Here we go with another massive slate to kick off the weekend in the NHL this Saturday! I love these days in hockey as the first game starts around noon ET and then continues all the way to the west coast at 10pm ET. There are 13 games around the NHL tonight so no shortages of plays from me as I look to build on the 4-2 record on the week and 2 Dog of the Day bets that cashed!

Unfortunately I do not have a Dog of the Day play today but I will say I like the spots that the Penguins and Rangers are in today at plus money. Either way there are still a trio of best bets for today's action that include a game total, Money Line and a team total!

If you like the rationale below, then tail my NHL best bets today. You could even try BettorEdge, the social betting marketplace. Not only is this sports betting platform safe and secure, but it's even legal in 40+ states! Use promo code ALARM while registering to get $10+ in bonus credits after you verify. No deposit is required.

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

  • Season Record: 108-87-3
  • Bankroll: +13.85 units
  • Dog of the Day Record: 14-13 (+4.45 Units)

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**All bets are one unit unless specifically mentioned.

*Editor’s Note: Bet on any of these NHL best bets today at BetMGM Sportsbook and claim a “Bet $5, Get $150" bonus when you click here.

 

NHL Best Bets Today, March 2

Vegas Golden Knights at Buffalo Sabres Prediction

Let's try this again with Vegas shall we? They are normally a great defensive team but in their last game against Boston things just got out of control. When things like that happen though a regression to the mean is expected and that's why today's game total for the Golden Knights and Sabres is on my radar. Its nothing that hasn't been said before but Vegas goaltender Adin Hill is top notch with a 2.38 GAA and .923 SV% and more often than not he is going to make the big saves. 

On the other end of the ice will be Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen who is really stringing together an impressive run with his 2.45 GAA and .914 SV%. He has been even more impressive in the month of February as well with a 2.09 GAA and allowing more than 4 goals in a game just once over the past 10 games. This has helped the Sabres go under the total in 20 of 30 home games this season, the best hit rate in the NHL. 

The Golden Knights offense is also still banged up in a major way with injuries so I think the scoring will be at a premium tonight and it hits the under on 6.5 goals. 

  • Pick: Golden Knights & Sabres Under 6.5 Goals (-130 on FanDuel)
 

Boston Bruins at New York Islanders Prediction

The Boston Bruins have been banned from my betting card for quite some time now but the model loves them today so let's see what it has to say. The Bruins have scored 3.7 goals per game over the past 45 days on the road which is an excellent number while their goaltending is top notch between either Swayman or Ullmark. That gives them an immediate edge over most teams and the Islanders certainly fit that category. 

New York has given up 3.4 goals per game during that same 45 day time span on home ice while scoring just 2.9 goals per game. They are operating at a defecit and that's no Bueno. The Islanders are also 13-17 straight up on the Money Line in home games this season and that's trouble against a team like Boston and not having a home ice advantage. The Bruins also score much better in xGoals For and xGoals Against significantly so the data gives way to a pretty decent edge for the road team tonight. 

The odds on the books are favorable as well with the expected value of this matchup so let's give the Bruins one more chance to see if they can avoid being banned for the rest of the season. 

 

Montreal Canadiens at Tampa Bay Lightning Prediction

Final wager for me in this article and it belongs to one of the best offenses in the NHL at the moment! The Lightning have the league's leading scorer in Nikita Kucherov but the whole lineup is super stacked and the numbers they are pumping out recently are insane. Over the past 45 days Tampa Bay has scored 4.3 goals per game on home ice and that ranks among the league's best during that time period. 

They'll get a Canadiens team tonight that is winding out the clock on this season and it shows as they've allowed a massive 4.6 goals per game over the past 45 days on the road! That right there sets us up for a team total wager on the Lightning and seeing as they could score 5 or 6 goals tonight against Cayden Primeau I am really excited to lay down this bet and watch the fireworks. The books have varying numbers ranging from 3.5 to 4.5 goals but I will meet it in the middle and stick with an even 4 goals for the Lightning to topple tonight. 

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