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.
New Jersey Devils @ Pittsburgh Penguins – 7.00PM ET
We’ve got a clash between two teams in the Metropolitan Division as one of the first games on Thursday night in the NHL. The New Jersey Devils come into this clash on a two game losing streak, after going down to the Penguins and Lightning. The Pittsburgh Penguins have also lost their last two games in a row, with their losses coming against the Maple Leafs and Hurricanes.
Marko Nadin
The Pittsburgh Penguins are currently fourth in the Eastern Conference with a 31-13-8 record. They had four straight wins following the All-Star break but have lost the last two games to Toronto 1-4 and Carolina 3-4 in the last one. Pittsburgh has won 8 of the last 10 games against New Jersey including a 4-2 win earlier this month. Seven of the last eight games between these two teams have finished over 5.5 goals. The Penguins have won 21 of the last 29 games and have played over the total point margin in the last 4 home games.
The New Jersey Devils are 15th in the Eastern Conference with a 17-28-5 record. The Devils won two straight games scoring 7 goals in each of those but have lost the following two games. They are coming off a 3-6 loss to the defending champion Tampa Bay Lightning. The Devils have won only one of the last eight games against conference rivals. They have lost 25 of the last 34 road games. The Devils have played over the total point margin in 14 of the last 18 road games.
Marko’s NHL Pick: Pittsburgh Penguins (-225)
Tony Battalio
The New Jersey Devils are having a really rough year thus far. At the halfway point of the season they have already been virtually eliminated from the Stanley Cup Playoffs. They come into this game with a record of 17-28-5 as they are well below the .500 mark through their first 50 games of the season. New Jersey is currently in the basement of the Metropolitan Division and that doesn’t look to be changing anytime soon. The Devils have had some bright spots this season but it is clear they still have a long way to go if they want to once again be competitive in the current landscape of the National Hockey League.
Who is your hockey idol? 🎤 pic.twitter.com/MmL3SRCrLB
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) February 23, 2022
The Pittsburgh Penguins have put together a fantastic season thus far. They seem to be looking like the Pittsburgh Penguins of old and even Sidney Crosby is reminding everybody of his old self as the second half of the season progresses. The Penguins are currently in second place in the Metropolitan Division and will be looking to end up winning the division, as they’ve gone back and forth between the top two for the majority of the last few months. As for the result of this game, I have the Pittsburgh Penguins picking up another victory, this time at home over the New Jersey Devils.
Tony’s NHL Pick: Pittsburgh Penguins (-225)
Jeffery Thomas
Both teams will be well rested Thursday when the New Jersey Devils visit the Pittsburgh Penguins. Pittsburgh has had three days off and has only played one game in six days, while the Devils have been off since February 15. The Pens are looking to snap a small two game losing streak after rattling off four wins prior to that. Those two losses came against formidable teams that are going to be in the playoffs in Toronto and Carolina so there’s no need to be in panic mode for Pittsburgh. The Devils are dealing with this long layoff due to the NHL initially being slated to shut down for the Olympics, but then teams just started using this month to make up COVID postponed games.
They’ve used the time off as a mix of practice and rest days, and just like Pittsburgh are losers of two straight. The Devils are no strangers to losing, as they are currently last place in the Metro division with a record of 17-28-5. I think it’ll take at least a period or so for the Devils to shake off the rust and get back in rhythm, and by that time the game could already be a bit out of hand. The consistency of Pittsburgh won’t allow them to drop this one and make it a three game losing streak. Their offense is reliable and so is Jarry in net, and they have home ice advantage. All signs point to a Pittsburgh beat down.
Jeffery’s NHL Pick: Pittsburgh Penguins -1.5 (-108)
Columbus Blue Jackets @ Florida Panthers – 7.00PM ET
The Columbus Blue Jackets kick off a short two game road trip on Thursday night, when they hit the road and take on the Florida Panthers. The Blue Jackets have won their last three games, and eight of their last 10. The Panthers had their three game winning streak snapped last time out, thanks to the Predators, 4-6.
Marko Nadin
The Florida Panthers are on top of the Eastern Conference with a 35-11-5 record which is the second-best record in the league after the Colorado Avalanche. The Panthers got their three-game winning streak snapped in the last game with a 4-6 loss to Nashville. The Panthers have won 9 of the last 10 games against Columbus. The last time they played, Florida won 8-4. Four of the last five games between these two have finished over 5.5 games. Florida has won 10 of the last 12 games against teams with a winning record.
