Check out our NHL best bets today for the nine-game slate on ESPN+.
The Action Network's hockey experts have compiled their predictions and favorite betting picks for the card, and they're targeting many of tonight's games.
The action kicks off at 7 p.m. ET, and we've got five picks for four of the matchups. The bets include Flames vs. Canadiens, Ducks vs. Predators, Lightning vs. Blues, and Devils vs. Jets.
Check out all of tonight's predictions below.
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NHL Best Bets
The team logos in the table below represent each of the matchups that our NHL betting staff is targeting from today's slate of games. Click on the team logos for any of the matchups below to navigate to a specific bet discussed in this article.
| Game | Time (ET) | Pick |
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  | 7 p.m. | |
  | 8 p.m. | |
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| 8 p.m. | |
Specific betting recommendations come from the sportsbook offering preferred odds as of writing. Always shop for the best price using our NHL Odds page, which automatically surfaces the best lines for every game. | ||
Flames vs. Canadiens
Since a dominating loss in the Heritage Classic, the Flames have quietly picked up their game considerably. A 2-2-1 record over their last five games does not reflect how much they have trended into better form.
During that span, they have played to a 53.17 xGF%, which is no surprise considering they looked to be the sharper side in four of those five contests. This coincides with the return of Rasmus Andersson from suspension and the addition of top prospect Connor Zary to the lineup.
The Canadiens' 7-6-2 record is the most inflated mark in the league right now. They have won five of those games in SO/OT, but they've lost five times by two or more goals.
Their 4.03 xGA/60 is the second-worst mark in the league. Their poor defensive play has been hidden by overtime victories and surprisingly strong goaltending, though.
This is a good time to buy on the underachieving Flames and sell on the Canadiens. Anything better than -160 is a play for me on the Flames to win this matchup.
Pick: Flames (-145)
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Ducks vs. Predators
By Carol Schram
After a last-place finish in the NHL standings last season, the Anaheim Ducks are currently sitting in a Western Conference wild-card spot under new coach Greg Cronin, who has guided them to a 4-2-0 record on the road.
This week, the Ducks embark on a quick two-game trek through the Central Division, playing in Nashville on Tuesday and Colorado on Wednesday.
In Music City, they’ll face a struggling Predators team that has been outscored 17-10 in its last three games, all losses, including a 7-5 collapse against Arizona on Saturday when they held 2-0 and 4-2 leads.
Under their new coach, Andrew Brunette, the Preds are giving up 3.5 goals per game, and their penalty kill has fallen to 31st, at 68.1% — even though their expected goals rate at 5-on-5 is a respectable 53.29%.
They’ve been shaky in net, where normally stellar Juuse Saros is an uncharacteristic minus-6.2 goals saved above expected.
Both of the Ducks’ stoppers have good numbers, which helps cover up their 46.06% team expected goals rate. And Anaheim has good special teams — in the top half of the league on both the power play and the penalty kill.
As upstarts, on the road, the Ducks are undervalued in this matchup, given implied odds of winning of just 38.5%. Grab that value, and look for Anaheim to play a winning tune when they kick off their road trip on Tuesday. Play it all the way down to +120.
Pick: Ducks (+160)
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Lightning vs. Blues
By Greg Liodice
For years, the Tampa Bay Lightning have reigned supreme over the NHL. These days, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t at least slightly concerned about their current status.
Yes, they’ve had to start the season without stalwart goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy, but this team should be better than what they are.
The Bolts head to the Gateway City to face the St. Louis Blues, and the teams are currently on different ends of the spectrum. The Blues are currently riding high, winning four out of their last five games (including a dominating win over Colorado, 8-2). Tampa, on the other hand, just suffered a shutout loss to Carolina and has lost three out of four.
Looking at the metrics, both teams are playing similar 5-on-5 hockey with the Blues having the slight advantage. In expected goals, St. Louis is playing to a 45.91 xGF% and Tampa to a 45.77 xGF%.
On the defensive end, we have the Blues with a 2.97 GA/60 to the Lightning’s 3.04.
Conversely, the Lightning have the advantage on special teams. They rank near the top in both the power play and penalty kill, whereas the Blues are among the worst.
But what can we attest to these starkly different stretches from both teams? I’d rack it up to goaltending. Both Jordan Binnington and Joel Hofer have been crucial parts of helping the Blues get back into a groove. Jonas Johansson for the Lightning is put in a position he’s never been in before, and now he’s starting to feel the heat.
I like St. Louis in this matchup for that reason. Robert Thomas is playing like a stud, and Pavel Buchnevich is heating up after netting a hat trick last game. At +115 at home, where the Blues are 5-2 and the Lightning are 2-3-2 on the road, I love the Blues moneyline pick here.
Pick: Blues (+115)
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Devils vs. Jets
By Tony Sartori
I'm going to include the game in which he actually got hurt since he played only three minutes, but losing Jack Hughes has been (predictably) detrimental to New Jersey's offense, especially considering the combined absence of Nico Hischier. In the four games without those two guys, the Devils are averaging just 2.5 goals scored.
There were six or fewer total goals scored in three of those four games. This lack of offensive production without Hughes and Hischier is likely to continue against Winnipeg, a team that currently leads the NHL in expected goals against per 60 minutes at 5-on-5 (xGA/60).
Backing up the Jets' terrific blue line is goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, who has been a typically safe bet for the past decade. Yeah, he started off this season poorly, but he is now 5-2-1 with a .910 SV% and 2.47 GAA over his past eight starts.
There have been six or fewer total goals scored in five of those eight outings. Meanwhile, Winnipeg's underlying metrics suggest that offensive regression is looming as it ranks 19th in the league in expected goals for per 60 minutes at 5-on-5.
Not that New Jersey's blue line is anything particularly special, but it hovers around the league average in xGA/60 at 5-on-5. My biggest concern with the Under in this spot is goaltender Vitek Vanecek, who has been terrible thus far.
With that said, he is 2-1 in his career against the Jets with a .906 SV% and 3.37 GAA, so perhaps he can turn things around in this matchup.
Pick: Under 6 (+112)
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Devils vs. Jets
By Grant White
Two heavyweight contenders stand toe-to-toe in central Canada tonight as the New Jersey Devils visit the Winnipeg Jets.
Both teams are playing inspired hockey right now, meaning this one should take longer than 60 minutes to sort out.
The Jets come into this one off their second loss in five games. Although a 3-2-0 record is a respectable outcome, Winnipeg's underlying metrics support that the team should be more successful than we've seen. The Jets have outplayed their opponents in five straight, posting a cumulative 61.1% expected goals-for rating over that stretch.
Likewise, the Devils have been effective despite playing on the road since the start of November. New Jersey has posted game scores above 54.5% in five of its last six, winning just three games across that sample.
The Jets and Devils both have solid defensive metrics, and neither team will be giving up any ground as they look to break out of their respective slumps.
This one has all the makings of an overtime game, and at +360, we're taking that action.
Pick: Regulation Tie (+360)
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