NHL Best Bets for Sunday: Expert Hockey Predictions for Today's Games

After a massive 13-game NHL slate on Saturday, we have a more modest 6-game slate on our hands for Sunday. But just because we have fewer matchups to enjoy doesn’t mean there won’t be plenty of excitement and areas to find value. I had a solid 2-1 day with my NHL best bets on Saturday, and I’m looking to keep the momentum going on Sunday.

If you will be following the action and want a bit more stake in the game, I have picked out my NHL best bets for Sunday’s slate with lines and odds courtesy of DraftKings at the time of publishing. Additionally, don’t forget to check out all of our NHL predictions for every game throughout the season.

NHL best bet: Wild 3-Way ML over Blues (-155)

The Blues put together a strong 5-1 win over the Kraken on Thursday, and it looked like they had some momentum going into Saturday’s matchup against the Devils. However, things came crashing down as the Blues lost 3-1 and the only goal they managed to score was a gift from New Jersey goaltender Jacob Markstrom on a failed attempt at a goalie goal. Now, Jim Montgomery’s squad has to try to regroup as they hit the road to face the Wild on the second half of a back-to-back. That is a tough assignment.

Goal-scoring continues to be an issue for St. Louis, as the Blues rank 28th in the league scoring 2.58 goals per game this season. It may be tough for St. Louis to keep up with Minnesota’s high-flying attack in this one. With Kirill Kaprizov, Matt Boldy, and Quinn Hughes leading the way, the Wild are one of the best offensive teams in the NHL. The addition of Hughes earlier this season took the offense to another level, as the superstar defenseman has racked up 35 points in 28 games with his new team. The Wild simply have much more offensive upside in this matchup, and I am expecting Hughes and company to put forth a strong performance en route to a win in regulation time.

NHL best bet: Jets vs Sharks Under 6.5 (-120)

The Sharks played a wild game against the Oilers on Saturday, as 9 total goals were scored in a 5-4 win for San Jose. The Sharks will now host the Jets on Sunday afternoon, and I am expecting a low-scoring affair. The Sharks took advantage of Edmonton’s poor defensive play and lackluster goaltending from Connor Ingram to score 5 goals yesterday. However, prior to the Olympic break, San Jose scored just 11 total goals over a 5-game stretch. The Jets aren’t exactly a defensive juggernaut, but they should be more defensively sound than the Oilers were on Saturday. Plus, Connor Hellebuyck is slated to get the starting nod between the pipes for Winnipeg, and he is a much tougher goalie to go up against than Ingram.

The Jets have been one of the most disappointing offensive teams in the NHL this season. After ranking 4th in the NHL scoring 3.35 goals per game last season, Winnipeg ranks 24th in the league scoring 2.86 goals per game so far this season. Heading into this matchup, Winnipeg’s offensive ceiling is limited without Josh Morrissey in the mix. Morrissey remains on IR following an injury during the Olympics, and his absence is a big one. He leads Winnipeg defensemen with 10 goals and 42 points on the year, and commands Winnipeg’s power play and top pairing. Logan Stanley is Winnipeg’s second-highest scoring defenseman with 20 points in 57 games, and he doesn’t possess the same elite offensive skill set that Morrissey does. Look to the under in this one.

NHL best bet: Ducks ML over Flames (-180)

The Ducks went through a rough patch in early January, but they have gotten back on track in emphatic fashion since then. The Ducks are 11-2-0 since January 13, and they have won each of their first 2 games against the Oilers and Jets following the Olympic break. The offense received a boost getting Leo Carlsson back in the mix, which has resulted in Anaheim scoring 11 total goals over their last 2 games. Carlsson has 4 points on 2 goals and 2 assists in his return, which gives Anaheim even more offensive firepower. Now, the Ducks seem to have an extremely favorable matchup on their hands on Sunday as they welcome the Flames to town.

The Ducks have been great on home ice all season, long as they own a strong 19-8-1 record at Honda Center. On the other side, the Flames are just 9-18-2 on the road this season. Calgary is among the lowest-scoring teams in the NHL, as their 2.48 goals per game is the second-worst mark in the NHL. The Flames are also at a scheduling disadvantage in this one, as they are on the second half of a road back-to-back after playing against the Kings in Los Angeles on Saturday night. Anaheim had Saturday off, and has the luxury of playing its 3rd straight home game to begin the post-Olympics schedule. Back the Ducks on the moneyline at home.