Top NHL Odds, Picks, & Predictions: Thursday (2/29)

The NHL is back with another 12-game slate on Thursday night. The current playoff push is creating some incredible hockey to watch, as teams contend to finish top-three in their division or good enough to climb into one of two Wild Card seeds within each conference.

Last week, we went 1-2 with our NHL best bets. Surprisingly, Detroit and Colorado, two high-octane offenses with mediocre defense and goaltending, went into overtime 1-1, with the Red Wings sealing a victory behind Patrick Kane’s game-winning goal. The New York Islanders got blanked 4-0 on the road against St. Louis, which never came close to cashing over 6.5 total goals. Fortunately, we did get one, with the New York Rangers routing the New Jersey Devils 5-1 on the road to easily cash their -102 moneyline odds.

This week, we’ve found multiple betting lines in various NHL markets that offer a strong probability of hitting. Make sure to follow Matt MacKay on Twitter to get more free plays and NHL best bets to build bankroll.

Our NHL Prop Bet Cheat Sheet assists bettors by comparing lines from leading sportsbooks with our daily projections >>

Thursday's NHL Best Bets

(Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook)

Toronto Maple Leafs (-245) vs. Arizona Coyotes (+198) | O/U 6.5 (-118/-104)

Oddsmakers are making Toronto a heavy favorite at -245 moneyline odds against Arizona, who owns the longest active losing slump in the NHL. The Coyotes have lost 13 consecutive games, including a 6-3 loss to the Maple Leafs at home last week. We’re not targeting the moneyline, puck line, or total in this contest. Instead, we’re diving into the player prop market and investing in William Nylander to light the lamp to cash his any time goal scorer prop.

Nylander is getting +120 odds on his any time goal scorer line, which is good value considering he’s second on Toronto in goals (31) behind Auston Matthews. He gets plenty of good looks skating on the first-line attack with Matthews and Mitch Marner, and in his last outing against Arizona, Nylander logged two goals. Connor Ingram is expected to start in the crease for the Coyotes on Thursday. He’s allowed seven goals in his last two starts and while he didn’t start against Toronto last week, he’s only managed to hold one opponent under three goals in his last six starts. Nylander is on a three-game drought and is due to score against a weak opponent like Arizona, so let’s stake a unit at +120 odds.

Bet: William Nylander Any Time Goal Scorer (+120)

---

Minnesota Wild (-104) vs. Nashville Predators (-115) | O/U 6.5 (+104/-128)

We’re sticking with the NHL player props and once again going back to an any time goal scorer prop. This time, it’s Matt Boldy. The 22-year-old winger has been lighting it up for Minnesota this season, third on the team with 23 goals, including four in his last five games played.

Boldy scored against Nashville’s primary goaltender Juuse Saros in their last matchup in January, while also scoring at least one goal in five of his last six games against Western Conference opponents. At +170 odds, we’ll take this value all day, so let’s stake another unit on Boldy to deliver a goal on the road against a red-hot Predators team.

Bet: Matt Boldy Any Time Goal Scorer (+170)

---

Detroit Red Wings (-114) vs. New York Islanders (-105) | O/U 6.5 (+100/-122)

Our final play will be in a good matchup between the Detroit Red Wings and New York Islanders. The Islanders have struggled a bit lately, going 4-3-3 in their last ten games, while the Red Wings are one of the hottest teams in the NHL, winning six straight and going 7-2-1- in their last ten games. Patrick Kane and Alex DeBrincat have been lighting the lamp consistently for Detroit and now, they get an Islanders team that has allowed the sixth most goals (197) against in the league and ninth-most per game (3.33) this season.

New York is 2-2 straight up in their last four games, coming off of a big 3-2 overtime win against Dallas on the road. Prior to that win, back-to-back losses against St. Louis and Tampa Bay had drained a bit of momentum. Expect the Islanders to have momentum again after beating the Stars but Detroit is no slouch, winning six straight and covering the puck line in 10 of their last 11 home games. The Red Wings are 3-0 as marginal favorites at home coming off of a win this season, while also beating the Islanders on the road 4-3 back in October.

Yes, Detroit’s win streak will inevitably end at some point, but their goaltending has improved lately, allowing eight total goals in their last four games. Their offense is too potent for the Islanders to contain, especially with Ilya Sorokin confirmed in the crease. Sorokin has a 3.11 GAA and while he’s played better of late, Alex Lyon, Detroit’s goaltender, has held the last three opponents at home to five total goals. Detroit’s -114 moneyline odds are a two-unit play to wrap up this highly-anticipated slate of games on Thursday night.

Bet: Detroit Red Wings Moneyline (-114) 

---

Matthew MacKay is a featured writer for FantasyPros. For more from Matthew, check out his archive and follow him @Matt_MacKay_.