Check out tonight's NHL picks and predictions as I share my best bets for Saturday, November 30.
Now that we got our feasting and spending out of the way, let's get back into the groove and make some NHL Best Bets!
With 12 games on today's slate, let's dive into the numbers and win some cash.
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 |
|---|---|---|
  | 7 p.m. | |
  | 10 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. | ||
Lightning vs. Maple Leafs
When you think of these two teams, the first things you probably think of highlight goals, exceptional puck-moving, elite power play, etc.
You would be absolutely right. But what if I told you that we can add stout defense to that list as well?
The Tampa Bay Lightning already have a reputation as one of the more well-rounded teams in the NHL. They have one of the greatest goaltenders of our lifetime, Andrei Vasilevskiy and a future Hall of Fame defenseman, Victor Hedman.
However, the Toronto Maple Leafs are up there with one of the best defenses in the league. There’s nothing special here. Morgan Rielly will collect the points, but this corps just gets the job done.
Since November 1, the Leafs have been the third-best defensive team in the league with a 2.03 xGA/60 and have only allowed 2.2 goals per game.
You can’t talk about the Leafs without their exceptional goaltending with Anthony Stolarz and Joseph Woll. Stolarz was always a solid backup, but a starter, he was never. Now he’s enjoying a career-best season in 13 starts with a .921 SV% and a 3.7 goals saved above expected (GSAx).
Factor in that both of these teams haven’t played in three nights, so they’re probably either fresh or still sluggish from their Thanksgiving parties.
Regardless of how dynamic both teams are, I’m expecting a tight battle. The total being at 6.5 helps as well, so let’s ride with an under here.
Pick: Under 6.5 (-112)
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Sharks vs. Kraken
Last night was utter chaos.
The San Jose Sharks and Seattle Kraken lit up the scoreboard in the Shark Tank with a San Jose 8-5 victory.
Just for a brief moment, it gave us a glimpse of what’s to come in the Bay area. Young studs Will Smith and top draft pick Macklin Celebrini helped light up the scoreboard, while William Eklund is developing to be a point-per-game player.
There’s a lot of hope after a few years of grief for the Sharks and they’re only going to get better. But young pups always go through some growing pains, and on a back-to-back playing the same team, I’m expecting the Sharks to come back down to earth.
Both the Sharks and the Kraken got their goals out of the way. Scoring a combined 13 goals in one game is unheard of, even if it’s a higher-scoring league these days.
San Jose got lucky last night, playing against Philipp Grubauer, who’s been a disaster since coming to the PNW during its inception. Now it’s time for the Kraken to bring out the big guns in Joey Daccord, who’s one of the NHL’s feel-good stories. Daccord is playing to an exceptional .916 SV% and an 8.6 GSAx.
Additionally, Seattle is a veteran-laden team and even though it’s not the best, I can’t see the Kraken accepting the young Sharks to light them up for a second straight night.
Before last night’s debacle, the Kraken only allowed 2.5 goals per game in November.
Take the under tonight. I will be shocked to see a repeat of last night.
Pick: Under 6 (-118)
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