Category: NHL

I’ve got a three-leg, +320 parlay for Saturday as the NHL returns from the 4 Nations Face-Off.

The pregame narrative: I’m trying to capitalize on a goalie mismatch by backing the Winnipeg Jets on the moneyline. Elsewhere, take the Toronto Maple Leafs and Anaheim Ducks as puck line underdogs.

Check out the full NHL parlay picks for Feb. 22.

NHL parlay picks

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Parlay: Jets moneyline | Maple Leafs +1.5 | Ducks +1.5 (+320)

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Jets moneyline (-130): Connor Hellebuyck and Jordan Binnington just went head-to-head in a thrilling 4 Nations finale between Canada and USA on Thursday.

It surely took a lot out of both netminders, and Hellebuyck is slated to rest on Saturday night, with Eric Comrie confirmed in goal. It’s unclear if Binnington will start or not, but I’m going to lean with no.

And even if he does, his NHL numbers haven’t been great because the team in front of him plays awful defence. Backup netminder Joel Hofer ranks outside of the top 25 in goals allowed average (2.88) and save percentage (.903).

Comrie has a respectable 2.58 GAA and .912 SV% and has won back-to-back starts while allowing just two goals.

Winnipeg entered the break on an eight-game winning streak while St. Louis has lost six of its last eight.

Other picks

Maple Leafs +1.5 (-250): Toronto’s top dogs all played in the 4 Nations but head coach Craig Berube scoffed at the idea that they would be rested on Saturday.

The Maple Leafs own a stellar 19-11-0 home record and get to choose between two of the better goaltenders in the NHL.

It’s unclear if Joseph Woll or Anthony Stolarz will start, but both rank inside the top 20 for goals saved above expected on a 60-minute basis, according to Money Puck.

Carolina is 12-13-3 on the road, failing to cover as -1.5 favourites in 20 of 28 games.

Ducks +1.5 (-148): TD Garden was rocking on Thursday when Team Canada sent American fans home with a loss. I expect more pain to be coming for Bostonians, who are finally seeing their team regress after years of dominance.

The Bruins are a mediocre 27-24-6 with the worst puck line record in the NHL, according to Scores and Odds.

Charlie McAvoy suffered an AC joint sprain against Sweden and will be out for a while, which is massive hit for the struggling team.

Boston lost four of its last six games heading into the break while allowing an average of 3.83 goals per game.

The Ducks aren’t a great team but have the best puck line record in the league (36-18) and have won six of their last seven.

Picks made at 3:20 p.m. on 02/21/2025.

Canada has a chance at redemption on Thursday when it battles USA for 4 Nations Face-Off supremacy.

The pregame narrative: The Americans won the first meeting between these countries, 3-1, in an epic showdown at Bell Centre on Saturday night. I’m looking toward one player from each team — Connor McDavid and Jack Hughes — to be active shooters.

Check out the latest Canada vs. USA 4 Nations Face-Off prop picks for Feb. 20.

Canada vs. USA prop picks

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Best Bet: McDavid over 2.5 shots on goal (-125)

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McDavid is on the short list for Canada’s best player this tournament, alongside Nathan MacKinnon and Sidney Crosby — just as you’d suspect.

However, I think McDavid is set to remind everyone who the best player in the world is.

Edmonton’s captain has a point in every game, scoring against both USA and Finland. He’s cleared this mark in back-to-back outings (three shots vs. USA) and led all Canadian forwards in ice time against the Americans on Saturday (22:44).

He’s going to draw the toughest matchups, but Jon Cooper will be incentivized to double and triple-shift the superstar in this do-or-die game.

That’s nothing new to McDavid, who played 25-plus minutes four times in last year’s Stanley Cup Final.

I also have a hunch the refs are going to tighten up their whistles after Saturday’s affair, which saw three fights break out in the first nine seconds of the game.

Canada had two man-advantages against the Americans in that contest but came up empty. I don’t know if its power play will break through, but extra looks on the man advantage can only help a player like McDavid rack up shots.

