Category: NHL

The Toronto Maple Leafs are in a tailspin, and carry their road losing streak into a matchup against the Columbus Blue Jackets.

The pregame narrative: Toronto has lost seven of its last eight games, including three straight on the road. The Blue Jackets have already beaten the Leafs twice this year, and are slight favourites for Round 3. Auston Matthews was spotted at practice this week, but it’s unclear if he’ll play tonight.

Check out my Maple Leafs vs. Blue Jackets predictions for the game on Nov. 26, featuring a prop bet on

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Editor’s note: Auston Matthews confirmed he will be returning to the lineup tonight.

Maple Leafs vs. Blue Jackets predictions

Best Bet: Over 6.5 goals (-115)

We’re long past the proverbial panic button stage in Toronto.

The Leafs are dead last in the Eastern Conference and are giving up the second-most goals per game (3.73) in the NHL.

I don’t expect a reversal, at least not in the near future.

Toronto is giving up the fourth most chances (66.3) and shots (30.6) on a 60-minute basis, per Natural Stat Trick. And it’s practically icing Morgan Rielly plus an AHL blue line right now with Chris Tanev and Brandon Carlo sidelined.

Joseph Woll has done a decent job of mitigating the damage, but still has a 3.27 GAA thanks to the sheer number of shots he faces.

-> Bet on tonight’s Maple Leafs vs. Blue Jackets matchup now!

Still, I think taking the over on this total is safer than backing Columbus.

We’ve seen the Leafs outscore their defensive issues a few times this year, and Matthews’ possible return could be a much-needed shot in the arm.

But even if the captain remains out, Nylander and John Tavares are capable of driving the bus.

Columbus isn’t much better defensively, either, allowing the seventh-most chances (62) and third-most shots (30.72) on a 60-minute basis.

This should be a shootout.

Key stat: Toronto has gone over this total in 14 of its last 17 games.

Best NHL prop picks

Nylander to score (+125): Nylander is one of the best players on the planet when he feels like putting it all together. I’m hoping tonight is one of those nights.

The Swedish winger has 10 goals and 29 points so far, and is on pace for a fourth-straight 40-goal season.

-> Bet on Nylander to score at NorthStar Bets

He has seven goals in his last 10 games and two in his last three, so we’re backing him while he’s hot.

Columbus, as mentioned, doesn’t have the best defensive track record. Nylander failed to score against the Blue Jackets last Thursday but did have a team-high six shots and led all forwards in ice time (21:50).

I like his chances of finding the score sheet tonight.

Maple Leafs vs. Blue Jackets predictions made at 11:30 a.m. ET Nov. 26, 2025.

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There’s only one NHL game on Tuesday night, and it’s a Western Conference Finals rematch between the Edmonton Oilers and Dallas Stars.

The pregame narrative: Edmonton returns home after a six-game road trip, where it went 3-3 despite some goaltending issues. The Oilers are favoured against the team they’ve eliminated from each of the past two conference finals, with Stars forward Mikko Rantanen suspended.

Check out my Stars vs. Oilers predictions for the game on Nov. 25, featuring a fade on Connor McDavid.

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Stars vs. Oilers predictions

Best Bet: Stars moneyline (+115)

It’s hard to bet against the Oilers at home, where they own a solid 5-1-2 record.

But I can’t get behind Edmonton with its goaltending issues, and the Stars are one of the league’s best road teams.

• Stuart Skinner (.885 SV%) and Calvin Pickard (.851 SV%) have combined for the worst team save percentage in the NHL.

• Dallas is 7-1-3 on the road, while averaging 3.54 goals per game. For context, the Carolina Hurricanes’ 3.50 goals per game rank third in the NHL.

The Stars already hit the Oilers for four goals in a victory earlier this year. I expect their offence to come through and do damage tonight, even without Rantanen.

-> Bet on Stars vs. Oilers at NorthStar Bets

Losing the big Finn to suspension is costly, but the Oilers have gotten shelled by lineups far worse than what Dallas will ice tonight.

And Edmonton is also missing some talent. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Jake Walman and Kasperi Kapanen are all sidelined with injuries.

At the end of the day, I feel confident backing the team with better goaltending. And Jake Oettinger is light-years clear of Skinner or Pickard.

Key stat: The Oilers are giving up 4.3 goals per game in their last 10 games.

Best NHL prop picks

McDavid under 1.5 points (-134): McDavid is one of the best players on the planet (I would say the best if Nathan MacKinnon hadn’t hit another gear this year), but he still falls under this line more often than not.

The superstar forward has multi-point outings in 11 of 24 games (54.1% under rate), which is right in line with the implied probability of this wager (56.9%).

-> Fade McDavid on Tuesday night

Dallas is finding its form defensively, so it makes sense that bettors have to pay a little more juice on this prop. I’m happy to do so.

