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Free NHL Picks Today for Thursday February 4th, 2021

We have 11 NHL games on the schedule for Thursday February 4th, and these are our betting picks and predictions.

Free NHL Picks Today for Thursday February 4th, 2021
Picks & Predictions
Wed 3rd February 2021

With 9 games on for Thursday’s action, you are surely set for the day! Not only that but we have 3 FREE NHL picks for every single game. And we are on fire lately, so you don’t want to miss this…

Find all of our free NHL picks for the scheduled games below.

Washington Capitals @ New York Rangers – 7:00 PM ET

Washington lost to Boston on Monday, 5-3. That snapped a three-game winning streak for the Capitals and was the first time this season that the team did not record at least one point in the game. Washington is now 6-1-3. They have scored 38 goals while allowing 34.

The Capitals are 2-0-2 on the road this season. Washington is getting outstanding scoring out of Nicklas Backstrom who leads the team with 13 points. He has five goals and eight assists, leading the team in both categories. Vitek Vanecek has started eight games this season, posting a 2.94 GAA and a .913 save percentage.


New York defeated Pittsburgh on Monday, 3-1. The victory moved the Rangers to 3-4-2, tied for last in the division with the city rival Islanders with eight points each. New York has scored 25 goals while allowing 26.

They are 2-2-1 at home. The Rangers are getting great goaltending out of Igor Shesterkin (2.41, .906) who looks like he is the No. 1 netminder now. Artemi Panarin leads the team with 12 points, but the next closest teammate has just seven.

NHL Pick – New York Rangers (-120)
Spread Pick – Washington Capitals +1.5 (-244)
Total Goals Pick – Over 6.0 (-115)

Nashville Predators @ Florida Panthers – 7:00 PM ET

Nashville lost to Tampa Bay on Monday, 5-2. That dropped the Predators to 4-5-0, seventh place in the Central Division. The loss made Nashville winless on the road this season at 0-4-0. Nashville has allowed 29 goals this season while scoring 22.

Goaltending has not been nearly as good for the Predators as has been seen in years past. Juuse Saros has taken over the No. 1 duties with a 2.82 GAA and a .908 save percentage. Filip Forsberg and Viktor Arvidsson are tied for the team lead in points with six.


Florida has not taken to the ice since Sunday when they defeated Detroit, 3-2. It was their second straight 3-2 victory over the Red Wings as Chris Dreidger stopped 32 of 34 shots. Florida is now 5-0-1, the only team in the NHL to record at least one point in every game this season. They have scored 22 goals while allowing 16.

Dreidger has been ridiculously good in his three starts, posting a 1.95 GAA and a .937 save percentage. The Panthers have only six games under their belts, but already have six players with at least six points. They are led by Patric Hornqvist and Carter Verhaeghe who each have five goals and two assists.

NHL Pick – Florida Panthers (-125)
Spread Pick – Florida Panthers -1.5 (+207)
Total Goals Pick – Under 5.5 (-115)

Dallas Stars @ Columbus Blue Jackets – 7:00 PM ET

Dallas defeated Columbus on Tuesday, 6-3. That moved the Stars to 5-1-1. They have scored 29 goals while allowing 17, giving them a +12-goal differential, best in the division.

Joe Pavelski led the way with two goals and two assists and Jamie Benn had a goal and two assists. Pavelski now has seven goals, seven assists, and 14 points in just seven games. He leads Dallas in goals and points. Anton Khudobin will likely be in net. He has a 2.17 GAA and a .922 save percentage.


With the loss, Columbus dropped to 4-4-3. They are tied with the Stars for second in the division, but have played four more games. Columbus has scored 27 goals while allowing 34. The combination of Elvis Merzlikins (2.76, .913) and Joonas Korpisalo (2.84, .918) have been solid in the net.

The two have very similar numbers, so you can expect about the same performance regardless of who is in the net. The Blue Jackets are led in scoring by Oliver Bjorkstrand with eight points.

NHL Pick – Dallas Stars (-115)
Spread Pick – Dallas Stars -1.5 (+252)
Total Goals Pick – Over 5.0 (-135)

Ottawa Senators @ Montréal Canadiens – 7:00 PM ET

Ottawa loss to Edmonton on Tuesday, 4-2. That extended the losing streak for the Senators to nine straight games (0-8-1) this team has not had a victory since opening night and have the worst record in the NHL (1-8-1).