The Columbus Blue Jackets are 9th in the Eastern Conference with a 26-23-1 record and are 9 points behind the Boston Bruins who are eighth. Columbus has won 6 of the last 7 games and is coming off a 4-3 overtime win over the Toronto Maple Leafs. They have won the last five games against conference rivals and 6 of the last 7 road games. Five of their last 6 road games have ended over the total goals margin. Five of the last six games between Florida and Columbus were won by the home team.
Marko’s NHL Pick: Florida Panthers (-465)
Tony Battalio
The Columbus Blue Jackets have been on a roll as of late. They are trying to make a late season playoff push which could mean they will make a couple moves before the deadline. Columbus comes into this game with a record of 26-23-1 on the season. They have won their last three games after picking up victories over Toronto, Buffalo, and Chicago. They have won four of their last five overall. If they can continue this level of play into the second half of the season they have a real shot at getting themselves into the playoffs and having a shot of winning the title.
T-minus 30 minutes til The Inside Edge!
Catch special guest Jean-Francois Berube over on @971thefan 📻 https://t.co/0NuG8a40Yf pic.twitter.com/fIuuGJGrsP
— Columbus Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) February 24, 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 35-11-5 on the season. They are currently in first place in the Atlantic Division at the moment, which is where they have been for 90% of the season thus far. They are arguably the favorite in the Eastern Conference to dethrone the Tampa Bay Lightning. Florida is currently on a one game losing streak after losing to Nashville in their last game. As for the result of this game, I have the Florida Panthers getting right back into the winners column with a victory.
Tony’s NHL Pick: Florida Panthers (-465)
Jeffery Thomas
The Florida Panthers are 23-4-0 on home ice this season and are coming off their first home loss since December 16. They’ll look to start a new home winning streak against the visiting Blue Jackets on Thursday. They’ll look to star winger Jonathan Huberdeau, who entered Wednesday as the league’s leading point scorer (72) and assist man (55), to get back on track. He is in fact on an eight game point streak, with one goal and thirteen assists in that span. Sam Reinhart is another hot Panthers forward who is on a seven-game point streak of his own. The Blue Jackets enter this contest on a bit of a hot streak, with their last game being an upset victory over the Maple Leafs.
That made their run a current three game winning streak and winners of eight of their last ten. During the ten game stretch, they’ve averaged 4.6 goals a game and there have been seven or more total goals in nine of those ten. Columbus’ hot offense isn’t the only reason for these high scoring games, as their defense and goaltending has struggled mightily. During that same ten game span, they’ve allowed opponents to score 3.8 goals a game. Both offenses are on fire and the Panthers alone have scored enough goals to clear the over by themselves in games against Columbus this year (9 and 8). Both teams also will be playing at a super high tempo so a play on the over is clearly the best play as both times they’ve faced each other have reached double digit goals.
Jeffery’s NHL Pick: Over 7 (-134)
Washington Capitals @ New York Rangers – 7.00PM ET
The road trip continues on for the Washington Capitals, who on Thursday night will travel to New York and take on the Rangers. The Capitals will be looking to build on back-to-back wins, over the Predators and Flyers, which has brought their season record to 28-15-9. The Rangers have won four of their last five, with their only loss in this time coming against the Red Wings, 2-3, in a shootout.
Marko Nadin
Both the Rangers and the Capitals are in the playoff picture in the East and will try to move up in the standings in order to secure a home-court advantage in the first playoff round. The Rangers are currently 5th in the conference with a 32-13-5 record. They have won 4 of the last 5 games and are coming off a 2-1 win over the Ottawa Senators. The Rangers are the third-best team in the league when it comes to allowed goals with only 2.5 per game. They have won 20 of their last 26 games against conference rivals.
The Washington Capitals are 7th in the Eastern Conference with a 28-15-9 record. They have won 3 of the last 4 games and are coming off a 5-3 road victory over the Philadelphia Flyers. The Capitals are 8th in the league with 2.8 goals allowed per game. Washington has won 4 of the last 5 games against the Rangers. They have won the last 5 road games and 7 of the last 10 against division rivals. Washington has played over the total goals margin in 5 of the last 7 games.
Marko’s NHL Pick: Under 6 (-122)
Tony Battalio
Alexander Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals started out the season tough, as they look to bring another ring to the nation’s capital. As the second half of the season gets underway the Capitals are currently sitting in a wildcard spot as they are fourth in the Metropolitan Division. Washington comes into this game with a record of 28-15-9 through their first 52 games of the season. They will be looking to get themselves back into the top three of the Metropolitan Division with a strong second half of the season.
