We are loving the action throughout this impressive NHL season so far. As we move past the mid way point in the season, each division’s ladder has already become well formed. Despite this, every single win or loss can have a significant impact on where each team will finish at the end of the season, so it is important that you don’t miss any of the action!
Here at SportsTips, we are just as keen on the NHL as you are! We spend each and every day going through the best games and previewing them for you. Our experts offer up their free NHL picks, which means that you not only get enjoyment out of watching some intriguing games, but also make extra cash while doing so!
Look below to find our free NHL picks, as we preview the best five games on today’s schedule.
Edmonton Oilers @ Florida Panthers – 12.30PM ET
Some lunchtime NHL viewing to get you started for an action packed day of games, and we get to see the Edmonton Oilers travel to Florida to take on the Panthers. The Oilers have lost their last two games in a row to the Wild and Lightning. The Panthers have also lost their last two games in a row and their losses came against the Predators and Blue Jackets.
Marko Nadin
It took two consecutive home losses for the Florida Panthers to lose the top seed in the Eastern Conference. They allowed six goals in each of the last two games against Nashville and Edmonton and now the Panthers are second in the Eastern Conference with a 35-12-5 record, one point shy of the Carolina Hurricanes. Florida is still the best home team in the league winning 23 of 28 games. The Panthers score league-best 4.1 goals per game on 36.6 shots on goal per game.
The Edmonton Oilers are 8th in the Western Conference with a 28-20-3 record. After winning 5 straight games, the Oilers lost two in a row to Minnesota and Tampa Bay. The Oilers have the second highest PP% in the league with 36.9%. They are ranked 9th in the league with 3.3 goals per game on 33.7 shots on goal per game. Edmonton has won 6 of the last 10 games against Florida. They have won 4 of the last 5 road games and 11 of the last 15 played on Saturday. On the other hand, the Oilers have won only 2 of the last 9 games as an underdog and 1 of the last 9 against Atlantic Division opponents.
Marko’s NHL Pick: Florida Panthers (-210)
Tony Battalio
The Edmonton Oilers started out the season playing well below the expectations they had set for them in the preseason. As the season has gone on, however, the Oilers have been playing much better as they look to use a strong second half to get themselves into the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Oilers come into this game with a record of 28-20-3 on the season. They are currently in fourth place in the Pacific Division as they have swapped spots with the Los Angeles Kings for the time being. Edmonton is currently on a two game losing streak they will be looking to break in this one.
“I think we can take a lot of good things from that & build off them.”
After a competitive game in Tampa that saw them come a goal post away from OT, the #Oilers look to carry over that battle level tomorrow vs. the Panthers. @SkipTheDishes | #LetsGoOilers
— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) February 26, 2022
The Florida Panthers have been one of the best teams in the National Hockey League this season. They come into this game with a record of 35-12-5 through their first 52 games on the season. They are also on a two game losing streak after losing back to back games to Columbus and Nashville. Florida is currently sitting in first place in the Atlantic Division at the moment. They are one of the clear favorites to win the Stanley Cup this season. As for the result of this one, I have the Panthers getting the win over Edmonton as them having home ice advantage will give them the edge.
Tony’s NHL Pick: Florida Panthers (-210)
Jeffery Thomas
The Florida Panthers have lost two straight at home for the first time since mid-December and will look to snap that streak Saturday afternoon when they host Edmonton. They still lead the NHL in home wins (23-5-0), but the loss to Columbus on Thursday was stunning to say the least. It was even more stunning given their recent history against the Blue Jackets, who hadn’t kept it within four goals in the previous two meetings this season. They may have taken the Jackets lightly, but the Panthers will be sure to be ready against this dangerous Edmonton team who have the two guys tied for second in the league in points, in Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. The Oilers are also coming in off a loss, 3-5 to the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Allowing 5 goals on just 23 shots on goal, it was a disappointing effort from goalie Mike Smith who has struggled all season with a 5-6-1 record and 3.65 GAA. Also, a key stat to monitor for this one is Connor McDavid’s six-game road streak of scoring goals. Interesting to see if he’ll extend that here and he’ll likely be firing shots off to get it, so take a look at his shots on goal props. The Panthers are an elite offense and that won’t change anytime soon. However, they’ve been very shaky on defense, giving up 6 goals in back to back games and now will have to deal with McDavid and Draisaitl. This sets up as a fun game with lots of goals so I’m loving a play on the over, which is always a great bet when the Florida Panthers are involved.
