NHL Picks (Today's Free Predictions, Tips, Parlays)

Flames at Coyotes Picks and NHL Betting Odds
by Dave Schwab - 2/18/2013

The Calgary Flames will wrap up a quick two-game road trip this Monday night at Jobing.com Arena when they face off against the Phoenix Coyotes in this Western Conference clash. The game is set to get underway at 9 p.m. (ET), and it will be available on NHL Center Ice.

Senators at Maple Leafs Picks and NHL Betting Odds
by Alan Matthews - 2/16/2013

It’s my first all-Canadian NHL free picks story of the season and probably my last, but I feel almost obligated to address the Ottawa Senators. You know the saying that if it wasn’t for bad luck you wouldn’t have any luck at all? Well, that aptly describes Ottawa thus far.

Stars at Canucks Picks and NHL Betting Odds
by Dave Schwab - 2/15/2013

The Dallas Stars will wrap up a three-game trip north of the border when they square off against Vancouver this Friday night at Rogers Arena. The game is scheduled for a 10 p.m. (ET) start, and it will be available on NHL Center Ice.

Islanders at Rangers Picks and NHL Betting Odds
by Trevor Whenham - 2/14/2013

It’s not the most romantic option, but there are lots of worse ways to spend Valentine’s Day than a classic rivalry game. It has been a long time since this series has been at its best because the Islanders have been so poorly run for so long, but it’s still a big rivalry, and some blood could easily get spilled. Blood is red, so it would be perfect for Valentine’s Day.

Blues at Red Wings Picks and NHL Betting Odds
by Alan Matthews - 2/13/2013

The Central Division title looks like a foregone conclusion in the National Hockey League with as dominant as the Chicago Blackhawks have looked. But really who cares about division titles in hockey? Two other Central Division teams that are likely to have a say on whom comes out of the Western Conference this season meet for the fourth time already this season on Wednesday when St. Louis, the reigning Central champ, visits Detroit.

Canadiens at Lightning Picks and NHL Betting Odds
by Trevor Whenham - 2/12/2013

This is a game that both of these teams need to win. After getting off to a strong 6-1 start, the Lightning have lost their last four, including all three games of a recent road trip. With every game coming against your own conference this year, a team can barely afford that kind of streak when they are fighting for a lower playoff spot anyway. Montreal has also struggled, losing their last three. The last one, against hated rival Toronto, was a humiliating 6-0 loss that wasn’t even as close as the score would suggest.

Kings at Blues Picks and NHL Betting Odds
by Dave Schwab - 2/11/2013

In a rematch of last season’s Western Conference semifinals, the Los Angeles Kings face off against the St. Louis Blues this Monday night at the Scottrade Center. The game is scheduled to get underway at 8 p.m. (ET), and it will be broadcast nationally on the NBC Sports Network.

Panthers at Capitals Picks and NHL Betting Odds
by Alan Matthews - 2/9/2013

Adam Oates was a tremendous NHL player in his 19-season career, good enough to be named to the Hockey Hall of Fame last year. But it’s starting to appear that perhaps Oates is overmatched as a head coach in the league. The Washington Capitals only hired Oates, formerly a Devils assistant, because Dale Hunter chose to return to run the junior club he owns in Canada.

Ducks at Stars Picks and NHL Betting Odds
by Dave Schwab - 2/8/2013

The Western Conference’s Pacific Division will take center stage this Friday night as the only game on the NHL schedule pits the Anaheim Ducks against the Dallas Stars at the American Airlines Center. The puck is set to drop at 8:30 p.m. (ET), and the game will be broadcast nationally on the NHL Network.

Blackhawks at Coyotes Picks and NHL Betting Odds
by Trevor Whenham - 2/7/2013

The Chicago Blackhawks are the only team that hasn’t yet suffered a regulation loss. With eight wins and two overtime losses they have a point in every game, and they are established in first place in their division as a result. They aren’t exactly making it easy on themselves, though. They have come from behind five times in wins and in both of their eventual losses. On Saturday they tied the game up in Calgary with just 2.3 seconds left before winning in the shootout.

Ducks at Avalanche Picks and NHL Betting Odds
by Alan Matthews - 2/6/2013

In my opinion, the Anaheim Ducks are more often than not like the Buffalo Bills of the NFL in that the Ducks are generally the third wheel of the trio of NHL clubs in their own state. The Stanley Cup Champion Kings are in downtown L.A., and anyone who is a Los Angeles native will tell you that Anaheim is not L.A. And then you have the San Jose Sharks, who have been a very good team for years and often one of the most entertaining to watch. The Ducks? They do have the 2007 Cup but often are just sort of blah to follow.