Tomorrow, we’re taking #NYR to @espn. pic.twitter.com/LTcUThckqO
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) February 23, 2022
The New York Rangers will be looking to put some distance between themselves and the Washington Capitals in this game. New York has been one of the biggest surprises in the National Hockey League so far this season. They come into this game with a record of 32-13-5 through their first 50 games of the season. New York has all the tools they need to make a deep run in the Stanley Cup playoffs this season as long as they stay healthy. As for the result of this game, I have the Rangers picking up the win over the Capitals at home.
Tony’s NHL Pick: New York Rangers (-115)
Jeffery Thomas
Winners of their last 5 road games, the Capitals will look to continue that streak when they visit Madison Square Garden to take on the Rangers. A victory would tie Washington’s third longest road winning streak in franchise history. Their 36 points and 16-5-4 road record only trails Carolina and Pittsburgh for points away from home. The road success has coincided unfortunately, with an ugly stretch on home ice. They are 0-5-0 in their last five at home and that is what’s really keeping them from pushing Carolina for the division lead. In the opposite net, Igor Shesterkin is slated to make his seventh consecutive start. His 24-5-3 record and 2.01 GAA puts him squarely in the conversation for the Vezina Trophy and has been a major reason why the Rangers have risen to third place in the Metro Division.
The Rangers are one point behind the Penguins and four points ahead of the fourth-place Capitals. It’s been a 4-0-1 run over their last 5 games, despite their offense only scoring 14 goals, so it’s been very reliant on his goaltending brilliance. They have been able to convert their power plays however, which could play a big part in this game. Their PP is 12/29 in the last ten games. The Capitals have been struggling on defense lately, allowing over 3 goals a game in the month of February, and it’s hard to see it improving against this Rangers team that will be juiced up from the home crowd. They’ve also strangled on the penalty kill, which is a problem against New York’s 3rd rank power play. On offense, they historically create a lot of chances in front of goal themselves, so even against Igor, I think they can produce a reasonable total. All these point to a play on the over which is giving us good plus value and I love that.
Jeffery’s NHL Pick: Over 6 (+100)
Dallas Stars @ Nashville Predators – 8.30PM ET
The Dallas Stars, and Nashville Predators, both from the Central Division, will face off against each other on Thursday night. The Stars are playing on back-to-back nights, and last time out they got the win 3-2, in overtime against the Jets. The Predators managed to snap their four game losing streak last time out, with a good win over the Panthers, 6-4.
Marko Nadin
The Nashville Predators are fifth in the Western Conference with a 29-18-4 record. They were on a four-game losing streak before surprisingly defeating Florida 6-4 on the road which was just the Panthers fourth home loss this season. Nashville has won 3 of the last 4 games against Dallas. The Predators have won 13 of the last 19 home games, but only one of the last 6 against teams with a winning record. They have played over the total goals margin in 5 of the last 6 games and in 13 of the last 16 games against division rivals.
The Dallas Stars are 10th in the Western Conference with a 28-20-2 record. They have won 3 of the last 4 games and are coming off a 3-2 overtime win over the Winnipeg Jets. Dallas is only one point behind the place that leads to the playoffs. Dallas has won 6 of the last 7 road games and 9 of the last 13 overall. The Stars’ last four games have finished under the total goals margin as well as 13 of their last 19 against a team with a winning record.
Marko’s NHL Pick: Under 5.5 (-110)
Tony Battalio
The Dallas Stars will be playing the second game of a back to back in this game against the Nashville Predators. In the first game of their back to back on Wednesday evening the Stars took on the Winnipeg Jets. Dallas would go on to win that game in overtime at home by a score of 3-2. The victory over the Winnipeg Jets gave Dallas a record of 28-20-2 through their first 50 games of the season. Dallas is currently in fifth place in the Central Division as they will look to put together a strong second half to get back into playoff contention.
Big team W pic.twitter.com/CSHVa7318Q
— Nashville Predators (@PredsNHL) February 23, 2022
The Nashville Predators are coming into this game with a record of 29-18-4 through their first 51 games of the season. They are currently in the top Wild Card spot in the Western conference at the moment. However, they are only three points behind the Minnesota Wild for the third spot in the Central Division. Nashville has been playing above average this season and even spent time in first place in the Central Division earlier on this year. As for the result of this game, I have the Predators getting the win in this one.