Jeffery’s NHL Pick: Over 7 (+106)
New York Rangers @ Pittsburgh Penguins – 3.00PM ET
Another chapter in the Metropolitan Division rivalry between the New York Rangers and the Pittsburgh Penguins kicks off on Saturday afternoon in the NHL. The Rangers have won five of their last six games, including their last two in a row. The Penguins are looking to get back on track after losing their last three games in a row, dropping their season record to 31-14-8.
Marko Nadin
The Pittsburgh Penguins are 6th in the Eastern Conference with a 31-14-8 record. After winning 4 straight games, the Penguins have lost the last three against Toronto, Carolina and New Jersey. Pittsburgh is among the top 10 defensive teams in the league with 2.7 allowed goals per game, 30.3 shots per game and 85.5 PP%. The Penguins have won 21 of the last 30 games and 14 of the last 20 against conference rivals. They have lost 6 of the last 7 home games and 7 of the last 9 following a loss of three or more goals. Pittsburgh has won the last 4 games against the Rangers.
The New York Rangers are 4th in the Eastern Conference with a 33-13-5 record. They have won 5 of the last 6 games and are coming off a 4-1 victory over the Washington Capitals. The Rangers have won 3 of the last 4 games and 6 of the last 10 games against the Penguins. They have won 21 of the last 26 against conference rivals and 7 of the last 9 against division rivals. The Rangers are 7-3 in the last 10 games coming in after 1 day rest and 7-3 against teams with a winning record.
Marko’s NHL Pick: Pittsburgh Penguins (-164)
Tony Battalio
The New York Rangers are coming into this game with a record of 33-13-5 on the season. They have been one of the biggest surprises of the 2021-22 National Hockey League season. They are sitting in the top three of the Metropolitan Division and have even spent time on top of the division so far this season. They are currently third in the Metropolitan as they will take on the team right in front of them when they take the ice against the Pittsburgh Penguins. New York is currently on a two game win streak and have won four of their last five games.
Tomorrow, the Penguins will face the Rangers for the first time this season.
Coach Sullivan gives updates on the team and his expectations for tomorrow’s game vs. NYR ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/7GFem1HDqj
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) February 25, 2022
The Pittsburgh Penguins come into this game with a record of 31-14-8 through their first 53 games of the year. They are currently in second place in the Metropolitan Division and have been a surprise to some fans this year. Pittsburgh has a shot of making a run at the Stanley Cup this season as long as they stay healthy. Pittsburgh is currently on a three game losing streak after dropping games to New Jersey, Carolina and Toronto. As for the result of this one however, I have Pittsburgh snapping their losing streak with a victory.
Tony’s NHL Pick: Pittsburgh Penguins (-164)
Jeffery Thomas
This will be the first meeting of these Metro Division rivals this season and should be very interesting. New York is riding high off a 4-1 win over the Capitals on Thursday, while Pittsburgh dropped an ugly game 1-6 to New Jersey the same day. Those results allowed New York to leapfrog the Pens for 2nd place in the Metro. The Rangers have been in phenomenal form lately, going 5-0-1 in their last six games. During their stretch they’ve only allowed nine non-shootout goals. The Penguins are on a three-game skid, matching their longest losing streak in regulation.
