Ryan Hodges

Pickswise Expert

Born and raised in St. Louis. My sports fandom started with my local teams and has only grown broader and broader since day 1. I love having action all around the sports world, but my primary betting interests and handicapping lie with the NHL and MLB. I combine experience playing and coaching those sports with obsession, fandom, observations, trends and more to bring you the most knowledgeable insight possible for your picks. For Ryan Hodges media enquiries, please email contact@pickswise.com.

Live Picks 3

Live Parlays 0

Weekly News Articles 5

Location

USA

Favorite Sports

Favorite Teams

Greatest Betting Win

A win that stands out was a 3-leg NHL parlay at +850 odds in the 2023-24 NHL regular season. I published and hit: - Florida ML & Over 6.5 (+155) - Bruins vs Stars Under 5.5 (-110) - Vancouver ML (-105) Among individual pick winners, these higher odds parlays with fantastic value feel great to cash. The other reason it stands out among other wins, published or not, is because it was one of my first published parlays which included a same-game parlay itself. More recently, I saw the board fairly well in the 2025 NHL Stanley Cup playoffs. Standout wins from this past postseason included Same Game Parlay odds of +470, +485, and +500.

Greatest Achievements

Being the go-to NHL Same Game Parlay expert for Pickswise is greatly appreciated, and I'm glad I've been able to supply plenty of big-odds SGP winners for our readers.

Education

High school and college educated.

Experience

I began handicapping with Pickswise in 2021. Over the past 4 years, I have also worked with the incredible Pickswise team on sports gambling and general sports content across several Pickswise partners as well. If you had any doubt, rest assured, you have visited the right online sports fan and handicapping community.

Favorite betting market / type

It is not exactly original, but I love a good, old fashioned game total over in any sport. With that, unsurprisingly, I am a fan of the Grand Salami, the over of the combined total goals scored on an individual NHL slate. If I feel like I am seeing the board well or have a good beat on a team, roster, particular matchup, etc., I like to take: - Player props (all sports) - Individual games and player futures - Outright underdogs with plus odds (all sports) - Winners & Top 5's (Golf) - Team futures (all sports) - season win totals (o/u), to make playoffs (y/n), to win division or conference (y/n), to win the championship (y/n)

Favorite bookmakers

Ryan's Picks

Player Saves Pick

F. Andersen (CAR) - Over 21.5 saves(-125)

Reasoning

Given the Hurricanes have allowed just 7 goals in 6 games played so far in this postseason, it is not exactly shocking that goaltender Frederik Andersen leads playoff goalies in both goals-against average and save percentage. Might as well throw in 2 shutouts, which also leads postseason goaltenders, ironically tied with Flyers goalie Dan Vladar. Mostly due to games that have gone beyond regulation, the Hurricanes have allowed an average of 27.5 shots on goal per game. If the Flyers can hold close to that average, this prop has a ton of appeal.

The Flyers will do anything they can to avoid going down 3-0 in this series. They will play with as much desperation as they have at any point in their postseason. With that, look for this team to fire every puck on net they possibly can to create havoc and try to get a bounce. They will not wait for a high-percentage chance or look for that extra pass to try to open up a lane. The Flyers players will be shooting the puck and crashing the net. Andersen has been solid at stopping the high-percentage chances, and the low-percentage shots will just get this prop closer to the number. The solid form of Andersen and partial game plan for the Flyers give good value to this pick as part of our Hurricanes vs Flyers parlay at +325 odds.

BET +21.5 NOW WITH

Ryan Hodges

Game Totals Pick

Under 5.5(-140)

Reasoning

The under has been rolling in Hurricanes games, hence the -142 odds for under a 5.5 game total. Going back to the last few games of the regular season, the under has now hit in 8 out of Carolina’s last 9 games. Their average game total so far in the playoffs is 4.0 as they have scored 17 and allowed 7 goals in 6 games played. Low-scoring games were especially common for the Hurricanes on the road this year, as their over/under record in road games is now 19-24. The way this team plays, the way they completely suffocate opponents and minimize high danger chances, bodes well for another low total.

Philadelphia has been no stranger to lower totals either. The under has hit in 4 of the Flyers’ last 5 games, as well as in 4 of the last 5 played head-to-head. Those unders hit for reasons the Flyers would not prefer, as they lost 4 of those 5 games and only scored 2.0 goals per game during that stretch. The pure matchup of these teams, their styles of play, current form, and overall team strengths and weaknesses has favored lower totals. This is another trend that is good to ride while it is hot.

BET u5.0 NOW WITH

Ryan Hodges

Money Line Pick

CAR Hurricanes Win(-165)

Reasoning

This Hurricanes team has given no reason to fade them at this point. Until or unless they do, it would just be a hope to hit on a plus-money opponent. Carolina will not go 16-0 in these playoffs. They will lose at some point. But until that happens, this is a good team to ride. The Hurricanes suffocated the Senators in the first round to the tune of 5 total goals allowed in their 4-game sweep. Ottawa ranked 8th in the NHL this year in both goals scored per game and power play percentage. Yet, Carolina shut them down with somewhat ease. The same has happened through 2 games against the Flyers.

The Flyers were shut out in Game 1, but were a shot away from bringing a tied series back to Philadelphia. All hope is not lost for the Flyers. But for all intents and purposes, they are playing against a better team that is also in great form. Philadelphia has won 5 of its last 6 games at home, but that looks to be neutralized by 5 wins in Carolina’s last 6 road games. Carolina also had a better point percentage on the road this year than Philadelphia had at home, and the Hurricanes have won 10 out of the last 11 played head to head. Again, Carolina is just too tough a fade.

BET -160 NOW WITH

Ryan Hodges