Best NHL Bets Today | NHL Picks, March 7

This Thursday night in the NHL is going to be a busy night as there are games left and right. This means there are plenty of opportunities for bets to be made. There are two games in general that have incredible game lines that stand out the most. One of the games has the atmosphere of a playoff game where it is do-or-die. You can make these picks and potentially cash in on the reward through DraftKings.

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Calgary Flames vs. Tampa Bay Lightning

• Time: 7:00 PM E.T. - Thursday

• Moneyline: Flames (+130) | Lightning (-155)

• Puck Line: Flames +1.5 (-185) | Lightning -1.5 (+154)

• Total: Over 6.5 (-105) | Under 6.5 (-115)

Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook. Get a No-Sweat First Bet up to $1,000 if you open your DK account today.

My Pick: Calgary Flames (CGY)

With the race for the postseason getting even closer, the availability for the occasional loss is not acceptable. That can be said for the Calgary Flames (30-26-6) in the Western Conference and the Tampa Bay Lightning (33-24-6) in the Eastern Conference.

Tonight, the Lightning will host the Flames in a critical matchup with playoff stability on the line. The Lightning have been a serious contender since the start of the season while the Flames are a team that has been getting hot for a while at the right time.

The only time these two teams met on the ice, the Flames came away with a 4-2 home win on December 16. After being held scoreless through the first period, the Flames were able to account for three goals in the second period.

The Lightning are not looking to be suppressed again offensively against the Flames. Tampa Bay is averaging 3.35 goals per game, which is seventh in the league. The Flames’ defense is allowing an average of 3.07 goals per game.

One of the biggest difference makers of this game will be the offense of the Flames taking on the inefficient defense of the Lightning. Calgary is averaging 3.13 goals per game while Tampa Bay is allowing an average of 3.38 goals per game.

This is a game that can go either way for the Flames or the Lightning based on which offense will not be suppressed at the wrong time. The Flames’ offense, who averaged 4.6 goals per game in the five wins before the loss to the Seattle Kraken, had played with explosiveness and precision. They are likely to get on another scoring streak as they go from a great defense in the Kraken to a bad defense in the Lightning.

Buffalo Sabres vs. Nashville Predators

• Time: 8:00 PM E.T. - Thursday

• Moneyline: Sabres (+140) | Predators (-166)

• Puck Line: Sabres +1.5 (-170) | Predators -1.5 (+142)

• Total: Over 6.5 (-120) | Under 6.5 (+100)

Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook. Score a No-Sweat Bonus at DraftKings when wagering just $5!

My Pick: Nashville Predators (NSH)

Among the best betting games of the night is set for the cross-conference matchup as the Buffalo Sabres (29-29-5) go on the road to take on one of the hottest teams in the league in the Nashville Predators (35-25-3).

The Sabres are a team that is stuck just below the middle ground of not only the Atlantic Division but also the Eastern Conference. Buffalo has made some progress within the last few weeks as they won five of the last eight games. They are currently on a two-game losing streak with their most recent loss being a 2-1 overtime road loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs.

The Predators had a rough stretch through most of January into a few games of the NHL All-Star Break. After a tough 9-2 home loss to the Dallas Stars, Nashville turned their fortune around by winning nine consecutive games. Those wins include road games at the Vegas Golden Knights, Los Angeles Kings, and a home win over the Colorado Avalanche. The Predators’ winning streak came to a close with a 4-3 home overtime loss to the Montreal Canadians.

The only meeting between the Predators and the Sabres was a 2-1 road win for the Predators on December 3.  Nashville goalie Juuse Saros accounted for 34 saves with only one goal allowed.

The Predators aren’t elite on the offensive or defensive side of the ice, but they are a sound and mentally tough team to win matchups. Nashville is ranked 15th in the league in goals per game (3.17) and 18th in goals allowed per game (3.08).

The Sabres, on the other hand, are efficient defensively by allowing only 3.00 goals per game (13th in the league). Their offense, though, is inefficient as they only average 2.94 goals per game (24th in the league). While the Sabres are going to give a tough matchup defensively, the Predators are likely to match that productivity.