Hockey Handicapping Articles

2024 Conn Smythe Trophy Odds and Predictions
by Matt Zitt - 6/7/2024

The 2024 Stanley Cup will be awarded to the NHL’s best team over the next few weeks, but there will also be an award to the NHL’s best player in the playoffs. The Conn Smythe Trophy will be presented to the NHL Playoff MVP prior to the Stanley Cup being awarded. As we inch closer to the Stanley Cup Final, which starts on Saturday night, it is time to start examining some of the individuals who could be up for the award.

NHL Conference Finals Predictions for Each Series
by Ryan Cobbett - 5/22/2024

Eight more wins is all that is needed for the four remaining teams. The playoffs have given us some great moments throughout the first two rounds. Dallas has taken down the last two Stanley Cup Champions on their way to their third conference final in five years. The Panthers have eliminated Boston in back-to-back years, though perhaps a little more controversial this time around.

Expert NHL Handicapping Roundup + Saturday Free Pick for 4/13/2024
by Ryan Cobbett - 4/12/2024

Today is the final NHL Friday Roundup of the season as we enter the final week of the 2024 campaign. As it stands now, 13 of the 16 playoff spots have been claimed, and the New York Rangers maintain their spot atop of the league standings with 110 points. Entering the weekend, there is no hotter team right now than the New York Islanders, who have won six straight and now have a three-point lead over the Pittsburgh Penguins for the last guaranteed spot.

Hot and Cold NHL Betting Teams: Moneyline and ATS 4/11/2024
by Ryan Cobbett - 4/11/2024

We are nearing the final week of the regular season, as teams have just three or four games remaining in the year. The Rangers currently sit in first place in the NHL standings with 110 points, as the Dallas Stars (109), Boston Bruins (107), and Carolina Hurricanes (107) follow. The Eastern Conference Wild Card race is heating up, with the Islanders and Capitals being chased by the Red Wings, Penguins, and Flyers.

Expert NHL Handicapping Roundup + Saturday Free Pick for 4/6/2024
by Ryan Cobbett - 4/5/2024

The season is winding down, and it’s crunch time for teams around the league. Division and wild card races are tightening up, as teams try and crack the 16-team playoff bracket. As of now, Boston, Florida, New York (Rangers), Carolina, Dallas, Colorado, Winnipeg, and Vancouver have all clinched the playoffs. The Stars are the hottest team in the league right now, while the Flyers and Capitals have picked the worst time to go on a four- and five-game losing streak.

NHL Totals Betting Advice: Hot and Cold Over and Under Teams 4/4/2024
by Ryan Cobbett - 4/4/2024

With less than two weeks remaining in the regular season, time is running out for you to be able to take advantage of the established trends and performance ATS or regarding the game total. With about seven games remaining on the schedule, the New York Rangers sit atop the league with 106 points, while the red-hot Dallas Stars are on their heels with 105.

Hot and Cold NHL Betting Teams: Moneyline and ATS 3/28/2024
by Ryan Cobbett - 3/28/2024

The Dallas Stars, who just took over the top spot in the Western Conference, are featured as number two on the list, going 7-3 ATS over the last 10 games. Dallas has won 10 of their last 12 games and has won and covered in their last five games. Scott Wedgewood and Jake Oettinger have formed a solid tandem over the last two weeks, as they have allowed just 10 goals in the last five contests.

NHL Futures Odds Update with Expert Predictions for Awards, Stanley Cup Chase
by Ryan Cobbett - 3/22/2024

Back in January, I did a deep dive into the future award winners and their odds of claiming the coveted trophies. Let’s revisit the future as we are within the final month of the season as we now have a much clearer picture. Additionally, we will analyze the team’s future odds as well so that you can take advantage of any value that still exists on the market.

Expert NHL Handicapping Roundup + Saturday Free Pick for 3/23/2024
by Ryan Cobbett - 3/22/2024

With only four weeks remaining in the regular season, things are heating up on the ice. That also means time is winding now to take advantage of established league trends, so today I break down the numbers so you can see where the money is being made. Additionally, let’s see how the race for the worst record is going while also talking about the hottest team in the sport.

NHL Totals Betting Advice: Hot and Cold Over and Under Teams 3/21/2024
by Ryan Cobbett - 3/21/2024

Teams are sitting at or around 70 games played as we near the end of the season. The wild card races are heating up, with Tampa Bay and Detroit claiming the final two spots in the Eastern Conference, while Nashville and Vegas have the wild card spots claimed in the Western Conference. With just a few weeks left in the regular season, time is running out to do what the numbers tell you. So, without further ado let’s get into the game totals.

Hot and Cold NHL Betting Teams: Moneyline and ATS 3/13/2024
by Ryan Cobbett - 3/13/2024

The Trade Deadline has passed, and teams have less than 20 games remaining on the schedule. Vegas, Dallas, Colorado, Winnipeg, and Carolina all improved, as the Hurricanes look as scary on paper as the Panthers do, while the Jets, Avalanche, and Stars are in for an entertaining finish in the Central Division. There is big news out of Vancouver as Thatcher Demko is set to miss two to four weeks with a knee injury, which opens things up for Vegas and Edmonton to catch the Canucks over the next 10 games or so.

