NHL Best Bets Today, 3/18: Picks, Predictions & Player Props - Tuesday
Welcome to our expert NHL Best Bets today!
It's crunch time in the NHL and there are a number of playoff-bound teams on tonight's slate of NHL picks who are fighting for every single point they can possibly get. I wouldn't be surprised to see a few more games start trending towards the under as we approach the final 15 games of the season.
NHL Picks, Predictions & Best Bets Today, 3/18
I'll always look for good teams in spots to bounce back and we have that in a few ways for NHL best bets today, as well as hot teams who will look to keep things rolling in the below NHL predictions.
Ducks vs. Stars Prediction: Tuesday, March 18th
The Dallas Stars are back at home and have lost three of their last four games but have a great chance to right the ship tonight against a bad Anaheim Ducks team.
The Stars are a great team and I can “excuse” their recent losses to the Oilers, the Jets, and the Avalanche, all playoff-bound teams. Regardless, they need to get things moving in the right direction tonight and they have a tomato can of an opponent in the Ducks.
Since the start of March, the Ducks have allowed 69.01 Total Shot Attempts per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations, which is the second-worst in the league. They've been a terrible defense all season and there's no reason to stop attacking them now, so let's turn to Wyatt Johnston.
The newly-extended rising talent for the Stars comes in with 21 shots on goal over his last 10 games, which is a bit lower than we'd like to see. However, the recent matchups against the Oilers, Jets, and Avalanche were tough ones as all three of those teams have been in the top 16 of the league since the start of March in terms of Total Shot Attempts allowed per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations.
Those teams are the exact opposite of what Johnston will face in the Ducks tonight, an opponent he has had success against this season with three shots in each of the first two games. I'll trust the Stars at home to get back on the right foot against a bad team in the first of our NHL best bets today.
- Expert Ducks vs. Stars Picks:
- Wyatt Johnston Over 2.5 Shots on Goal (-102 on FanDuel)
Senators vs. Canadiens Prediction: Tuesday, March 18th
When it comes to hot teams in the NHL, the Ottawa Senators are among the hottest with six straight wins. They take that streak on the road to face the Montreal Canadiens, who have seven wins in their last 10 games.
Both teams are fighting for a wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference, with the Senators holding down the first spot, and the Canadiens just one point out of the second spot. This is as good as it gets for late-season NHL action and should be one of the best games of the night.
Despite the Habs picking up plenty of wins lately, they are still allowing a ton of shot attempts. Since the start of March, they have allowed 70.73 Total Shot Attempts per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations, which is the worst in the league. They're not giving up a ton of goals by any means, but the overall volume of attempts is there for opposing teams.
This brings me and my NHL best bets today to Shane Pinto, whose shot prop is only 1.5, not a line we often see for most players. He's on the third forward line and has racked up at least two shots on goal in five of the eight games since the start of March. The consistency and the matchup are there for Pinto to rack up the shots.
- Expert Senators vs. Canadiens Picks:
- Shane Pinto Over 1.5 Shots on Goal (-122 on FanDuel)
Best NHL Prop Bets & Other Picks Today, 3/18
- Detroit Red Wings vs. Washington Capitals Under 6.5 (-125 on DraftKings)
Player News
Dolphins signed No. 13 overall pick DT Kenneth Grant to a four-year contract.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports that Grant will sign his contract today. The former Michigan defensive tackle is expected to fill a major void left by Christian Wilkins, who left for the Raiders in the 2024 offseason. Grant totaled 32 tackles, three sacks, and seven TFLs in his final season at Michigan and excelled at stopping the run while also generating 27 pressures in his final season, per PFF.
Daulton Varsho picked up three hits, three RBI and a homer in a win over the Angels on Thursday.
Varsho has only played in seven games this year, but they’ve been seven good ones. He’s homered three times already, and his slugging percentage is a remarkable — and entirely unsustainable — .727 over 22 at-bats. Varsho has been a mediocre offensive player in his two seasons with the Blue Jays, but it’s possible at the age of 28 he’s having a breakout campaign. Far from a guarantee, but possible.
Taylor Ward hit a two-run homer in a loss to the Blue Jays on Thursday.
Ward, 31, gave the Angels a 2-0 lead with a two-run homer off Chris Bassitt in the first inning. He’s now gone deep in two of his last three games, and it ‘improves’ his slash to .181/.224/.391. Ward has been one of the most hot/cold players players in the sport over the last few years, so fantasy managers who can afford to make some roster moves may want to look at Ward while the going is good.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. picked up three hits and scored twice in an 8-5 win over the Angels on Thursday.
Guerrero also drew a walk. It gives the first baseman multiple hits in back-to-back games, and it’s the third time in May that he’s reached that mark. That’s helped raise his average from .268 to .295, and the only thing fantasy managers can be disappointed with is his .432 slugging percentage. That number should continue to climb as the season unfolds, but Vladdy Jr. has had some inconsistent seasons when it comes to power production.
Chad Green picked up his first save of 2025 with a scoreless ninth against the Angels on Thursday.
Green got the save after Jeff Hoffman worked in back-to-back games — and struggled — in the first two contests against the Angels. He struck out two and looked the part while needing just nine pitches to get through the inning. Hoffman should remain the closer, but Green is on his tail if the struggles were to continue.
Chris Bassitt allowed five runs — four earned — while working six-plus innings against the Angels on Thursday while picking up a win.
Bassitt allowed three runs over the first two innings on a pair of homers, but settled down over his next four frames. He came out to work the seventh, but ended up being charged for two more runs after leaving the contest. The 36-year-old veteran has forged a 3.35 ERA and outstanding 49/8 K/BB ratio over the first quarter of the season, but this wasn’t him at his best. He’ll get the Rays next week if the rotation order stays the same for Toronto.