We're roughly a month into the NHL season, so we're starting to get a decent idea of what these teams will look like in 2025-26. The league rolls out a four-game slate for us to navigate from a sports betting angle, and I've got you covered with a bet in each contest. Here are my top four bets in the NHL tonight.
Wednesday's NHL Best Bets
(Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook)
New York Rangers (+130) vs. Tampa Bay Lightning (-155) | O/U 5.5 (-130/+110)
Let's get things started in Florida, where the Lightning (8-5-2) are set to host the Rangers (8-7-2) in an Eastern Conference tilt. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. ET from Benchmark International Arena in Tampa, FL.
I'm locking in the under in this game. The Rangers have been struggling all season offensively, coming into the night ranked 31st in scoring (2.41 GPG) and 30th on the power play (14.0%). Their 7.95% shooting percentage during 5-on-5 play is the seventh-worst as well.
That likely won't bode well for the Blue Shirts tonight, as they're running into a Bolts squad that has been dialed in defensively over the last 10 games. Across the 10-game sample size, Tampa is second in GAA (2.29) during all situations. They also boast the second-best penalty-killing unit this year at 89.6%. On the flip side, New York ranks fourth in GA/60 minutes (2.51) and seventh in xGA/60 minutes (2.98) this year. Let's take the under in what should be a thrilling battle between two top-tier netminders in Igor Shesterkin and Andrei Vasilevskiy.
Pick: Under 5.5 Goals (+110)
Edmonton Oilers (-135) vs. Philadelphia Flyers (+114) | O/U 5.5 (-130/+110)
The Oilers (7-6-4) will embark on a seven-game road trip, and their first stop is the City of Brotherly Love to take on the Flyers (8-5-2). This cross-conference showdown is set for 7:30 p.m. ET from Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia, PA.
I'm taking an underdog flier on the Flyers tonight at home. They've been solid at Xfinity Mobile Arena this year, going 6-3-1. Meanwhile, the Oil are just 2-5-2 on the road, as well as 1-2-1 in their last four games. Of course, they suffered that infamous 9-1 shellacking at home against the Avs on Saturday, so it's safe to say Edmonton isn't in great form at the moment.
The Flyers have been sharp defensively recently. Over the last 10 games, they're ranked fourth in GA/60 minutes (2.43) and first in xGA/60 minutes (2.62). They've faced the third-fewest high-danger shots (30) during the 10-game sample size. Philadelphia's defense has a decent chance to bog down the McDavid-Draisaitl duo while also taking advantage of Edmonton's subpar goaltending on the opposite end. Let's ride with the Flyers.
Pick: Flyers Moneyline (+114)
Buffalo Sabres (+154) vs. Utah Mammoth (-185) | O/U 6.5 (-102/-118)
After rattling off seven consecutive victories, the Mammoth (9-7-0) have gone on to endure a 1-5-0 stretch of play. Interestingly, their lone win during the recent slide was a 2-1 overtime affair with the Sabres (5-6-4), and that's who they'll host tonight. Puck drop is set for 9:00 p.m. ET from the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, UT.
I'll lock in the over tonight in Salt Lake City. These have been two of the worst defenses in the NHL recently. Over the last 10 games, the Sabres are 25th in GA/60 minutes (3.43), while the Mammoth are 28th (3.69). In terms of xGA/60 minutes, the two sides are 18th (3.33) and 23rd (3.49), respectively. During the same 10-game sample size, Buffalo is 24th in SV% (.884) and Utah is 31st (85.4%). These are a couple of capable offenses with some young talent, and I'm expecting a back-and-forth barnburner. Give me the over.
Pick: Over 6.5 Goals (-102)
New Jersey Devils (-155) vs. Chicago Blackhawks (+130) | O/U 6.5 (+110/-130)
The night wraps up in the Windy City with a late-night TNT-broadcasted game, as the upward-trending Blackhawks (8-5-3) host the Eastern Conference-leading Devils (11-4-1). The NHL nightcap gets underway at 9:30 p.m. ET from the United Center in Chicago, IL.
Chicago is seeing its rebuild go well, and while Connor Bedard (9 goals, 16 assists) should get his fair share of the spotlight, this team would be nowhere near its 8-5-3 mark without its elite goaltending. The Blackhawks duo of Spencer Knight and Arvid Soderblom have been lights out, as the tandem ranks first in the NHL in SV% (.921) and third in GA/60 minutes (2.47). Knight leads the NHL in GSAA (13.3).
Meanwhile, the Devils have been playing in some lower-scoring affairs themselves. New Jersey has seen a hypothetical total of 6.5 Goals go under at a 4-1 rate in its last five games. Overall this season, the Devils are a respectable 14th in GA/60 minutes (2.91) and fifth on the PK (85.7%). Let's lock in the under.
Pick: Under 6.5 Goals (-130)
