NHL Picks (Today's Free Predictions, Tips, Parlays)

Blackhawks at Canucks Picks and NHL Betting Odds
by Dave Schwab - 2/1/2013

The Chicago Blackhawks will try and keep their fast start going this Friday night when the head north of the border to the Rogers Center for a huge Western Conference showdown against the Vancouver Canucks. Game time for this clash is scheduled for 10 p.m. (ET), and it will be available on NHL Center Ice.

Avalanche at Flames Picks and NHL Betting Odds
by Trevor Whenham - 1/31/2013

This is supposed to be a hectic, compact season thanks to the lockout, but the Flames apparently didn’t get the memo. They beat Edmonton on Saturday night to earn their first win, and they have been off since. For bettors, the trick here is to determine whether that will be a positive — a second training camp of sorts to iron out the kinks and play some better hockey than they have — or a negative early on. Colorado will be comparatively exhausted heading into this one. This is the fourth game of a road trip that saw them in San Jose Saturday, Edmonton Monday, and Vancouver Wednesday. There isn’t an easy game in that group, so there could be some bumps and bruises — physical and mental — heading into this one.

Oilers at Coyotes Picks and NHL Betting Odds
by Alan Matthews - 1/30/2013

Last season, the Phoenix Coyotes were one of the NHL’s biggest surprises. They weren’t expected to do much – if even stay in Phoenix – but won the Pacific Division and upset the Chicago Blackhawks in the first round of the playoffs and then the Nashville Predators in the conference semifinals before running into to the red-hot L.A. Kings in the West Finals. Phoenix did it with a starless team and without much of a budget with the franchise in such tradition. That appears to be catching up to the Coyotes this season as they are off to a 2-4 start and really don’t resemble a playoff team.

Ducks at Sharks Picks and NHL Betting Odds
by Trevor Whenham - 1/29/2013

This is a battle of two teams in a good place early in this young season. The Ducks have won three of four, and they opened their season with two road wins. They take their unblemished road mark into San Jose to face a team that has yet to lose in five games. Not only is San Jose 5-0, but they have won all five games by at least two goals and four of the five by three or more. And they have done it against a reasonably competitive schedule. They have been the class of the NHL very early in this season.

Canucks at Kings Picks and NHL Betting Odds
by Dave Schwab - 1/28/2013

Two of the top favorites to win the Western Conference this season clash this Monday night at the Staples Center when the Vancouver Canucks face off against the Los Angeles Kings. The game is set to get underway at 10:30 p.m. (ET) and it will be broadcast on TSN.

Avalanche at Sharks Picks and NHL Betting Odds
by Alan Matthews - 1/26/2013

The San Jose Sharks have long been considered underachievers. They usually have some of the greatest collection of offensive talent in the NHL but have yet to reach the Stanley Cup Finals in franchise history. Could this year be different? San Jose again looks dynamic offensively, ranking No. 2 in the league entering Friday’s action in averaging five goals per game and No. 3 in power-play percentage at 38.9. Take a look at the NHL points leaders list and it’s littered with Sharks: Joe Thornton (nine, No. 1), Patrick Marleau (eight, No. 2), Logan Couture and Joe Pavelski (seven, No. 4).

Wild at Red Wings Picks and NHL Betting Odds
by Dave Schwab - 1/25/2013

The Minnesota Wild will head on the road for the first time this season this Friday night for a Western Conference clash against the Detroit Red Wings at Joe Lewis Arena. The game is set to get underway at 7:30 p.m. (ET) and it will be broadcast nationally on the NHL Network.

Blackhawks at Stars Picks and NHL Betting Odds
by Trevor Whenham - 1/24/2013

Chicago was the first team in the league to reach three wins, and two of those wins have come away from home. They also lead the league in goals scored. Now they are out to become the first team to four wins, and they have to do it on the road as well. They are already off to their best start since they won their first three in 1972, so this start is unquestionably noteworthy. It hasn’t been an easy schedule, either. They started by playing in L.A. as the Kings hoisted their Cup banner. Then they played at division-winning Phoenix and then hosted division-winning St. Louis. Dallas is not a weak team, but they are likely the weakest Chicago has yet faced.

Bruins at Rangers Picks and NHL Betting Odds
by Alan Matthews - 1/23/2013

When I wrote my updated Stanley Cup odds and predictions story on the eve of the NHL’s opening day late last week, I thought the Boston Bruins and New York Rangers were the two best teams in the East. I certainly recognized the talent of the Pittsburgh Penguins but wondered about Marc-Andre Fleury in net and the durability of Sidney Crosby. In the West, my pick was the Chicago Blackhawks.

Sharks at Oilers Picks and NHL Betting Odds
by Trevor Whenham - 1/22/2013

There isn’t a team in the NHL with more young talent than the Oilers — Eberle, Hall, Nugent-Hopkins, and Schultz are all destined to be stars. The key, though, is that they are incredibly young. Last year they started strong but weren’t yet ready for prime time, and they got to add another top pick in Yakupov to the already loaded cupboards. Now they are that much more experienced, and expectations are that much higher. As they make their home debut in this one in front of what will be a rabid crowd, the question is whether they are ready to make a huge step forward this year or if they are still in a building phase.

Blackhawks at Kings Picks and NHL Betting Odds
by Alan Matthews - 1/19/2013

Welcome to the first NHL free pick story of the 2013 season, one that has been shortened to 48 regular-season games -- and all of them intraconference matchups. It should make for an exciting season as losing streaks and injuries will be magnified – GMs really will have their work cut out for them this season in terms of potential trades. The trade deadline has been set this year at April 3 – by comparison, the 2011-12 regular season ended on April 7. The 2013 regular season concludes April 27, with the playoffs starting three days later. Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals, if necessary, would be June 28. That will give the 2013 champs about 2.5 months off before starting training camp in September.