Ottawa has given up the most goals the season at 48 and has a -24-goal differential, worst in the league. They are 0-6-0 on the road this season. The goaltending has been terrible.

Marcus Hogberg (4.54) and Matt Murray (4.82) have both been horrific in net. They have not got much help in front of them. Brady Tkachuk leads the team in scoring with seven points.


Montréal is flying high after sweeping a pair of games from Vancouver on Monday and Tuesday. The Canadiens are 7-1-2, tops in the North Division. They have scored 44 goals while allowing 27, giving them a +17-goal differential, best in the NHL.

Everything seems to be coming up roses for Montréal. Tyler Toffoli (9G, 4A) and Jeff Petry (5G, 8A) are tied for the team lead with 13 points. Carey Price continues to regain his form, posting a 2.77 GAA and a .903 save percentage. 

NHL Pick – Montréal Canadiens (-270)
Spread Pick – Montréal Canadiens -1.5 (-110)
Total Goals Pick – Over 6.5 (-115)

Vancouver Canucks @ Toronto Maple Leafs – 7:00 PM ET

Vancouver had entered a two-game set against Montréal as winners of four straight, but they were swept by the Canadiens, losing Monday, 6-2, before losing on Tuesday, 5-3. That dropped the Canucks to 6-7-0.

They have now scored 45 goals while allowing 48. The 45 goals scored are most in the NHL and the 48 goals allowed are tied for the most allowed. The Canucks netminders had a streak of four straight games of allowing just one goal, but they were lit up by Montréal.


Thatcher Demko now has a 3.34 GAA and a .909 save percentage in seven starts. Four Vancouver players have at least 11 points led by Quinn Hughes who has 14 and leads the team with 13 assists. Brock Boeser leads the team with eight goals.

Toronto has been off since January 30, a 4-3 lost in overtime to Edmonton. The Maple Leafs are 7-2-1, second in the North Division. They have scored 33 goals while allowing 29.

The extended break was a much-needed rest for goaltender Frederik Andersen, who has started eight of the team’s 10 games. The Toronto netminder has a 3.01 GAA and a .892 save percentage.

NHL Pick – Toronto Maple Leafs (-179)
Spread Pick – Toronto Maple Leafs -1.5 (+125)
Total Goals Pick – Over 6.5 (-120)

Buffalo Sabres @ New York Islanders – 7:00 PM ET – Postponed

*This game has been postponed due to COVID-19 health and safety protocols, a new date has not been confirmed at this time*

New Jersey Devils @ Pittsburgh Penguins – 7:00 PM ET – Postponed

*This game has been postponed due to COVID-19 health and safety protocols, a new date has not been confirmed at this time*

Carolina Hurricanes @ Chicago Blackhawks – 8:00 PM ET

Carolina defeated Chicago on Tuesday in a shootout, 4-3. That extended the Hurricanes winning streak to five straight games. Carolina is now 6-1-0, best in the Central Division. They have scored 22 goals while allowing a ridiculously low 13.

That gives them a +9-goal differential, second best in the division. James Reimer stopped 30 of 33 shots in the victory over Chicago. Reimer will be the man with star goaltender Petr Mrazek out indefinitely.


The Hurricanes netminder has a 2.19 GAA and a .915 save percentage. Vincent Trocheck and Andrei Svechnikov are tied for the team lead in points with seven. Both players have five goals and two assists.

With the loss, Chicago drops to 3-4-4, six in the division. They have scored 29 goals while allowing 35, tied for the most allowed in the division. Chicago was led by Patrick Kane with five goals and six assists.

His 11 points, goal total, and assists total lead the team. Kevin Lankinen has been solid in net with a 2.09 GAA and a .935 save percentage. Despite the loss on Tuesday, Chicago is 3-1-1 at home.

