As the NHL season heats up with crucial matchups across the league, today's slate features compelling opportunities for NHL best bets highlighted by the red-hot Capitals hosting Utah and the Lightning taking on the Canadiens.
Home ice advantage continues to be a significant factor in our NHL picks, with teams like the Boston Bruins (18-8-3 at home) and Columbus Blue Jackets (17-5-4 at home) demonstrating particularly strong performances in their own arenas.
From high-scoring affairs predicted in Washington to strategic defensive matchups in Montreal, today's games offer diverse betting opportunities backed by compelling statistical trends and key player matchups.
NHL Best Bets
| Game | Time | Pick |
|---|---|---|
  | 12:30 PM | Capitals -1.5 (+120) |
  | 1:00 PM | Tampa Bay Lightning ML (-150)|Over 6.5 goals (-110) |
Capitals vs. Utah
Sunday, Feb 9
12:30 PM
Capital One Arena, Washington, DC
The Washington Capitals have demonstrated exceptional offensive capabilities this season, maintaining a robust 3.56 goals per game average.
The combination of Dylan Strome and Alexander Ovechkin has been particularly lethal, creating numerous scoring opportunities through quick passing and aggressive zone entries.
Defensively, the Capitals have been outstanding, allowing just 2.46 goals per game, while Utah struggles offensively with only 2.78 goals per game.
The defensive pairing of John Carlson and Jakob Chychrun has been exceptional at creating turnovers and limiting quality scoring chances.
Home ice advantage coupled with the Capitals' superior offensive and defensive metrics suggests they can cover the spread comfortably.
Canadiens vs. Lightning
Sunday, Feb 9
1:00 PM
Bell Centre, Montreal, QC
The Tampa Bay Lightning enter this contest with significant offensive firepower, averaging 3.49 goals per game and having scored an impressive 15 goals in their last three outings.
Lightning's defensive unit, anchored by Victor Hedman and Ryan McDonagh, has been stellar in limiting opponents to just 2.75 goals per game, which should prove crucial against Montreal's modest 2.93 goals per game average.
Andrei Vasilevskiy's presence in net provides an elite last line of defense, significantly boosting Tampa Bay's chances of securing a road victory.
The Canadiens' defensive struggles, allowing 3.39 goals per game, should provide ample opportunities for Tampa's dynamic offense led by Kucherov and Point.
Historical head-to-head matchups and current form strongly favor the Lightning, making them a solid choice on the money line.
Both teams have shown the capability to generate significant offense, with Tampa Bay averaging 3.49 goals per game and Montreal contributing 2.93.
The Lightning's recent offensive surge of 15 goals in three games demonstrates their scoring potential, particularly with Kucherov and Point leading the charge.
Montreal's defensive vulnerabilities, allowing 3.39 goals per game, combined with their own offensive capabilities through Suzuki and Caufield, suggest a high-scoring affair.
The game should see plenty of offensive opportunities with both teams' aggressive forecheck and quick transition play.
Historical matchups between these teams have typically produced high-scoring games, and current form suggests this trend will continue.
