NHL Betting Guide For Friday, March 31
The best odds, picks, sleepers and promos for today's NHL slate
Matthew Horner - Mar 31, 2023, 12:02pm EDT
NHL Betting Odds For Tonight
The NHL train keeps on moving, and although yesterday wasn’t our best day of the week, we are still up close to 5u. The key to making money in the NHL is value, and there is plenty of it to be had every single night. It’s one of my favorite sports to bet, and if you have missed out on this season, there is still time to jump on this train.
The BetQL model has gone 115-82-33 (59% win) on 3-Star and higher NHL bets of $100 in the last 14 days, for a total return of $1,229. That’s in just two weeks. Let’s keep chugging along with more Ws today. BetQL subscribers can see all of today's live NHL betting odds, best bets from our model, sharp picks, public bets, line movement data, exclusive NHL articles and much more!
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NHL Picks & Predictions For Today's Games
Let’s start the night out up in New York, where we have an in-state battle going on between the Rangers and Sabres. The Rangers are coming off a tough loss to the Devils, but they have won three of their last five games coming into this one. They’ll be wanting to gain as much ground as possible in the standings with Carolina struggling right now. New York is scoring 3.33 goals per game and allowing 2.67, while also outshooting their opponents 31.7 to 29.5 on average.
The Sabres have been a fade for a while now, and they continue to be as we get closer to their inevitable end. They have lost three of their last five, and I don’t see them getting much better. Buffalo is scoring 3.56 goals per game and allowing 3.67, while also getting outshot by their opponents on average 33.0 to 32.2.
MY PICK: Rangers -1.5 (+170, Caesars). The ML is just a bit too pricey for me at -143, although if you are comfortable laying that, you certainly can. Instead, I’ll take the massive +170 number for the Rangers to win by 2+. They are the better team in my eyes, and Buffalo’s defense and goaltending is among the NHL’s worst.
For our second game of the night, let’s head up to Canada, where the Calgary Flames will be traveling to take on the Vancouver Canucks. The Flames continue to be an absolute conundrum, and one that I simply have not been able to figure out all season. Calgary is scoring 3.12 goals per game and allowing 3.05, while also outshooting their opponents 35.5 to 27.4 on average. That is one of the best shot differentials in the NHL, dominating their opponents each night, yet they may miss the playoffs. It’s completely insane.
The Canucks, to their credit, have been playing far better hockey over the second half of the season. They have won three of their last five games, but unfortunately for them, it was too little too late. Vancouver is scoring 3.38 goals per game and allowing 3.65, while also getting outshot by their opponents 30.6 to 30.2 on average.
MY PICK: Flames ML (-130, FanDuel). One of our last chances to lose money on the Flames, so I have to take it. Seriously, no other team has frustrated me more than Calgary. By every statistical measure, they should be one of the best teams in the NHL. Yet, they are currently on the outside looking in at the playoffs. However, they are just two points out of the final Wild Card spot. They NEED every win going forward.
For the last pick of the night, let's head down south to Arizona, where the Dallas Stars will be traveling west to take on the Coyotes. The Stars have won three of their last five games, and are coming off a 4-1 win over the Chicago Blackhawks. Dallas is scoring 3.39 goals per game and allowing 2.73, while also outshooting their opponents 32.2 to 30.6 on average.
The Coyotes have lost five straight games heading into this one, and if they played a team that stunk, i would say they are due for a win. However, it’s going to be tough for them tonight, even at home. Arizona is scoring 2.77 goals per game and allowing 3.44, while also getting outshot by their opponents 35.4 to 25.7 on average.
MY PICK: Stars -1.5 (+115, Caesars). The Stars need to keep pace with the Avalanche and Wild in their division, so every win is crucial for them. Arizona has been eliminated, and they are playing really poor hockey right now. At plus money, I think there is some value here for the Stars to win by two-plus goals.
NHL Staff Picks
Lucy Burdge: Rangers ML vs. Sabres (-140, Caesars). The Rangers have won three of their last four games and two of their last three on the road and I think they’ll get another win here over the Sabres. Plus, when the Rangers and Sabres met up earlier this month, the Rangers beat the Sabres 2-1. So I like them to beat the Sabres in this one. And I got this at -140 at Caesars, which was the best value I saw anywhere!
Best Sportsbook Offers & NHL Promos
BetMGM NHL OGP Insurance Play Of The Day
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Thompson Anytime Goal
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Rangers u2.5 1P
Rangers ML
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