goals per game on the season. This is far less than the 3.22 goals per game that the Canadiens average. There is also a fairly big mismatch in the powerplay unit efficiency between these teams. The Canadiens unit is operating at 26.4% and is very lethal, while the Flyers unit is struggling, working at only 16.5%. This will be a significant advantage for the Canadiens as the Flyers are one of the most penalized teams in the NHL.

The Canadiens have some elite scoring talent at the top end of their lineup, led by Cole Caufield and Nick Suzuki. They have 37 and 33 points on the season, respectively. The Flyers do not have the fire power to keep up with the likes of these players. The Canadiens should be able to get it done on home ice on Tuesday. Give me the Canadiens on the money line.

Flyers vs. Canadiens prediction: Canadiens ML (-140) available at time of publishing. Playable at that number.

7:07 PM ET
Yesterday
ESPN+
Anaheim Ducks
New York Rangers
Ducks
Rangers
Money Line Pick
NY Rangers Win(-130)

The Anaheim Ducks will visit the New York Rangers on Monday night. The Rangers come into this game with a record of 6-2-2 in their last 10 games. They have, however, been brutal on home ice this season. Their record at Madison Square Garden is just 4-8-3. If they are going to be a contending team this year, they need to be tougher to play against at MSG. They boast one of the best netminders in the league in Igor Shesterkin. He has a 2.53 GAA and .909 SVP, with 1 shutout on the season. New York is among the better defensive teams in the league, averaging 2.67 goals against per game. Every bit of the Rangers’ defensive play will be required against the Ducks, who average 3.44 goals per contest — second best in the NHL.

Although very good at the offensive end of the ice, the Ducks have their struggles defensively. This is common for a team with a young core. They are averaging 3.34 goals against per game. I think the Rangers will be able to expose the defensive weaknesses of this young team and lock things down at their end of the ice. Give me New York in this one.

Ducks vs Rangers prediction: New York ML (-130) available at time of publishing. Playable at that number.

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7:07 PM ET
Yesterday
Florida Panthers
Tampa Bay Lightning
Panthers
Lightning
Game Totals Pick
Over 5.5(-120)

Tonight marks the second installment of the Battle of Florida featuring the Panthers and the Lightning. Both teams are strong contenders but are currently dealing with numerous injuries. However, Tampa Bay has managed to stay at the top of the competitive Atlantic Division. The Bolts have been successful in scoring goals, receiving contributions from across their entire lineup.

The Panthers are coming off a 4-0 road victory against the Stars, but they have struggled to find success on the road this season. Although goalie confirmations are still pending, Danil Tarasov might be a viable option. His overall statistics are decent — not exceptional. Jonas Johansson is expected to start for the Lightning, and he has had a solid season.

The total set at 5.5 is relatively low, which is understandable given the circumstances. We can expect a very intense game, likely resulting in numerous powerplay opportunities. Both teams have shown resilience while shorthanded, but if you give skilled teams scoring chances, they will eventually score. Therefore, let’s take the Over and hope that we don’t need an empty-net goal to secure the win.

Panthers vs Lightning prediction: Over 5.5 (-120) available at time of publishing. Playable at that number.

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7:37 PM ET
Yesterday
ESPN+
Ottawa Senators
Winnipeg Jets
Senators
Jets
Game Totals Pick
Over 5.5(-120)

The Winnipeg Jets missed Connor Hellebuyck desperately and were thrilled to see him return to the ice on Friday against the Capitals. Playing in his first game in nearly a month, Hellebuyck stopped 24 of 25 shots en route to leading the Jets to a 5-1 win. However, he could have his hands full with an Ottawa team that has been scoring plenty of goals on the road this season. The Senators rank seventh in the NHL scoring at 3.29 goals per game on the road, and have potted 13 total goals over their last 3 road games. Playing in the last installment of its 3-game road trip, look for Ottawa to come out firing against Hellebuyck.

While the Jets struggled to find the win column without Hellebuyck over the last month, they didn’t struggle to score goals. Winnipeg among the most well-rounded offensive teams in the NHL and has scored at least 3 goals in 4 of its last 5 games. Ottawa goaltenders Linus Ullmark and Leevi Merilainen own a combined save percentage of .877, which puts the Senators near the bottom of the NHL rankings in that key metric. The Jets should be able to find success offensively. Look to the over in this one.

Senators vs Jets prediction: Over 5.5 (-120) available at time of publishing. Playable at that number.

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8:07 PM ET
Yesterday
ESPN+
Los Angeles Kings
Dallas Stars
Kings
Stars
Money Line Pick
DAL Stars Win(-130)

The Los Angeles Kings and Dallas Stars meet for a big-time Western Conference matchup. Both are within striking distance of the lead in their respective divisions, and every point is crucial with lots of work to do. To get you set for what should be a great battle in Texas, here is a Kings vs Stars prediction.

The Kings have been very underwhelming the past couple of games. They have suffered 2 straight overtime losses, both to highly beatable teams near the bottom of the league (Seattle Kraken and Calgary Flames). Things are about to get much harder in this one, taking on a powerhouse in Dallas on their own turf. Dallas is also coming off 2 consecutive losses, except they played two stronger teams. Dallas has been seen as one of the league’s best for the entire season, with a great roster and strong consistency. They will obviously be gunning to return to the win column, and I see them doing so on home ice against an inconsistent opponent. For this Kings vs Stars prediction, let’s go with Dallas on the money line.

Kings vs Stars prediction: Dallas ML (-130) available at time of publishing. Playable to -150.

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8:07 PM ET
Yesterday
ESPN+
Nashville Predators
St. Louis Blues
Predators
Blues
Game Totals Pick
Over 5.5(-120)

The Nashville Predators will face the St. Louis Blues on Monday. Both teams are 3-2 in the last 5 games, which is a major upgrade from how they started the season. Nashville and St. Louis squared off last week, with the Predators prevailing 7-2. The goaltending proved to be an issue for the Blues in that game, but both teams are giving up 3.52 goals per game — which ranks them at the bottom of the NHL. The defensive struggles have been more persistent for the Blues, as they have given up 64 goals through their 17 home games. That is very problematic when realizing that they have only scored 13 goals over the past 5 games, too.

For the Predators, they currently have the worst away form in the Western Conference. They have only scored 10 points through 13 away games. Making matters worse, they have scored just 34 goals while giving up 49 in those away games. Looking outside of recent form, the Preds rank 27th in save percentage; the Blues rank 29th. These defensive struggles may continue to be problematic for both teams, so this is the chance for both offenses. We saw a total of 9 goals in the previous head-to-head matchup; I believe the over will hit in this one, as well.

Predators vs Blues prediction: Over 5.5 (-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.

Check out our site every single day for some of the best bets in every major athletic contest and make sure to follow us on social media as well.