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

Ryan Hodges

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.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.

NHL best bet: Stars -1.5 (-105) over Blackhawks

Somewhat bizarrely, the Blackhawks have won both games against the Stars this season. The third and final edition of this season series should look a little bit different. The Stars just had a 10-game winning streak snapped by a shootout loss to the Avalanche. With that, they have 10 wins and points in their last 11. This is arguably the hottest team in the NHL that only got better this week thanks to a few acquisitions. They would make for a favorable matchup against most teams in hockey, let alone the Blackhawks.

The Blackhawks are in a familiar spot near the bottom of the Western Conference, and they just traded assets away at the trade deadline. They have lost 5 out of their last 6 games as well as 10 losses in their last 12 games. Most recently, Chicago fell 6-3 to a brutal Vancouver team. This is a lopsided matchup no matter how you slice it. Dallas is one of the best teams in hockey and a true Stanley Cup contender. Its opponent is one of the worst teams around and will be a lottery contestant once again. Unless the Stars completely mail it in, they should be able to take care of business in this one.

NHL best bet: Red Wings vs Devils Over 5.5 (-125)

The Red Wings are the better team in this game, but the Devils are hotter. New Jersey rolls into this game on a 4-game winning streak. It has gotten the job done primarily by scoring as opposed to clamping down on goal prevention. The Devils have scored 18 goals in their 4-game winning streak for an average of 4.5 goals per game. This team has found something that has resulted in production.

New Jersey’s opponent, while being a playoff contender, has been more volatile lately. The Red Wings are 2-2-1 since the return from the Olympic break. In their losses, the Wings have allowed 12 goals for an average of 4 per game. In their wins during that span, they scored an average of 3 goals per game. If the Red Wings and Devils just hold to their recent averages on both sides of the puck, the over will have a good look. These teams have already played one game this season, which saw a game total of 7. This one has the makings of another over.

NHL best bet: Ducks 3-way ML over Blues (-115)

The Blues have been one of the more underwhelming teams all season. Lately, they are one of the more confusing teams in the league. Despite how ugly this season has been for St. Louis, it enters this contest having won 3 straight as part of 4 wins in its last 5. As good as the results have been lately, they do not appear sustainable. This was already a doormat of a team. But then the Blues got even worse this week with the departure of key players at the trade deadline. For all intents and purposes, the Ducks have the advantage in this one.

The Ducks have 7 wins in their last 8 games and have 10 wins in their last 11 played at home. With that, they sit atop the Pacific Division — and they would like nothing more than to build on their 1-point cushion. Anaheim is already the better team. The added urgency the Ducks should play with in order to keep pace in their division should only amplify the advantages they already possess. Anaheim won the sole previous game played between these teams this year by a convincing score of 4-1. Sunday sets up for a similar result.