Happy Thanksgiving eve to all of you out there reading this NHL Best Bets article! Today is the day NHL fans dream of with 14 games set to drop the puck around the league and boy do I have some plays for this slate! You will find a pair of Money Line bets, one of them at plus odds and a game total for what should be a barn burner of a matchup. Enjoy the turkey day everyone, eat too much and have fun with the families!  If you like the rationale then tail the picks, if you don't feel free to fade as sometimes the best bets are the ones not taken!

  • Season Record: 30-30-1
  • Bankroll: +0.67 units

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**all bets are one unit unless specifically mentioned.

NHL Best Bets for November 24

Columbus Blue Jackets at New Jersey Devils

Anytime the Devils are on the docket this season I am immediately looking at the game total. No team in the NHL has gone over the total more than New Jersey this season with 13 games smashing the over in 17 total games. This is likely because the defense is falling apart for them and they are allowing 3.82 goals per game, the 3rd most in the NHL. Tonight Columbus comes to town and that only bolsters the expectations for the game total as they have gone over in 12 of 20 games but on the road they are 8-1 to topping the total. The Blue Jackets remain a sloppy defense as well allowing 3.6 goals per game so let's ride that over tonight. 

Pick: Blue Jackets & Devils Over 6.5 Goals (-130 on Caesars)

 

Nashville Predators at St. Louis Blues

This matchup is an interesting one to me as public money continues to fade the Blues yet they keep winning. I understand the reason for being gun shy but this team is playing really well. They are now 6-2-0 on home ice and winners of 7 in the last 10 games, they have finally made it to a positive goal differential as well. The analytics remain poor as far as Corsi and xGF go but they are playing well despite that and the Predators aren't peachy in those categories either. Nashville is also just 2-6-0 on the road this season so the line of an even -110 each way seems a bit mispriced, Blues on the Money Line tonight. 

Pick: St. Louis Blues Money Line (-110 on PointsBet)

 

Pittsburgh Penguins at Buffalo Sabres

The Penguins can be a scary team to bet against because you never know what team or goaltender will show up. I will say this though they are improving and even though some of the games are losses they are building high quality chances and the puck is going to start going in. Pittsburgh is 2nd in xGF/60 this season and remains a Corsi darling in the mid 50% areas. This is important against teams like the Sabres too with suspect defense and goaltending. Analytics aren't everything so I could also just say that the Sabres are under .500 and score just 2.84 goals per game. 

Pick: Pittsburgh Penguins Money Line (-115 on BetMGM)