It would take an epic collapse for either of these teams to miss the playoffs given the gap between the top four teams in the Metro and the rest, but every game is still important to them and getting back on track is paramount for the Pittsburgh side. During the losing streak they were outscored 5-14 and in the last game against New Jersey, Tristan Jarry had to be pulled from the game after giving up his fifth goal. A win here would do wonders for their confidence as a team. Given how these two teams are heading in different directions coming in, I feel a lot better taking the underdog Rangers who have been in much better form. It’s simply much harder to produce goals against Igor and New York than it is Jarry and Pittsburgh right now, and that’s going to be the difference maker. They are playing with a lot of energy and with Igor in net, I love the Rangers, even on the road.
Jeffery’s NHL Pick: New York Rangers (+136)
Tampa Bay Lightning @ Nashville Predators – 7.30PM ET
The Tampa Bay Lightning and the Nashville Predators will come together on Saturday night in the NHL, for what promises to be an interesting clash. The Lightning have won their last three games in a row, which includes wins over the Coyotes, Devils and Oilers. The Predators have followed up their four game losing streak by winning their last two games in a row, and this takes their season record to 30-18-4.
Marko Nadin
The Nashville Predators have bounced back after losing 4 straight games with a 6-4 win in Florida and 2-1 shootout win against Dallas. The Predators are now 5th in the Western Conference with a 30-18-4 record. Nashville has won 13 of the last 17 games following a win and 12 of the last 15 following a game in which they allowed 2 or less goals. The Predators have lost 6 of the last 8 against Eastern Conference opponents and 4 of the last 5 as underdogs. They have played over the total goals margin in 10 of the last 11 games following a game in which they scored 2 or less goals.
The Tampa Bay Lightning are third in the Eastern Conference with a 33-11-6 record. The defending champions have won the last three games despite the fact they allowed 3 goals in each of those. The Lightning have dominated the Predators recently winning 7 of the last 10 games but have lost 2-7 in their last matchup. Tampa Bay has won 14 of the last 20 games following a win and 11 of the last 14 against Western Conference rivals. They have played over the total goals margin in 9 of the last 13 games against teams with winning records.
Marko’s NHL Pick: Over 6.5 (-105)
Tony Battalio
The Tampa Bay Lightning are looking less and less like they are going to win their third straight Stanley Cup this season. While the Lightning themselves have played well, other teams have just simply been much better. However, they could always manage to get hot at the right time again and make a run to the Stanley Cup Finals. Tampa Bay comes into this one with a record of 33-11-6 through their first 50 games of the season. They are currently on a three game win streak, and have won four of their last five on the year.
We’ll see ya tomorrow! #BoltsTakeBroadway | #GoBolts pic.twitter.com/seil8uWmBy
— Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) February 26, 2022
The Nashville Predators have put together a decent season thus far. They come into this game with a record of 30-18-4 through their first 52 games of the season. They are currently on a two game winning streak after getting wins over Dallas and Florida in their last two games. They are currently in fourth place in the Central Division. Nashville will be looking to get themselves back into playoff positioning with a strong second half of the year. As for the result of this game, I have Tampa Bay getting the victory over Nashville.
Tony’s NHL Pick: Tampa Bay Lightning (-182)
Jeffery Thomas
The two-time defending champs will meet the Nashville Predators in the 2022 Stadium Series game at Nissan Stadium, home of the NFL’s Tennessee Titans, in doing so, Tampa will help the NHL check off another box, becoming the 27th team to play outdoors. That will leave just the Hurricanes, Blue Jackets, Panthers, Hurricanes, Coyotes, and expansion Kraken as the only teams to not join the annual affair.
The Predators will have a chance to match history Saturday night, as they look to become just the second team to defeat the reigning champs in the outdoor game. Reigning champs are 4-1 in the open air with the lone loss being the Blackhawks falling to the Wild in 2016. This is another spot where I think we’ll get a lot of goals. I expect a competitive effort from Nashville “at home” so a bet on the +1.5 for them I also like. In what I see as a 4-3 game either way, I’m going to take the over 6.
