Contenders Remain Busy During NHL Betting Weekend

NHL scorches up the ice on Saturday and Sunday. Check out our previews on NHL weekend betting matchups worth lacing up the skates for!

[Saturday, Feb. 9]

Nashville Predators at St. Louis Blues (2:00pm ET)

With 68 points, Nashville’s only 3 points behind Central Division-leading Winnipeg. The Predators must beat scorching Dallas on Feb. 7. If they can get by Dallas, they’ll have a tough go of it versus the Blues. If you believe in the Preds, you might get odds because St. Louis dominated Nashville 6-2 in the last matchup. St. Louis has turned it on lately. However, Nashville still ranks third in goals allowed and sixth in shots allowed. The Predators should re-establish dominance against the Blues.

NHL Free Pick: Predators SU

Pittsburgh Penguins at Tampa Bay Lightning (7:00pm ET)

The best team in hockey finally lost a shootout game on Feb. 5, to Vegas 3-2. That brings Tampa’s home record to 20-5-0-1. Pittsburgh’s no pushover, though. They beat the Lightning 4-2 in the last matchup. Still, it’s hard, impossible really, to go against Tampa on their own ice. Taking the safe route here and backing the Lightning.

NHL Free Pick: Lightning SU

Columbus Blue Jackets at Vegas Golden Knights (10:00 pm ET)

The Blue Jackets finally broke a 5-game losing streak on Feb. 5. Before the 6-3 win over the Avalanche in Colorado, Columbus had lost to Montreal, Minnesota, Buffalo, Winnipeg, and St. Louis. Vegas broke their own losing streak, 4 games, in the 3-2 shootout victory over Tampa. The Golden Knights should be back on track. Like most teams in NHL, they’re really hard to beat at home. Give Vegas the call.

NHL Free Pick: Golden Knights SU

[Sunday, Feb. 10]

Minnesota Wild at NY Islanders (3:00 pm ET)

The match versus NYI will be the Wild’s third in 4 days. Minnesota hasn’t been winning, but they’ve been competitive, losing a game in OT to Chicago and in a shootout to Buffalo this past week.

The Islanders lead the Metropolitan Division with 62 points. That’s no easy task with Washington, Pittsburgh, Columbus, and Carolina also in the Metro. NYI’s a solid squad. They should beat the Wild by at least 2 goals. So, if you don’t like the SU odds, consider backing them on the puck line.

NHL Free Pick: Islanders SU

Toronto Maple Leafs at NY Rangers (7:00pm ET)

After a strange end to January where they went 1-3 SU, the Leafs are back on track, going 4-of-5 before their Feb. 9 battle against Montreal. Toronto should find the Canadiens a tougher bunch than the Rangers. The Leafs are soaring these days on the heels of Auston Matthews extending long-term with the team to the tune of $11.6 million AAV.

The Leafs beat NYR 5-3 in their last head-to-head. While the Rangers can surprise once in a while, like when they beat Boston 4-3 in a shootout on Feb. 6, it’s tough to see them having an answer for Auston Matthews, John Tavares and Mitchell Marner because the Rangers average less than 3 goals per. Backing the Leafs on the road should give me some smart profit to close out the weekend.

NHL Free Pick: Maple Leafs SU