Expert NHL Handicapping Roundup + Saturday Free Pick for 3/9/2024
by Ryan Cobbett - 3/8/2024

The trade deadline is upon us, as teams have until 3pm EST to get any trades into the league office, then it’s officially the home stretch. We have already seen some big moves like Carolina going all in and grabbing Jake Guentzel from Pittsburgh and Tampa Bay acquiring Anthony Duclair from San Jose. The Nashville Predators have an interesting day in front of them, as they are on a heater but have been widely expected to sell at the deadline. It’s decision time for teams across the league, who will go all in? Before the exciting day gets underway, let’s look at some trends from around the league.

NHL Totals Betting Advice: Hot and Cold Over and Under Teams 3/7/2024
by Ryan Cobbett - 3/7/2024

Once more, it is time to see who the moneymakers are in respect to the game totals over the team’s last 10 games. With the trade deadline just a day away, teams are going to need to assess whether or not to add offensive firepower or goaltending sturdiness to improve their teams and make a run to the playoffs. So, with that being stated, it is good to do some more research for game total decisions over the next week or so, because some of these streaks may change depending on who is added or subtracted as we head into the weekend.

Expert NHL Handicapping Roundup + Saturday Free Pick for 3/2/2024
by Ryan Cobbett - 3/1/2024

With the NHL season schedule hitting the home stretch, and the trade deadline a week away, it is time for teams to hunker down and get ready for a playoff push. Three of the four division leaders have small leads of five points or less, while Vancouver’s 10-point lead over Vegas is the largest separation between the top two teams in any division. The Eastern Conference Wild Card spots seem to both belong to the Atlantic Division, with Detroit Red Wings and Tampa Bay Lightning clinging to six- and eight-point leads. As for the Western Conference, the Nashville Predators and Los Angeles Kings control the wild cards by seven points. With all that said, let’s revisit some trendy futures and see where the money is at.

NHL Totals Betting Advice: Hot and Cold Over and Under Teams 2/29/2024
by Ryan Cobbett - 2/29/2024

Teams have just over 20 games remaining on the year as we near the home stretch. The trade deadline is just over a week away, and some teams have already made some big time moves. Last night the Dallas Stars added veteran blueliner Chris Tanev in a trade with Calgary for a 2024 second-round pick and a prospect. There are plenty of other big names floating around at this time, such as Nashville goalie Juuse Saros, Pittsburgh forward Jake Guentzel, and Calgary defenseman Noah Hanifin.

Hot and Cold NHL Betting Teams: Moneyline and ATS 2/22/2024
by Ryan Cobbett - 2/22/2024

As the trade deadline nears, streaks become all the more impactful as management decides what direction they want to go. Teams around the NHL are falling out of the playoff race, while others are making serious runs at not only seeing more games, but better positioning themselves in the seeding. Vancouver remains the only team with a significant lead in their division to this point, as the three other division races are seemingly going to go down to the last week of the regular season. With that, let’s see who the hottest and coldest teams are and who is making money.

Expert NHL Handicapping Roundup + Saturday Free Pick for 2/17/2024
by Ryan Cobbett - 2/16/2024

We are less than a month away from the NHL Trade Deadline, as teams get prepared for the home stretch of the campaign and head into the playoffs. Teams are beginning to fall in and out of contention, (most) player awards are coming down to the wire, and playoff hockey will be here sooner than you know. The Colorado Avalanche and Edmonton Oilers are tied for the best odds of hoisting the Stanley Cup at +850, with Florida right behind them at +950. In other league news, the Blue Jackets have moved on from their GM as their dreadful season continues.

Expert NHL Handicapping Roundup + Saturday Free Pick for 2/10/2024
by Ryan Cobbett - 2/9/2024

After a full week of hockey, it’s time for another roundup of some league trends and numbers to look at to back or fade and fill your pockets. After a 4-0-win last night, the Bruins have now tied the Canucks atop the league standings at 73 points, with Florida, Vegas, Dallas, and Colorado right behind them at 68 points. The Oilers historic run came to an end this week, halting at 16 games after a dominating win by Vegas. Nikita Kucherov and Nathan MacKinnon are still in a back-and-forth tilt for the league’s leading points getter, while Sam Reinhart remains on the heels of Auston Matthews as the two vie for the Rocket Richard.

NHL Totals Betting Advice: Hot and Cold Over and Under Teams 2/8/2024
by Ryan Cobbett - 2/8/2024

The NHL Is back in full swing after a fun All-Star break that was largely dominated by representatives from the Canadian clubs. With the second half of the season underway, and the Trade Deadline a month out, it’s crunch time for teams as they try and break into the playoffs. As always, we are all about identifying the money-making trends, so let’s take a look at our high frequenters on either side of the game total.

NHL Futures Props: Odds and Expert Predictions for Stretch Run
by Ryan Cobbett - 2/2/2024

As the NHL heads into the All-Star Break, now is a good time to take a look at some future’s and identify good value Vegas is giving us. With about 30 games left on the schedule and the trade deadline a little over a month away, there is still plenty of time for some teams to make a run and with that let’s analyze where the odds currently sit.