Jeffery’s NHL Pick: Over 6.5 (-105)
Colorado Avalanche @ Vegas Golden Knights – 10.00PM ET
Both the Colorado Avalanche and the Vegas Golden Knights will be playing the second game of their back-to-back. Last night the Avalanche played the Jets, in a game they won, 6-3. The Golden Knights faced off against the Coyotes, and the end result was 1-3, as the Golden Knights were defeated by one of the worst teams in the league.
Marko Nadin
The Vegas Golden Knights are 6th in the Western Conference with a 29-19-4 record. They have lost 4 of the last 5 games and are coming off a 1-3 loss against the worst team in the league, the Arizona Coyotes. The Golden Knights have won 5 of the last 6 games against Colorado. They have won 20 of the last 26 Saturday games and 21 of the last 27 games playing without a day off. On the other hand, they have lost 5 of the last 7 home games and 6 of the last 8 against conference opponents. Vegas has played over the total goals margin in 5 of the last 6 home games.
The Colorado Avalanche are the best team in the league with a 37-10-4 record. They have won 4 of the last 5 games and are coming off a 6-3 victory over the Winnipeg Jets. Colorado scores 4 goals per game which ranks them second in the league on 35.1 shots on goals which ranks them 5th. They won the last game against Vegas 2-0 on February 16th. Colorado has won 10 of the last 11 games playing without a day off and 8 of the last 9 road games. They have played under the total goals margin in the last 4 games against conference rivals.
Marko’s NHL Pick: Over 6.5 (-110)
Tony Battalio
The Colorado Avalanche have been the best team in the National Hockey League so far this season. They come into this game sitting in first place in the Central Division as they hold a double digit lead. They are currently 37-10-4 through their first 51 games of the season. They have won four of their last five and come off of a recent victory against the Winnipeg Jets in their last game. They also already own a win over the Vegas Golden Knights this season as well. They will also look to continue to grow their lead in the Central as they are on pace to wrap the division up by the end of March.
🎥 DeBoer: We don’t have a lot of time to feel sorry for ourselves. pic.twitter.com/r8x9qQSglZ
— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) February 26, 2022
The Vegas Golden Knights are playing the second game of a back to back in this one. In the first game of their back to back they dropped a game to the worst team in the league, the Arizona Coyotes, on Friday evening. Vegas comes into this game with a record of 29-19-4 through their first 52 games of the season. They are currently in second place in the Pacific Division, after being passed by the Calgary Flames recently. As for the result of this game, I have the Colorado Avalanche picking up the win.
Tony’s NHL Pick: Colorado Avalanche (-134)
Jeffery Thomas
We saw both teams in action on Friday night, but received totally different results. Colorado got down 0-3 at home to Winnipeg at the end of the 1st period, but regrouped at the intermission, and by the time the 2nd period was over, they had tied the game up at 3. From there, they produced another 3 goal period in third, shutting out the Jets in the process and securing the 6-3 comeback victory. It was a true testament to their brilliance they’ve shown all year, and most specifically at home. For Vegas, they were on the road in Arizona but I don’t think their game ever made it to the arena.
The game went scoreless in the first period and then the Knights got the scoring started at the 11:03 mark in the 2nd to go up 1-0, but from there they were shutout and conceded 3 to the Coyotes. It wasn’t due to lack of chances, as they outshot Arizona 44-32 and won the face off battle 60%-40%. It just wasn’t their night and they’ll have the quick turnaround to try and right the ship. Being back at home will be a welcoming development for a Vegas team that was just flat on Friday and they’ll be looking to avenge a loss to Colorado just last Wednesday. The Avalanche however, are 8-1 in their last nine road games and 10-1 in their last eleven games on no rest, so it’s very hard to pick against them in this spot. Vegas will most likely keep this one close and possibly take it to OT, but in the end the Avs will have too much and grind out the victory.