Key stat: McDavid had a team-high six shot attempts against the USA on Saturday, according to Money Puck.

Quick picks

Hughes over 2.5 shots (-136): Open ice and shooting lanes were hard to find on Saturday night as Hughes finished with just two shots against Canada in a victory.

But he logged three against Finland before that and had a team-high five against Sweden on Monday.

I expect the New Jersey Devils’ superstar to be a threat early and often in the championship game. The centre is playing off-position on the right wing alongside Auston Matthews and Jake Guentzel, which puts him in a shoot-first mindset.

He’s one of the NHL’s most dangerous threats, ranking fourth in shots (206) behind only MacKinnon, David Pastrnak and Brady Tkachuk.

Hughes is averaging 3.6 shots per game with the Devils.

4 Nations Face-Off picks made at 2:55 p.m. ET on 02/19/2025.

Here’s a same-game parlay to sink your teeth into for the final round-robin game of the 4 Nations Face-Off between Sweden and the USA.

The pregame narrative: Team USA is already off to the final, but I expect the squad to stay sharp ahead of the championship match. I’m picking the Americans to win and looking for Jake Guentzel to deliver a point. Additionally, I’m taking the over on a teased-down total.

Check out my Sweden vs. USA same-game parlay predictions for Feb. 17.

Sweden vs. USA predictions

Parlay: USA ML | Guentzel to score a point | Over 5.5 goals (+230)

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USA ML (-190): Sweden’s motivation will likely be tethered to the result of the Canada-Finland game.

The Swedes can only advance with a regulation win plus an overtime result in the preceding game. Even if the stars align for Sweden ahead of this contest, I’m skeptical of its chances to defeat Team USA.

The Americans have been very difficult to break down defensively. They’ve allowed just two goals through two games this tournament thanks to stellar defence and elite goaltending from Connor Hellebuyck.

The offence has registered nine goals through two contests, but it could be missing a key cog. Matthew Tkachuk suffered a lower-body injury against Canada on Saturday, and his status is still uncertain.

Team USA still has plenty of offensive star power, though, with Auston Matthews, Jack Hughes and Brady Tkachuk, among others. The Americans should still be able to get the job done.

Other parlay legs

Guentzel to score a point (-148): Guentzel’s anytime goal odds are also appealing (+225), but I’m just looking for him to register a point in this same-game parlay.

The Tampa Bay Lightning star has been excellent in international action for Team USA. He has three goals and nine shots through two matchups.

His spot in the team’s lineup makes him an easy choice at this number. Guentzel skates on the second line with Matthews and Hughes and plays on the squad’s top power play.

Guentzel is a natural goalscorer, but playing at even strength and on the man advantage with Matthews significantly boosts his chances of notching an apple.

Over 5.5 goals (-143): Lastly, I’ll take the over on this teased-down goal total.

Sweden is still searching for its first win but scoring goals hasn’t been an issue. Tre Kronor have scored three goals in both of their games, and the hope is they can contribute at least a couple of tallies in this contest.

Goals haven’t been difficult to come by for the U.S., and it should be able to deliver against Sweden. The Swedes, after all, have allowed eight goals in this tournament.

The over on this total has cashed in both of Sweden’s games at the 4 Nations Face-Off.

Picks made at 10:03 a.m. ET 02/17/2025.

Team USA and Sweden meet in the final round-robin match at the 4 Nations Face-Off.

The pregame narrative: The U.S. has already clinched its spot in the final, while Sweden needs some help from Canada and Finland to stay alive. Sweden is struggling to keep the puck out of its net, which is why I like Jake Guentzel and Brady Tkachuk to score.

Check out the latest USA vs. Sweden 4 Nations Face-Off props for Feb. 17.

USA vs. Sweden props

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Best Bet: Guentzel to score (+260)

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It’s a little surprising to see Guentzel’s anytime goal line hovering around these odds for several reasons.

