Tonight's NHL slate features several compelling matchups where home teams look to capitalize on their recent momentum, with the Columbus Blue Jackets' five-game home winning streak and Tampa Bay's dominant offensive prowess (3.5 goals per game) taking center stage.
Our NHL best bets and expert picks highlight several teams battling for playoff positioning, including key matchups between the Panthers-Blues and Maple Leafs-Kraken that promise high-scoring affairs based on recent offensive trends.
From power play advantages to goaltender matchups, we've analyzed the key statistics and trends to bring you the most promising betting opportunities across today's NHL schedule.
NHL Best Bets
| Game | Time | Pick |
|---|---|---|
  | 7:00 PM | New Jersey Devils Moneyline (-115) |
  | 8:00 PM | Florida Panthers ML (-160) |
  | 10:30 PM | Vancouver Canucks -1.5 (+145) |
Devils vs. Golden Knights
Thursday, Feb 6
7:00 PM
Prudential Center, Newark, NJ
The New Jersey Devils enter this matchup with significant momentum, having won two of their last three home games while demonstrating impressive offensive capabilities with 11 goals in their last three outings.
Vegas has shown concerning road form, dropping their last three away games and struggling defensively by conceding 10 goals during this stretch.
The Devils' special teams advantage is particularly noteworthy, with their power play converting at over 27% while Vegas ranks just 21st in penalty kill efficiency.
New Jersey's defensive unit has been remarkably solid at home, allowing only four goals in their last three home games, suggesting they're well-positioned to contain Vegas's struggling road offense.
The Golden Knights' recent offensive woes, scoring just six goals in their last three road games, make them vulnerable against a Devils team that's fourth in the league in penalty kills.
Blues vs. Panthers
Thursday, Feb 6
8:00 PM
Enterprise Center, Saint Louis, MO
The Florida Panthers have been demonstrating exceptional form this season, with their offense averaging an impressive 3.27 goals per game.
Sam Reinhart and Matthew Tkachuk have been particularly effective in creating scoring opportunities, while the Panthers' defensive unit led by Gustav Forsling and Aaron Ekblad has been stellar.
The Blues have been struggling offensively, managing only eight goals in their last six games, which plays perfectly into the Panthers' defensive strength.
Florida's defensive metrics are particularly impressive, allowing just 2.95 goals per game, suggesting they have the capability to shut down the Blues' already struggling offense.
The Panthers have shown consistent road performance, scoring 17 goals in their last four games, indicating their offense travels well.
Sharks vs. Canucks
Thursday, Feb 6
10:30 PM
SAP Center at San Jose, San Jose, CA
The Canucks have already demonstrated their superiority over the Sharks this season with two previous victories, suggesting a pattern of dominance.
San Jose's defensive struggles have been particularly alarming, allowing at least four goals in eight of their last nine games, including five instances of conceding six or more goals.
The Sharks currently rank as the worst defensive team in the NHL, making them especially vulnerable against a Canucks team with multiple offensive weapons.
Despite potentially missing Quinn Hughes, Vancouver's offensive depth should be more than capable of exploiting San Jose's struggling goaltending situation.
The value in the puckline at +145 is particularly attractive given the clear disparity between these teams' current form and overall quality.
