Check out tonight's NHL picks and predictions as I share my best bets for Monday, November 25.
Thanksgiving week is amongst us and what better way to celebrate than placing a few NHL best bets?
Tonight, we have 11 games and two moneyline opportunities in which I see a ton of value.
Let's dive in and breakdown my NHL best bets.
NHL Best Bets
The team logos in the table below represent each of the matchups that our NHL betting staff is targeting from today's slate of games. Click on the team logos for any of the matchups below to navigate to a specific bet discussed in this article.
| Game | Time (ET) | Pick |
|---|---|---|
  | 7 p.m. | |
  | 7:30 p.m. | |
Specific betting recommendations come from the sportsbook offering preferred odds as of writing. Always shop for the best price using our NHL Odds page, which automatically surfaces the best lines for every game. | ||
Blues vs. Rangers
I’m starting the week with a red-hot take.
The St. Louis Blues made waves in the NHL landscape yesterday by firing head coach Drew Bannister and hiring Jim Montgomery, who was fired by the Bruins just six days ago.
Unemployment certainly treated Montgomery well and when he was made available, Blues GM Doug Armstrong jumped at the opportunity.
While behind the bench in Boston, Montgomery went 120-41-23. You’d think Boston would have given him a longer leash.
Now, he comes to St. Louis, where the Blues desperately needed him. In the month of November, the Blues had the second worst 5-on-5 team with a 42.79 xGF% (expected goals) and a bottom-10 defense with a 2.67 xGA/60.
Jordan Kyrou and Pavel Buchnevich can only do so much and Jordan Binnington has felt it in the stat sheet.
I think the hiring of Montgomery will unlock Robert Thomas, though. One of the core players of this franchise has dealt with some injuries and, in 10 games played, has only registered one goal. Thomas was never a goal scorer, but with points in three straight, we may see him light the lamp.
St. Louis is facing the New York Rangers, who are among the NHL’s elite, but victims of two straight losses.
I’ve always been fascinated by New York’s style of play. It has always been average at best on both ends of the ice, relying on elite goaltending from Igor Shesterkin and Jonathan Quick.
Alas, I’ve always been a believer in first-game-with-new-coach luck. It gives a new sense of purpose to a team that once felt lost. Knowing how exceptional Montgomery is as a coach, taking +200 on the Blues seems like the way to go.
Pick: Blues ML (+200)
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Flames vs. Senators
When I saw that the Calgary Flames were listed as an underdog against the Ottawa Senators, I furrowed my eyebrows in confusion.
Admittedly, I haven’t watched a ton of Senators hockey, so perhaps there’s something I’m missing.
When diving into the numbers, despite their record, the Senators are actually playing exceptional hockey – they’ve just had terrible goalie play. Supposed savior Linus Ullmark is not playing like the goalie he was in Boston. In 13 starts, he’s accumulated an .887 SV% and a team-worst -5.7 goals saved above expected (GSAx).
It’s crazy to say, but perhaps the Senators are better off rolling with Anton Forsberg.
Calgary is in a totally opposite situation where the play is sub-optimal, but the goalie play is outstanding. Dustin Wolf has taken over as the head honcho in net and is playing lights out with a .926 SV% and a 7.1 GSAx.
There’s not a whole lot to write about for the Flames. Their two leading scorers are defensemen, but they have a talented forward core. But even with a limited roster, they’re still winners in four straight. Could a trip out east after a four-game homestand keep the flame burning?
All things considered, Calgary is a middling team on the road and has lost three straight away from its rink. But the one thing I’ll give the Flames is that they battle until the end. Ever since Ryan Huska has taken over as the bench boss, they’ve increasingly become a more difficult team to play against.
So, while Ottawa looks like a fine play, I just like the value of Calgary way too much. Hockey is such a fickle sport. An East Coast road trip for a West Coast team can do wonders to keep the team connected – even after a four-game win streak.
Take the plus-money Flames here. Hard work and goaltending always reign supreme, so look for Calgary to keep the momentum going.
Pick: Flames ML (+136)
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