Top NHL Odds, Picks & Predictions: Thursday (4/16)
The 2025-26 NHL regular season wraps up tonight with a six-game slate. The 16 Stanley Cup Playoff competitors have already been locked in, but a few teams in the Pacific Division are still jockeying for postseason positioning.
While there isn't a ton of high-leverage puck on the docket, there is still money to be made on the ice. I've sifted through the statistics and trends, narrowing in on a trio of best bets in the NHL tonight. Here are my favorite NHL plays for Thursday, April 16th.
Thursday's NHL Best Bets
(Odds courtesy of Hard Rock Bet)
Anaheim Ducks (-110) vs. Nashville Predators (-110) | O/U 6.5 (-105/-115)
The Ducks (42-33-6) have booked their ticket to the playoffs, but they can still finish as high as second in the Pacific Division or as low as the second Wild Card spot. They'll wrap up the regular season campaign against the Predators (38-33-10), who are the first team on the outside of the playoff race. Puck drop is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. ET from Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, TN.
While Anaheim is postseason bound, it hasn't been their recent form that has gotten them there. The Ducks have struggled down the stretch, going just 1-6-2 in their last nine games. Defense has been a major issue for Coach Joel Quenneville's squad, as they rank 26th in team GAA (3.81) and 31st in save percentage (.843) over the last 10 games.
I think this veteran Predators team will take advantage of the lackadaisical Ducks defense and finish the season on a high note. I'll back them on the moneyline at home, where they've gone a respectable 21-16-3 this season. Nashville has also been better on both special teams units, which includes their fifth-ranked penalty-killing group (81.67%).
Pick: Predators Moneyline (-110)
Los Angeles Kings (-140) vs. Calgary Flames (+120) | O/U 5.5 (-130/+105)
The Kings (35-26-20) currently possess the final Wild Card spot in the West, but they can avoid a first-round matchup with the Avalanche if things go their way this evening. They'll try to pick up two points against the Flames (33-39-9), who are seventh in the Pacific Division. This divisional tilt gets underway at 9:00 p.m. ET from the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, AB.
Goals are typically at a premium when these Pacific Division foes meet up. In their last 10 games, the Flames are 7-3-0 and have out-scored the Kings by a measly average of 2.70 to 2.10. All three head-to-head games this season have finished under the 5.5 goals, including two of the games featuring three or fewer goals.
Keeping it with the trends, the Under has cashed in 10 of Los Angeles' last 15 road games. The Under is also 4-1 in Calgary's last five games overall, while going 6-1 in this specific head-to-head series. Both offenses rank 17th or worse in shooting percentage over the last 10 games, while sitting 13th or better in save percentage on the defensive end. Let's take a +105 flier on the Under.
Pick: Under 5.5 Goals (+105)
Seattle Kraken (+150) vs. Colorado Avalanche (-180) | O/U 6.5 (+115/-145)
This contest between the President's Trophy-winning Avalanche (54-16-11) and the Kraken (34-36-11) has no impact on anything, aside from maybe Nathan MacKinnon's push for the Hart Trophy. Puck drop is set for 10:00 p.m. ET from Ball Arena in Denver, CO.
I was on the Golden Knights -1.5 (-115) against the Kraken in last night's best bets article, and I'm going right back to fading this floundering Seattle side tonight. They've been horrendous down the stretch, going 2-7-1 in their last 10 games. They've allowed 4+ goals in two straight games, as well as in six of their last eight outings. Over the 10-game sample size, Seattle is 25th in GAA (3.72) and 24th in Corsi percentage (47.71%).
Now they'll enter on zero days of rest with a travel disadvantage against the best team in the league. Colorado's offense is finding its groove once again, averaging 3.27 goals per 60 minutes (13th) and 3.8 high-danger shots on goal per game (6th) over the last 10 games. With a favorable matchup and MacKinnon looking to bolster his MVP resume, I think we see a strong performance in Game 82 from the Avs " offense. Let's lock in Colorado's team total to go over 3.5 goals at +100.
Pick: Avalanche Team Total Over 3.5 Goals (+100)