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NHL Betting Odds, Picks & Predictions: Thursday (2/23)

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We have a stacked 10-game slate of hockey on Thursday with some great matchups. Below, I give out my two best bets for Thursday’s NHL slate.

Also, take a look at our other best bets for Thursday:

View 5-star bets and historical prop performance by players with our Prop Bet Analyzer >>

Thursday’s Best NHL Bets

Follow me on Twitter to get all my plays on days without full write-ups.

Edmonton Oilers (-105) @ Pittsburgh Penguins (-115) | O/U 7 (-109/-109)

To kick off Thursday’s slate, the Penguins host the Oilers. Pittsburgh enters this contest in poor form, losing three straight games and seven of its last 11. This poor play is likely to continue, as the Oilers boast the advantage across the board.

At 5-on-5, Edmonton ranks fourth in the league in expected goals for per 60 minutes (xGF/60) and 12th in expected goals against per 60 minutes (xGA/60). Meanwhile, the Pens rank fifth in xGF/60 and 22nd in xGA/60 at 5-on-5.

The goaltending battle will likely be a wash between Stuart Skinner and Tristan Jarry, the two projected netminders. While Jarry possesses the better surface-level stats, Skinner’s underlying metrics are much stronger. At 5-on-5, Skinner ranks fourth among starting goaltenders in goals saved above expected per 60 minutes (GSAx/60) while Jarry ranks just 17th.

With the better offense, defense and goaltender, Edmonton is the team to back on the road in this contest. It is also worth noting that the Oilers have won four of the last five meetings between these two clubs.

Best Bet: Oilers ML (-105 via BetRivers)

New York Rangers (-148) @ Detroit Red Wings (+128) | O/U 6.5 (+112/-134)

At the same time as the Oilers/Penguins game, there is an Eastern Conference tilt with the Red Wings hosting the Rangers. Combining all of these two teams’ games this season, the Under has hit at a roughly 58-percent clip.

Considering the projected goaltending matchup, this trend is likely to continue. Slated to start in the crease for New York is reigning Vezina Trophy winner Igor Shesterkin, who is 25-9-7 with a .912 SV% and 2.59 GAA through 41 starts this season. His metrics are even stronger, ranking sixth among starting goaltenders in GSAx/60 at 5-on-5.

Across the ice, goaltender Ville Husso is projected to start between the pipes for Detroit. Entering this contest in tremendous form, Husso is 8-3 with a .923 SV% and 2.37 GAA over his last 11 starts. Not only are these two incredible netminders, but the teams in front of them also play to the Under.

At 5-on-5, both the Rangers and Red Wings rank in the bottom-half of the league in xGF/60 and the top-half of the league in xGA/60, making the Under the play to make in this matchup.

Best Bet: Under 6.5 (-134 via BetRivers)

Vancouver Canucks (+105) @ St. Louis Blues (-125) | O/U 7 (-105/-115)

Later in the evening, there is a Western Conference tilt with the Blues hosting the Canucks. While both of these teams are terrible, the Blues should not be favored against anyone.

At 5-on-5, Vancouver ranks higher than St. Louis in both xGF/60 and xGA/60. Backing up the Blues’ terrible lineup is goaltender Jordan Binnington, who has struggled mightily this season.

Through 44 starts, Binnington possesses a .893 SV% and 3.29 GAA. Entering this game in particularly poor form, he is 3-6 with a .887 SV% and 3.74 GAA over his last nine outings. Among starting goaltenders, he ranks 24th in GSAx/60 at 5-on-5.

This game should be closer to -110/-110. I am taking the value on Vancouver at +105.

Best Bet: Canucks ML (+105 via DraftKings)

Best of luck!

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Tony Sartori is a featured writer at BettingPros. For more from Tony, check out his archive and follow him @tony_sartori.

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