The Stars have allowed just 2.5 goals per game in their last 10 games. In that span, they’re ceding the seventh-fewest chances and 11th-fewest shots on a 60-minute basis, per Natural Stat Trick.

Stars vs. Oilers predictions made at 11:07 a.m. ET on Nov. 25, 2025.

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Two forwards on Florida-based teams are my picks to score during Monday’s seven-game NHL slate.

The pregame narrative: Jake Guentzel and Sam Reinhart have been filling the net for the Tampa Bay Lightning and Florida Panthers, respectively. They both have solid matchups tonight and are worth backing at plus-money price points.

Check out my NHL goal picks for Nov. 24.

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NHL goal picks Nov. 24

Best Bet: Reinhart to score (+135)

Reinhart has put his slow start to the season behind him.

He’s scored 10 goals in his last 13 games, including back-to-back outings as part of a six-game point streak (10 points).

Reinhart is now playing at a 47-goal pace, which would be his second-best mark behind his incredible 2023-24 season, where he netted 57 goals.

-> Bet on Reinhart and the Panthers tonight!

And it’s not like he’s getting lucky.

The winger is leading Florida in shots (59), chances (136) and high-danger chances (51), per Natural Stat Trick. Reinhart’s 13.01 xG doesn’t just top the Panthers — it’s the best mark for any skater in the entire NHL.

Plenty of that damage is done on the power play, where Reinhart has four goals already.

Florida takes on a Nashville Predators team with solid penalty killing, but suspect goaltending. Juuse Saros has an .896 SV% on the season, which ranks 30th out of all NHL netminders.

Saros also ranks 43rd in goals saved above expected, per Money Puck.

Key stat: Reinhart has five goals in his last six games.

NHL predictions

Guentzel to score (+130): Moving off of Steven Stamkos for Guentzel looks like a better investment with each passing day.

The American winger has 53 goals and 102 points since joining Tampa Bay, while Stamkos has 31 goals and 58 points in the same span with the Nashville Predators.

-> Wager on Guentzel at NorthStar Bets

Guentzel has scored 12 times this year, and seven of those have come in his past seven games.

His 55 high-danger chances are more than double the next-closest player on the Lightning (Brandon Hagel, 27).

Guentzel will likely be missing his linemate, Brayden Point, tonight, but I think he can produce against the Philadelphia Flyers and goaltender Dan Vladar.

Vladar has an .887 SV% in seven starts this month.

NHL goal picks made at 11:40 a.m. ET on Nov. 24, 2025.

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The Calgary Flames and Vancouver Canucks meet in an all-Canadian clash on Sunday night.

The pregame narrative: Calgary enters this game off back-to-back wins after downing the Dallas Stars on Saturday. Vancouver, meanwhile, has lost consecutive games and is looking to get back on track. I’m betting on a star from each side to step up and deliver.

Check out my Flames vs. Canucks prop picks for the game on Nov. 23 in Vancouver, featuring Quinn Hughes and Jonathan Huberdeau.

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Flames vs. Canucks prop picks

Best Bet: Hughes over 2.5 shots (-120)

Hughes only has one goal this season, but it’s not for a lack of trying.

The Canucks defenceman is 20th in shots (46) despite playing in just 17 games. He’s the only player inside the top 20 of the stat who has played fewer than 20 games.

Hughes hasn’t topped this line in either of his last two games, but you could argue he’s gotten a bit unlucky. He has totalled 17 shot attempts in those two games.

-> Bet on Hughes against the Flames

His chances of having more shots get through from the point are strong against the Flames. Calgary ranks 25th in shot blocks per game (14.1).

The Flames are also playing their second game in as many nights. Fatigue could be a factor that leads to clearer shooting lanes for Hughes.

Hughes is tied for first on the Canucks in points (20) despite missing five games. The offence will continue to flow through him, which means he’ll have plenty of opportunities with the puck on his stick.

Key stat: Hughes has three-plus shots in four of his last six games.

Best NHL prop picks

Huberdeau to score 1+ points (-118): Huberdeau’s recent play is extremely encouraging.

The Flames forward is putting his slow start behind him. Huberdeau had just eight points through the first 14 games of the season. He now has four points in his last four contests.

-> Bet on Flames vs. Canucks at NorthStar Bets

The matchup is right, too, against a defensively inept Vancouver side. The Canucks are allowing the second-most goals per game (3.68), while ranking third in expected goals against (3.61).

Vancouver has allowed four-plus goals in five of its last six games. These issues aren’t getting any better, and with Thatcher Demko still out, bettors should continue to pick on the Canucks.

Flames vs. Canucks prop picks made at 11:07 a.m. ET on Nov. 23, 2025.

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