Tony’s NHL Pick: Nashville Predators (-164)
Jeffery Thomas
The Dallas Stars will be coming into this game on the back to back after a comeback overtime victory over the Winnipeg Jets. Tyler Senguin put the game winner in 54 seconds into overtime, and upon review it stood, and the Stars came away victorious 3-2. It was a sparse crowd because of freezing weather and slick roads in the Dallas area, but the 10,000 that were on hand were strong enough to power their Stars through. That was Dallas’ 6th straight victory over Winnipeg at home and their fourth straight game with the Jets to go to overtime or a shootout. Now they will make the trip up to Nashville for a date with the Predators who are very strong at home.
It was a road win in the Predators’ last game though over the Panthers 6-4 to snap a four game winning streak. They overcame deficits of 0-1, 1-3 and 3-4 to get their 29th win of the season and sit firmly at 4th in the Central Division, one spot ahead of the Stars. The Stars are 1-6 in their last seven games as a road underdog and are struggling in this head to head matchup, just 1-4 in the last five meetings against the Predators in Nashville. The Predators have been streaky a lot of the season and coming off a win in the last game, it shouldn’t surprise anyone if they were to start up a little winning streak. That would of course include this win on Thursday over the Dallas Stars.
Jeffery’s NHL Pick: Nashville Predators (-164)
Calgary Flames @ Vancouver Canucks – 10.00PM ET
The hottest team right now in the NHL, the Calgary Flames, will travel to take on the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday night. The Flames’ winning streak has now reached double digits, and it currently stands at 10 games in a row. The Canucks have won three of their last four games, and this takes their overall season record to 24-22-6.
Marko Nadin
The Vancouver Canucks are 11th in the Western Conference with a 24-22-6 record. They have won 3 of the last 4 games and are coming off a 5-2 win over the Seattle Kraken. Vancouver scores only 2.6 goals per game and allows 2.8. The Canucks have lost 5 of the last 6 games coming off a win and 5 of the last 6 games after a two-day rest. They have also lost 18 of the last 26 coming in as underdogs. They have played over the total goals margin in the last 4 games following a win and in the last 5 against conference rivals.
The Calgary Flames are the hottest team in the league as they have won 10 straight games. The Flames are currently second in the Western Conference with a 30-13-6 record. They are coming off a 3-1 win over the Winnipeg Jets. The Flames are the best defensive team in the league allowing only 2.3 goals per game and rank third with 28.9 allowed shots per game. Offensively, they are 8th with 3.4 goals per game and 2nd with 36.1 shots on goal per game. The Flames have won 4 of the last 5 games against Vancouver.
Marko’s NHL Pick: Calgary Flames (-172)
Tony Battalio
The Calgary Flames have been one of the hottest teams in the National Hockey League as of late. They come into this game with a record of 30-13-6 through their first 49 games of the season. They bolted their way into first place in the Pacific Division with an impressive winning streak to close out a strong first half. Calgary will look to put some distance between themselves, the Vegas Golden Knights and the Edmonton Oilers with an even stronger second half of the season. Calgary is currently on a ten game winning streak.
Tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/xTTpF4Uuch
— Vancouver #Canucks (@Canucks) February 24, 2022
The Vancouver Canucks have had an up and down season thus far. They likely won’t make the Stanley Cup playoffs this season but they have shown plenty of improvement as compared to last season. They come into this game with a record of 24-22-6 on the season as they are only 4 games below the .500 mark. They still have a long way to go, but the progress is looking good in Vancouver as of right now. As for the result of this game however, I can’t see them picking up the victory over Calgary, as the Flames have just been way too hot as of late.
Tony’s NHL Pick: Calgary Flames (-172)
Jeffery Thomas
The Flames are looking like the best team in hockey in the past few weeks, winning 10 straight and 12 of their last 13. They will look to keep it going after their 3-1 home win over the Winnipeg Jets on Monday. That was their 9th time in the last 12 wins that was won by two or more goals. Also, with Jacob Markstorm slated to get the start in this one, the Flames should feel really good about their chances. Over his last nine starts, he is 8-0 (left one game with injury) with a .945 save percentage.
The Canucks are coming off a 5-2 win over the Kraken on Monday. They enter this game as a joke underdog, and last time that happened was a couple weeks ago against the Islanders. It was not a pleasant result, as they dropped the game 3-6 and were thoroughly dominated. Vancouver’s 24-22-6 record is good for 6th place in the Pacific Division. If you’ve been betting the Flames spread line, it’s been very profitable and this matchup should not steer you away from the formula. If you need more encouragement how about this: seven of Vancouver’s last ten losses were by 2 or more goals. Give me the smoking hot Flames.
Jeffery’s NHL Pick: Calgary Flames -1.5 (+152)
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*Odds and spreads correct at time of writing, courtesy of FanDuel.