NHL Pick – Carolina Hurricanes (-179)
Spread Pick – Chicago Blackhawks +1.5 (-588)
Total Goals Pick – Over 6.0 (+105)

Arizona Coyotes @ St. Louis Blues – 8:00 PM ET

Arizona lost to St. Louis on Tuesday, dropping to 3-5-1, seventh in the West Division. They are now 0-3-0 on the road and have allowed 26 goals overall while scoring 23. Goal scoring has been a major issue for the Coyotes, who have scored more than three in a contest just twice this season.

Christian Dvorak leads the team with nine points and five goals. Darcy Kuemper has been solid in goal with a 2.65 GAA and a .904 save percentage. He has started eight of the team’s nine games.


St. Louis defeated Arizona on Tuesday, 4-3. Sammy Blais and Jordan Kyrou each had a pair of assists for the Blues. The victory moved St. Louis to 7-2-1, tied for the top record in the West Division.

They have scored 36 goals while allowing 32. St. Louis is 3-1-1 at home this season and have won four straight games overall. Jordan Binnington has been outstanding in goal, posting a 2.55 GAA and a .918 save percentage in eight starts. Kyrou leads the team in points with 12. Brayden Schenn is the leading goal scoring with six.

NHL Pick – St. Louis Blues (-161)
Spread Pick – St. Louis Blues -1.5 (+157)
Total Goals Pick – Under 5.5 (-130)

Calgary Flames @ Winnipeg Jets – 8:00 PM ET

Calgary will take on Winnipeg for the third time in the last four nights. The Flames defeated the Jets on Monday in a shootout, 4-3, but Winnipeg defeated Calgary on Tuesday, 3-2. That moved the Flames to 4-4-1 on the season, sixth in the division.

They have given up 26 goals while scoring 23. After starting out the season 2-0-1, Calgary finds themselves in a bit of a slump. Johnny Gaudreau is tied for the team lead in scoring (11), and has at least one point in every game this season.


Elias Lindholm also has 11 points. Jacob Markstrom continues to be a workhorse in the net, starting seven games. He has a 2.27 GAA and a .924 save percentage.

With the split earlier in the week, Winnipeg is now 6-3-1, third in the North Division. They have scored 35 goals while allowing 31. This will be the last of a seven-game homestand that has seen Winnipeg struggle to take full advantage of the opportunity, going 3-3-0 to this point.

They are getting solid goal scoring production, as five different players have at least 10 points this season. Mark Scheifele leads the team in points with 13. Goaltending has been solid. Connor Hellebuyck has appeared in seven games and has a 2.69 GAA and a .907 save percentage.

NHL Pick – Winnipeg Jets (+105)
Spread Pick – Winnipeg Jets +1.5 (-333)
Total Goals Pick – Under 6.0 (-105)

Minnesota Wild @ Colorado Avalanche – 9:00 PM ET

*This game has now been postponed due to COVID-19 health and safety protocols, a new date has not been confirmed at this time*

Minnesota will play Colorado for the fourth straight time on Thursday. The Wild lost the first contest at home, 5-1 before rebounding the next night to win in overtime, 4-3. They lost on Tuesday, 2-1. Goaltender Cam Talbot stopped 29 of 31 shots.

The loss dropped Minnesota to 6-5-0, third in the division. They have scored 30 goals while allowing 30. Talbot has been solid with a 2.40 GAA and a .920 save percentage. Minnesota is led in scoring by Jordan Greenway who has 10 points.


With the victory, the Avalanche moved to 7-3-1, tied for the division lead. They have scored 38 goals while allowing 24. The +14-goal differential is the second best in the NHL and the 24 goals allowed are the fewest of any team that has played at least 10 games.

Philip Grubauer stopped 27 of 28 shots on Tuesday, lowering his GAA to 1.67 while raising his save percentage to .934. The Colorado netminder has started nine of the team’s 11 games and has been extremely good, holding opponents to two goals or less and nine of those games. Nathan MacKinnon leads the team in scoring with 14 points. He is one of three players on the team with at least 10 points.

NHL Pick – Colorado Avalanche (-161)
Spread Pick – Minnesota Wild +1.5 (-175)
Total Goals Pick – Over 5.5 (-115)

The 2021 NHL is well underway now! If you want to catch up with all the latest information, make sure you visit our NHL hub page.

*Odds and spreads correct at time of publication, courtesy of Bet365.

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