NHL Best Bets for Saturday: Expert Hockey Predictions for Tonight's Games

Hockey fans are being treated in a big way as the first week of the NHL season continues with a huge 16-game slate! That’s right. All 32 teams will be suited up, making for a hockey fan’s heaven. The first puck will be dropped at 1:30 PM ET and the final pucks will be dropped at 10 PM ET. If you have any chores, hopefully you can get them done in time to get to your favorite hockey-viewing spot to take in the action!

If you will be tuning into this loaded night of hockey and want to have a little bit of skin in the game, here are a few betting markets that may be worth considering, with lines and odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook at the time of writing. Also, be sure to check out all of our NHL predictions for every game throughout the season.

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NHL best bet: Hurricanes -1.5 (+105) over Flyers

This one looks to be a tale of two teams. The Hurricanes are the odds on favorite to win the Stanley Cup at several sportsbooks. They played like the favorites in their opening game with a 6-3 win against a good New Jersey Devils team. Meanwhile, the Flyers appear to still be rebuild mode as they finished 8th in the Metropolitan division last year. At least on paper, they do not look to have improved much from last year’s team. The Flyers narrowly lost to the Panthers in their season opener. That is respectable. But they have their hands full against the Hurricanes.

Last year, Carolina was 39-9-1 at home which made them the 3rd best home team in hockey. They are off to a good start at home once again with a convincing win the other night over another team expected to be in the playoff hunt. The head to head matchup between these teams also favored the Hurricanes last year as they won all 3 matchups by a combined score of 15-5. Carolina was very good last year, hence their appearance in the Conference Finals, and only improved in the offseason. This looks to be a lopsided one in favor of Carolina.

Read our full Flyers vs Hurricanes prediction

NHL best bet: Stars vs Avalanche over 6.5 (+105)

Of all of the phenomenal games on this jam-packed slate, this game just might be the best. Or at least perhaps the most intriguing. These are a couple of juggernaut division rivals who are very familiar with each other. Sometimes, being familiar with an opponent makes it easier to game plan against them which can favor lower totals. But when the Stars and Avalanche meet, game totals typically climb. The over has hit in 7 out of the last 10 games played between these teams, going back to early last season. 

It is no secret that both of these teams are as deep and talented as any other team in hockey. The superstar talent in this game is enough to like the over, even at a game total of 6.5 goals. The plus money odds and high game total trends head to head give the over even more appeal. In the Stars’ lone game played thus far, they beat a very good Jets team by a score of 5-4, taking that game comfortably over the game total. Goal prevention will not get any easier against the Avalanche. This one has the makings of a game where these teams lean on offensive production more so than goal prevention just to keep up.

Read our full analysis of Saturday’s 16-game slate!

NHL best bet: Canucks vs Oilers over 5.5 (-135)

Any game featuring Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl has a good chance to get over the total. That is especially true with a game total of 5.5 goals. Saturday night’s matchup is no exception. In the 3 games played head to head last year, there were 23 goals scored for an average game total of 7.67 goals. Through just a game a piece in this first week of the season, both teams have shown strengths and vulnerabilities that give appeal to this over.

Somewhat ironically, the Canucks and Oilers have played the same opponent in their respective sole game played. Vancouver ran up the score on Calgary in a 5-1 win, while Edmonton lost 4-3 in a shootout to Calgary. A total of 13 goals scored across 2 games against a common opponent is a good indicator of how this one could go. Both teams have flashed strong offensive production, and Edmonton has a couple of the best players in the world. The Oilers should come out with a little pep in their step and get in the win column with a solid offensive performance. The Canucks, meanwhile, would love to play spoiler and start the year with a little win streak. In either case, the game script bodes well for offense, not goal prevention, to decide the outcome once again between these teams.