Welcome back to NHL best bets to all my hockey heads out there! It's Saturday so you know what that means, another huge slate in the hockey world. 

As the season winds into the home stretch with just about three weeks to go considering this, remember what teams are still playing for something and the teams that are not! Odds are also going to start to become less favorable to don't be afraid to get into DFS or player props as we head to the end of the season.

In today's NHL best bets writeup, you will find three types of wagers that include a pair of regulation Money Lines and a team total! The Dog of the Day is back again as well for a potential plus money winner!

Now, let's dive into my expert NHL Best Bets today!

  • Season Record: 125-105-5
  • Bankroll: +13.2 units
  • Dog of the Day Record: 19-17 (+6.65 Units)

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NHL Picks, Predictions & Best Bets Today, 3/28

Chicago Blackhawks vs. Philadelphia Flyers Prediction

The time is of the essence for all the playoff hopefuls around the NHL and no team is feeling the pressure more than the Flyers as they have fallen in the standings and are now on the edge of cutline after losing seven of the last 10 games. Make no mistake they are all must win games now but they have to have this one today against a much weaker team on home ice. 

The Flyers are underwhelming compared to most playoff teams this season, but they do play well at home with a 19-15-3 record on the season and are scoring over three goals per game over the past 45 days in front of the fans. Samuel Ersson should also start in the cage tonight and he’s been a backbone for this floundering team allowing just about 2.8 goals per game dating back to early February. 

Their opponent in the Blackhawks also gives them a huge leg up as they’re one of the worst in the NHL this season and a stunning 6-29-1 on the road this season. They are also barely averaging two goals scored per game on the road over the past 45 days. The Money Line is way too chalky tonight, but the 60-minute line seems just right as the Flyers aren’t a great Puck Line team so let’s settle on Philly to win in regulation.

Pick: Philadelphia Flyers 60-Minute Money Line (-150 on BetMGM)

 

New York Islanders vs. Tampa Bay Lightning Prediction

Well, it looks like I am picking on the Islanders again tonight as somehow they won in Florida earlier in the week but in my mind that was a fluke. This group is technically still in the playoff hunt but not really as they are five back of the Capitals as things stand and they are 15-21 straight up on the road this season with a goal differential of -26! That’s not the mark of a good team so I am going to attack them.

The Lightning on the other hand are rolling right now and peaking at a great time winning eight of their last 10 games and scoring loads of goals. In the 10-game stretch of play they’ve scored a total of 43 goals which of course equates to 4.3 goals per game and that’s a fantastic mark. It seems too that Andrei Vasilevskiy is back into form with nine starts in March and a 7-1 record with a 2.55 GAA. Again, the Money Line is chalky for this matchup but the regulation odds to win are very fair so let’s hit that again on this game and take the much better team. 

Pick: Tampa Bay Lightning 60-Minute Money Line (-105 on Caesars)

Carolina Hurricanes vs. Montreal Canadiens Prediction

Last of the best bets here for this Saturday as it’s a major mismatch of the Hurricanes and Habs tonight. The Hurricanes have become one of the NHL’s elites since the trade deadline with xGF/xGA soaring and the Corsi metrics were already great, but they have been even better lately. 

Carolina comes into tonight winners of seven in the last 10 and they’ll face a Montreal team that is 14-17-4 on home ice and allows well north of 3.5 goals per game at home over the past 45 days. That’s where the bet kicks in as Carolina has scored four or more goals in six of the past nine games and their team total is 3.5 goals tonight. 

I have little doubt the Canes can reach the over on that number although Sam Montembeault is in line to start and has been better of late, they should still have plenty of talent and depth to reach the over so give me that bet and lock it in!

Pick: Carolina Hurricanes Team Total Over 3.5 Goals (-130 on DraftKings)  

 

Expert NHL Prediction: Dog of the Day