Firstly, he’s been a consistent goal threat at this tournament. The Tampa Bay Lightning forward struck twice in Team USA’s victory over Canada and notched another marker against Finland.

Bettors have to like his deployment in the lineup, too, as he’s skating on the second line with Auston Matthews and Jack Hughes while also playing on the top power play. He logged over 20 minutes of ice time in Saturday night’s win.

Lighting the lamp is nothing new for Guentzel. The two-time 40-goal scorer is eighth in goals this season with 27, putting him on pace for 41 this campaign.

The talented forward has emerged as one of USA’s top offensive threats and should have another solid showing on Monday night.

Key stat: Guentzel has nine shots through two games at the 4 Nations Face-Off.

Quick pick

Tkachuk to score (+245): A lot of the same reasoning for backing Guentzel applies to Tkachuk.

He has a pair of goals at this tournament, notching both against the Finns in his team’s first matchup of the tournament.

His spot in the lineup is worth highlighting, too, as he plays on the first line with his brother Matthew Tkachuk and centre Jack Eichel. He doesn’t skate on the top power play, but that could potentially change if Matthew Tkachuk misses Monday’s game with the lower-body injury he suffered on Saturday.

Tkachuk has eight shots through two games, too, making him a reliable source of shots.

The Swedes have allowed four goals in both of their games at this tournament.

4 Nations Face-Off picks made at 2:00 p.m. ET on 02/16/2025.

Canada needs a win over Finland to advance to the Four Nations Face-Off final.

The pregame narrative: Both countries enter this game with an overtime win and a loss on their ledger. A regulation victory for either side will lock them into a date with Team USA. I’m betting on Canada to get the job done, taking the over, and backing Brad Marchand to score in this ticket.

Check out my Canada vs. Finland same-game parlay predictions for Feb. 17.

Canada vs. Finland predictions

Parlay: Canada ML | Marchand to score | Over 5.5 goals (+500)

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Canada ML (-400): Bettors looking for a straight wager should consider finding ways to bet Finland in this game. But in this same-game parlay, I’m fine adding Canada moneyline despite paying some significant juice.

Canada’s elite offence has the tools to overpower a thin, Finnish defence. The Finns have struggled between the pipes, also, as both Juuse Saros and Kevin Lankinen have played.

Simply put, Finland has no match for Canada’s upper echelon of talent. Connor McDavid, Nathan MacKinnon and Sidney Crosby are complete game-breakers, and Finland will have a difficult time stopping them.

Other parlay picks

Marchand to score (+290): This wager significantly lengthens the odds of this parlay, but I think there’s good value here.

Marchand already has a goal in this tournament and I expect his role to expand significantly after Canada’s offensive struggles against the USA.

The Canadians scored just one goal in the emotional loss and Marchand played a little more than eight minutes of ice time (8:23). That’s simply not going to cut it.

Marchand was one of the few Canadian forwards who was able to break through the Americans’ strong defensive wall and provide his team with opportunities. Only three Canadian players finished Saturday’s game with more shots than him.

The alternate captain has chemistry with some of Canada’s top-six forwards, as he trains with Crosby and MacKinnon in the offseason. Whether uniting the trio is something head coach Jon Cooper decides to do or not, slotting Marchand up in the lineup seems like a no-brainer.

Even a slight uptick in opportunity will put some value on this wager.

Over 5.5 goals (-152): Thirdly, I’m expecting the two sides to surpass this teased-down total.

This is a play on the uncertainty surrounding Finland’s defence and goaltending. Here are the Finns’ projected defensive pairings for Monday:

• Niko Mikkola and Esa Lindell
• Olli Maatta and Henri Jokiharju
• Urho Vaakanainen and Nikolas Matinpalo

That group should have a difficult time containing Canada’s top forwards, which could lead to a strong scoring output by the Canadians.

Conversely, Canada has allowed three goals in both tournament games so far. Finland should be able to contribute to this total and get it over the number.

Picks made at 12:21 p.m. ET 02/16/2025.