Category: NHL

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 (-117)

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.

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Best NHL prop picks

Huberdeau to score 1+ points (-134): There’s a little bit of juice to pay on this prop, but I’m willing to pay it given Huberdeau’s recent play.

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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The red-hot Connor Bedard is Friday’s top NHL prop target.

The pregame narrative: Bedard is having a breakout season. He ranks top five in goals (13) and points (29), leading the resurgent Chicago Blackhawks to a 10-6-4 record. They’re favoured to keep things rolling against the Sabres in Buffalo tonight.

Check out my NHL prop picks for Nov. 21, featuring a fade on Minnesota Wild centre Joel Eriksson Ek.

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NHL prop picks

Best bet: Bedard over 3.5 shots (+140)

It seemed far-fetched to imagine Bedard would have a spot on the Canadian Olympic team just a few months ago.

But now? He’s beating the door down.

The third-year centre has the fourth-most points in hockey and is on a 12-game stretch where he’s tallied 11 goals and 11 assists.

Naturally, his point production markets have become far more juiced. He’s -275 to record a point tonight and +180 to nab a pair.

-> Bet on Bedard and the Blackhawks tonight

I think this is the best way to back Bedard, given his high shot volume and opponent.

• Bedard is averaging 4.0 shots in his last 12 games.

• He’s 7-2 against this line in November.

• Buffalo is allowing the most shot attempts (65.42) and shots (31.6) on a 60-minute basis, per Natural Stat Trick.

Key stat: Bedard has at least five shots in three straight games.

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NHL predictions

Eriksson Ek to not record a point (+102): Another surprise in the NHL so far is the play of the Pittsburgh Penguins. They’re 10-5-4 and have the second-best goal differential (+12) in the Eastern Conference.

Maybe it’s not time to trade off Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin after all.

Strong goaltending has played a big part in Pittsburgh’s success, and I think Minnesota will have a hard time cracking Arturs Silovs tonight.

-> See Friday’s player prop markets at NorthStar Bets

Silovs ranks ninth in GAA (2.44) and fifth in SV% (.917) and is coming off back-to-back stellar performances.

Eriksson Ek plays on the Wild’s second line (read: not with Kirill Kaprizov) and is not a consistent point producer.

He’s had more games pointless (11) than with a point (10).

NHL prop picks made at 1:55 p.m. ET on Nov. 21, 2025.

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Jake Guentzel and Mikko Rantanen are my predictions to score during Thursday’s 12-game NHL slate.

The pregame narrative: Guentzel, fresh off a hat-trick performance, faces an Edmonton Oilers team in the midst of an ugly road trip. Elsewhere, Rantanen and the Dallas Stars are road favourites against the Vancouver Canucks.

Check out my NHL goal picks for Nov. 20.

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NHL goal picks Nov. 20

Best Bet: Guentzel to score (+155)

We’re approaching “five-alarm fire” territory in Edmonton.

The Oilers lost 7-4 to the Washington Capitals last night, dropping to 9-9-4 on the season.

That came just two days after losing 5-1 to the Buffalo Sabres, of all teams, prompting defenceman Darnell Nurse to say: “It’s tough to win games when you’re letting in five.”

I have to agree.

-> Wager on Guentzel at NorthStar Bets

Edmonton had an entire summer to fix its goaltending situation but stood pat with Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard. The latter is in net tonight, and he’s posted a 4.17 GAA and .830 SV% so far.

Both of those marks rank outside the top 50 for all NHL netminders.

Guentzel leads the Tampa Bay Lightning in goals (11), shots (57) and high-danger chances (52), per Natural Stat Trick.

He’s scored six times in his last five games and is playing alongside Tampa’s best playmaker, Brayden Point.

That duo should be foaming at the mouth to face Edmonton.

Key stat: The Oilers have allowed the most goals (82) in the NHL.

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NHL predictions

Rantanen to score (+132): Rantanen made headlines for a pretty nasty hit on New York Islanders defenseman Alexander Romanov on Tuesday. But he escaped supplemental discipline and will be in the lineup tonight.

And with the way he’s playing, I think these odds are a steal.

The Finnish forward has five goals and 14 points in nine games in November. He’s found the stat sheet in all but one of those games, and is tied with Jason Robertson with 18 high-danger chances this month.

-> Bet on Rantanen and the Stars tonight!

Thatcher Demko is once again injured for Vancouver, meaning Kevin Lankinen will start in goal tonight.

Lankinen owns an unsightly 3.44 GAA and .890 SV% in 11 appearances.

Rantanen has scored in four of his last five games agianst Vancouver, including all three meetings since he joined Dallas last season.

NHL goal picks made at 11:41 a.m. ET on Nov. 20, 2025.

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The Toronto Maple Leafs host the Columbus Blue Jackets at Scotiabank Arena on Thursday night.

The pregame narrative: Toronto snapped a five-game losing streak on Tuesday, but remains near the bottom of the Eastern Conference while dealing with a laundry list of injuries. This game is a pick’em, with the Blue Jackets having already beaten the Maple Leafs in Toronto earlier this year.

Check out my Blue Jackets vs. Maple Leafs prop picks for the game on Nov. 20, featuring Zach Werenski and Easton Cowan.

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Blue Jackets vs. Maple Leafs prop picks

Best Bet: Werenski over 3.5 shots (+105)

The Maple Leafs might’ve snapped their winless streak, but that doesn’t paper over what they’ve been all season long: An awful defensive team.

Toronto is giving up the fourth-most shot attempts (63.66) and second-most shots (30.89) on a 60-minute basis, per Natural Stat Trick.

Two of the team’s top-four defencemen (Brandon Carlo, Chris Tanev) are sidelined alongside Auston Matthews, so I can’t picture things getting better in the short term.

The one bit of good news for Toronto is that Joseph Woll is back, and he’s capable of stealing games.

-> Bet on Werenski against the Maple Leafs

That’s why I’m opting to back Werenski on this shot total instead of on a point-production market.

The 28-year-old is one of the best offensive defencemen in hockey. He finished second in Norris Trophy voting last year and is a shoo-in to make the U.S. Olympic team in February.

• Werenski is leading the Blue Jackets in shots (72), shot attempts (168), and ice time.

• That nets out to 3.6 shots per game and 8.4 shot attempts per game.

Key stat: Werenski has cleared this total in seven of 10 games in November.

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Best NHL prop picks

Cowan to score 1+ points (+108): Cowan slid back into Toronto’s lineup two games ago out of necessity, and he’s played well despite logging zero points.

In both games, his forward line logged the highest Corsi rate:

• Nov. 15 @ CHI: Matthew Knies-Nicolas Roy-Cowan (81.25%)

• Nov. 18 vs. STL: Bobby McMann-Max Domi-Cowan (61.11%)

-> Bet on Blue Jackets vs. Maple Leafs at NorthStar Bets

Cowan has had eight chances, five shots and 0.66 xG in those games.

It’s unclear who he’ll be playing with tonight, but Daily Faceoff projects him back with McMann and Domi.

The London Knights product has always been a point producer, and gets a solid matchup against Columbus. The Blue Jackets are allowing the 11th-most goals (3.20) and third-most shots (30.6) per game.

Blue Jackets vs. Maple Leafs prop picks made at 9:30 a.m. ET Nov. 20, 2025.

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