Top 3 NHL Odds, Picks & Predictions: Monday (3/9)
Each NHL team has roughly 20 games remaining this season, so it's safe to say we're entering crunch time of the 2025-26 campaign. There really aren't any big-time matchups on the ice tonight, as three of the five games feature a favorite of -190 odds or higher. Still, we can make any contest interesting by throwing a few bucks on it. That's where I factor into the equation. Here are my three favorite NHL picks & predictions for Monday night.
Monday's NHL Best Bets
(Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook)
Los Angeles Kings (+114) vs. Columbus Blue Jackets (-137) | O/U 5.5 (-142/+116)
Can I interest anyone in some afternoon hockey? The league is looking to appeal to European audiences, which means we get a special matinee hockey game between the Kings (25-23-14) and the Blue Jackets (32-21-9). Puck drop is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. ET from Nationwide Arena in Columbus, OH.
I'll lay the -137 vig and back the Blue Jackets at home on Monday. Columbus has been scorching hot since the front office made the coaching change to Rick Bowness in mid January. Under Bowness, the Jackets are an incredible 13-2-2 in 17 games. They've skyrocketed up the standings and now sit only three points behind the Bruins for the final Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference.
During the 17-game heater, the Blue Jackets are averaging 3.6 goals per game. And really, that's the angle in this game. Columbus simply has the more potent offense in this matchup. Over the last 10 games specifically, the Blue Jackets are ninth in goals per 60 minutes (3.67) and seventh in shooting rate (13.21%), while the Kings are 25th (2.48) and 26th (9.36%) in those respective categories.
Columbus typically has beatable goaltending, but I don't anticipate Los Angeles taking advantage since they're just 23rd in high-danger shots on goal (30) over the last 10 games. Give me Columbus on the Moneyline.
Bet: Blue Jackets Moneyline (-137)
New York Rangers (+122) vs. Philadelphia Flyers (-146) | O/U 5.5 (-118/-104)
Onto the evening slate, where we have a Metropolitan Division showdown between the Rangers (24-30-8) and the Flyers (29-22-11). This divisional clash gets underway at 7:00 p.m. ET from Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia, PA.
I'm locking in the under. Igor Shesterkin is back in the mix for the Blueshirts, and his presence has made a monumental difference for the team. In Shesterkin's four games back with New York, the Rangers have a point in every game (2-0-2), while the netminder himself has posted a modest 3.0 GAA and a .899 SV%. Those are lower than his season-long metrics of 2.50 GAA (10th) and .912 SV% (ninth), but I think he'll fare well against this mediocre Philadelphia offense.
Philadelphia has been the same way with its goaltenders, in which they get a huge boost with Dan Vladar between the pipes. The team is 3-1-0 in Vladar's last four outings, where he has a 2.0 GAA and a .922 SV%. In a game featuring a couple of solid goaltenders facing off against bottom-third offenses, we should see defense win the day. Let's lock in the under.
Bet: Under 5.5 Goals (-104)
Ottawa Senators (-225) vs. Vancouver Canucks (+184) | O/U 6.5 (+100/-122)
Monday's NHL action concludes out West with a cross-conference clash between the Senators (31-22-9) and the Canucks (19-36-8). This will be the final game of Ottawa's five-game road trip, where they've posted a solid 3-0-1 mark thus far. Monday's finale is scheduled for 9:00 p.m. ET from Rogers Arena in Vancouver, BC.
I'll close out the night by taking Vancouver to score fewer than 2.5 goals. The Canucks have been struggling offensively, failing to hit the three-goal mark in 10 of their last 12 outings. Over the last 10 games, Vancouver ranks 28th in goals per 60 minutes (2.37), 22nd in shooting rate (10.21%) and 23rd in high-danger shots on goal (30). The Canucks also bring in a power-play unit that's just 22nd in the NHL at 18.52%.
Meanwhile, Ottawa's goaltending has been suspect all season, but the underlying metrics suggest that their overall defense is elite. The Senators have allowed the fewest high-danger shots on goal (169) this season, which has helped them to rank first in expected goals against per 60 minutes (2.62).
Ottawa is third in Corsi rate (54%), while Vancouver is 27th (47.23%). In theory, we should see the puck deep in the Canucks' zone for the majority of the game, essentially helping to relieve pressure off of the Senators' goaltender. Let's play the analytics and lock in Vancouver to score two or fewer goals.
Bet: Canucks Team Total Under 2.5 Goals (-112)