Jeffery’s NHL Pick: Colorado Avalanche (-134)
Minnesota Wild @ Calgary Flames – 10.00PM ET
The Minnesota Wild and the Calgary Flames will face off against each other in back-to-back games and this Saturday night game will be the first leg. The Wild come into this game having lost their last two games in a row, against the Senators and Maple Leafs. The Flames experienced their first loss since late January, going down 1-7 against the Canucks.
Marko Nadin
The Calgary Flames saw their 10-game winning streak being snapped in the last game as they lost 1-7 to the Vancouver Canucks. The Flames are currently third in the Western Conference with a 30-14-6 record. The Flames are second-best in the league allowing only 2.4 goals per game and stand 8th with 3.4 scored goals per game. They are also second best with 35.9 shots on goal per game. Calgary has won 3 of the last 5 games against Minnesota but these two teams haven’t faced each other in more than 2 years. Calgary has won the last 8 home games and 7 of the last 8 games against conference rivals.
The Minnesota Wild are 4th in the Western Conference with a 31-15-3 record. They have lost 4 of the last 5 games and are coming off a 1-3 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs. They are finishing a four-game road trip with a visit to Calgary where they have lost 3 of the last 5 games. Minnesota are the third-best team in the league with 3.7 scored goals per game. They have lost 4 of the last 5 road games and 4 of the last 5 games playing after a one day rest. Minnesota has played over the total goals margin in 8 of the last 9 games scoring 2 or less goals in the previous one.
Marko’s NHL Pick: Calgary Flames (-152)
Tony Battalio
The Minnesota Wild are coming into this game with a record of 31-15-3 through their first 49 games of the season. They are currently in third place in the Central Division. They have had an up and down season thus far as they’ve gone through periods of winning and losing streaks. They have spent some time at the top of the league but are now in the middle of the pack. They are currently on a two game losing streak. They will be looking to snap that streak with a win in this one on the road.
Coach Evason on Saturday’s matchup in Calgary.
Full comments » https://t.co/GbBo3tVd3v pic.twitter.com/bIroxAELZk
— Minnesota Wild (@mnwild) February 25, 2022
The Calgary Flames have been the hottest team in the National Hockey League as of late. Calgary is coming into this game with a record of 30-14-6 through their first 50 games of the season. Calgary had their ten game winning streak broken in their last game after losing to Vancouver Canucks by a score of 1-7. Now they look to start another big winning streak in this one as they take on Minnesota at home. As for the result of this game, I have the Calgary Flames picking up the win over the Minnesota Wild.
Tony’s NHL Pick: Calgary Flames (-152)
Jeffery Thomas
The red-hot Flames saw their ten game winning streak end in a shocking 1-7 defeat to the Canucks on Thursday and now they’ll hope to get another streak started against Minnesota. They were nearly shutout in the game, if it wasn’t for a meaningless goal with two minutes left when they were down 0-7. I would expect that to be an outlier performance for this top 8 ranked offense, that averages 3.4 goals a game and has the 11th ranked power play. That 7 spot they let up was also something that shouldn’t be repeated, as they rank 1st in defense, only allowing 2.4 goals a game. The Wild also suffered a defeat in their last game, a 1-3 loss to the Maple Leafs.
It was a slow starting game, with no goals in the first period before Minnesota opened the scoring, going up 1-0, but couldn’t get anything else the rest of the game. The loss dropped the Wild to 1-2-0 in their current four game Canada trip that will conclude with this game late Saturday in Calgary. The Flames and Wild have both been scoring goals in bunches since the break, despite their performances in their last games. The total opening up at 5.5 is intriguing but I also love the price on the home Flames, who are getting a good price after a bad loss to Vancouver. They are the superior team in this matchup, with a +342 shot differential on the season compared to Minnesota’s -1 differential. Calgary is also top 10 in face off %, while Minnesota is 28th and these little advantages will all add up, leading to a nice home victory for the Flames.
Jeffery’s NHL Pick: Calgary Flames (-152)
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*Odds and spreads correct at time of writing, courtesy of FanDuel.
