Best NHL Bets Today | NHL Picks, March 14

This Thursday night has another set of highly anticipated matchups that are set to be not only enjoyable but are potentially going to bring in great sports betting value. Among the best games to watch and potentially bet on are those from the Eastern Conference. Two of the top games for tonight's action could feature teams that will play in the Eastern Conference Finals at the end of the season. These games have great betting value, with one of the games having the better team as the underdog. Get in the action and potentially earn some significant winnings for DraftKings.

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Florida Panthers vs. Carolina Hurricanes

• Time: 7:00 pm E.T. - Thursday

• Moneyline: Panthers (+102) | Hurricanes (-122)

• Puck Line: Panthers +1.5 (-245) | Hurricanes -1.5 (+200) 

• Total: Over 6 (-105) | Under 6 (-115)

Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook. Bet $5, Get $150 in Bonus Bets Immediately!

My Pick: Vancouver Canucks (VAN)

The highly anticipated debut of forward Jake Guentzel for the Carolina Hurricanes was spoiled by the shutout performance of New York Rangers goalie Igor Schesterkin. The Hurricanes lost with a shocking 1-0 score.

The Carolina Hurricanes (39-20-6) will attempt again to get their first win with their new team as they host one of the most dangerous teams in the NHL, the Florida Panthers (45-17-4). The Panthers are coming off a 4-3 win over the Dallas Stars this past Tuesday in a potential Stanley Cup Finals preview.

The Hurricanes and the Panthers have each won a game in this series this season. The Panthers took the first game with a 5-2 score at home early in the season on November 10. They didn’t face each other again until February 22, when the Hurricanes took a 1-0 home victory in a defensive battle. This proves any game in this series can be a potential shootout or a defensive slugfest.

The 1-0 loss to the Rangers shows just how vulnerable the Hurricanes are, even if it is temporary while the team finds a rhythm with Guentzel. He is still coming off an injury before being traded from the Pittsburgh Penguins.

For Florida, this is a team that is getting hot at the right time. The Panthers have won eight of their last nine games, including road games at Dallas, Detroit, and the New York Rangers. They are also one of the most well-balanced teams in the NHL. Even with the Hurricanes playing with great confidence, the Panthers are going to be hard to beat.

Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Philadelphia Flyers

• Time: 7:30 pm E.T. - Thursday

• Moneyline: Maple Leafs (-142) | Flyers (+120)

• Puck Line: Maple Leafs -1.5 (+180) | Flyers +1.5 (-218) 

• Total: Over 6 (-118) | Under 6 (-102)

Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook. Score $150 in Bonus Bets with DraftKings when wagering just $5!

My Pick: Toronto Maple Leafs (TOR)

One of the most underrated games of the night will be an Eastern Conference battle with heavy playoff implications. The Toronto Maple Leafs (37-19-8) are set to go on the road to take on the Philadelphia Flyers (34-24-8) in a game with heavy Wild Card status up.

This matchup tonight will be the second game played between these two teams. The previous time they played, the Maple Leafs took a 4-3 overtime win at home on February 15. Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews scored three goals, all in the second period, with one of them being in power play. Forward William Nylander won the game in overtime.

Both the Maple Leafs and the Flyers are coming into this game with an unbalanced momentum. Within the past few games, Toronto and Philadelphia have won big games, but have not been able to get a stable win the following game.

The Maple Leafs come into this game with a huge advantage on the offensive side of the ice. The Maple Leafs are ranked fourth in the league in goals per game (3.53), while the Flyers are ranked only 23rd in the league with 2.89 goals per game. The Flyers have the advantage defensively, as they allow an average of 2.92 goals per game (11th in the league). Toronto, on the other hand, is allowing an average of 3.13 goals per game (19th in the league).

When it comes to which team is the most reliable, it is best to go with the stars. Matthews and Nylander are among the best duos in the league, and they have found ways to defeat an impressive defense like the Flyers just this season.