Lightning at Flyers Picks and NHL Betting Odds
by Trevor Whenham - 2/5/2013

Coming into the season the Tampa Bay Lightning were a team I really liked — an underappreciated team that has a chance to be a real contender. Through their first eight games they haven’t disappointed. Their 12 points are among the league leaders, and they are already establishing strong control in the Southeast Division. Most impressively, their 39 goals scored is eight more than any other team, and their +18 goal differential is the best in the sport as well. Last year they could score reasonably well, but they were even easier to score on. This year they have made real progress, and that makes them very dangerous.

Sharks at Ducks Picks and NHL Betting Odds
by Dave Schwab - 2/4/2013

The San Jose Sharks will look to remain unbeaten in regulation when they invade the Honda Center this Monday night to face the Anaheim Ducks in a Pacific Division showdown. This West Coast clash is set to get underway at 10 p.m. (ET), and the game will be available on NHL Center Ice.

Bruins at Maple Leafs Picks and NHL Hockey Odds
by Alan Matthews - 2/2/2013

Want to know why the Boston Bruins are considered top Stanley Cup favorites this season? They can thank the Toronto Maple Leafs, in part. You see, Boston’s No. 1 goalie, first-line forward and the team’s top young defenseman all arrived courtesy of the Leafs – well, you have to credit the Bruins’ front office too. In 2009, Boston traded a good-but-not-great Phil Kessel to Toronto for two-round draft picks and a second-rounder.

Blackhawks at Canucks Picks and NHL Betting Odds
by Dave Schwab - 2/1/2013

The Chicago Blackhawks will try and keep their fast start going this Friday night when the head north of the border to the Rogers Center for a huge Western Conference showdown against the Vancouver Canucks. Game time for this clash is scheduled for 10 p.m. (ET), and it will be available on NHL Center Ice.

Avalanche at Flames Picks and NHL Betting Odds
by Trevor Whenham - 1/31/2013

This is supposed to be a hectic, compact season thanks to the lockout, but the Flames apparently didn’t get the memo. They beat Edmonton on Saturday night to earn their first win, and they have been off since. For bettors, the trick here is to determine whether that will be a positive — a second training camp of sorts to iron out the kinks and play some better hockey than they have — or a negative early on. Colorado will be comparatively exhausted heading into this one. This is the fourth game of a road trip that saw them in San Jose Saturday, Edmonton Monday, and Vancouver Wednesday. There isn’t an easy game in that group, so there could be some bumps and bruises — physical and mental — heading into this one.

Oilers at Coyotes Picks and NHL Betting Odds
by Alan Matthews - 1/30/2013

Last season, the Phoenix Coyotes were one of the NHL’s biggest surprises. They weren’t expected to do much – if even stay in Phoenix – but won the Pacific Division and upset the Chicago Blackhawks in the first round of the playoffs and then the Nashville Predators in the conference semifinals before running into to the red-hot L.A. Kings in the West Finals. Phoenix did it with a starless team and without much of a budget with the franchise in such tradition. That appears to be catching up to the Coyotes this season as they are off to a 2-4 start and really don’t resemble a playoff team.

Ducks at Sharks Picks and NHL Betting Odds
by Trevor Whenham - 1/29/2013

This is a battle of two teams in a good place early in this young season. The Ducks have won three of four, and they opened their season with two road wins. They take their unblemished road mark into San Jose to face a team that has yet to lose in five games. Not only is San Jose 5-0, but they have won all five games by at least two goals and four of the five by three or more. And they have done it against a reasonably competitive schedule. They have been the class of the NHL very early in this season.

Canucks at Kings Picks and NHL Betting Odds
by Dave Schwab - 1/28/2013

Two of the top favorites to win the Western Conference this season clash this Monday night at the Staples Center when the Vancouver Canucks face off against the Los Angeles Kings. The game is set to get underway at 10:30 p.m. (ET) and it will be broadcast on TSN.

Avalanche at Sharks Picks and NHL Betting Odds
by Alan Matthews - 1/26/2013

The San Jose Sharks have long been considered underachievers. They usually have some of the greatest collection of offensive talent in the NHL but have yet to reach the Stanley Cup Finals in franchise history. Could this year be different? San Jose again looks dynamic offensively, ranking No. 2 in the league entering Friday’s action in averaging five goals per game and No. 3 in power-play percentage at 38.9. Take a look at the NHL points leaders list and it’s littered with Sharks: Joe Thornton (nine, No. 1), Patrick Marleau (eight, No. 2), Logan Couture and Joe Pavelski (seven, No. 4).