NHL Best Bets Today: Expert NHL Picks for 03/31/2025

The Devils have a golden opportunity to secure back-to-back wins against Minnesota tonight, coming off an impressive 5-2 road victory in their previous meeting. While New Jersey has surprisingly dropped their last three home games, their overall offensive capabilities and special teams advantage give them a solid edge in this matchup.

What really stands out here is the massive special teams mismatch. The Devils boast the NHL's fourth-ranked power play, converting at a remarkable 28.1%, while Minnesota's penalty kill ranks second-to-last in the league at a dismal 71.4%. In a game where the margin could be thin, this advantage could easily be the difference-maker.

Both teams are missing their superstars – Jack Hughes for New Jersey and Kirill Kaprizov for Minnesota – but the Devils have demonstrated superior depth. The Wild relied more heavily on Kaprizov's individual brilliance, while New Jersey has managed to maintain offensive production even without Hughes in the lineup.

The Wild do have an impressive 22-11-3 road record this season, which might raise some eyebrows about taking the Devils here. However, New Jersey's recent 3.33 goals per game average over their last three outings shows their offense is clicking at the right time, while Minnesota has managed just 2.33 goals per game during the same stretch.

Minnesota's defensive struggles are particularly concerning, having surrendered 12 goals in their last three games. The Devils' ability to capitalize on the power play, combined with the Wild's penalty kill woes, creates a perfect storm for New Jersey to exploit. Multiple expert analyses point to the Devils having the edge here, making the moneyline bet an attractive play despite the juice.

With the Devils' offensive firepower and special teams advantage, they should be able to overcome their recent home struggles and secure a victory against a Wild team that's dropped three of their last four games. The consensus among multiple analysts makes this one of the strongest plays on tonight's slate.

Tonight's matchup between the Wild and Devils sets up perfectly for an over play, with multiple factors pointing toward a high-scoring affair. Both teams have been trending toward higher-scoring games recently, with the Wild playing over the total in their last two contests and the Devils going over in three of their last four.

The special teams battle heavily favors goals being scored. New Jersey boasts the league's fourth-best power play, converting at an impressive 28.1%, while Minnesota's penalty kill ranks second-to-last at a woeful 71.4%. In their recent games, the Devils have been even more lethal, converting 50% of their power play chances over their last three games, while Minnesota has killed only 50% of penalties in the same span.

Defensive struggles for both teams further support the over. The Wild have surrendered 12 goals in their last three games, while the Devils have allowed 9 goals in their last three home contests. Neither team is shutting down opponents consistently, creating opportunities for forwards on both sides.

The recent head-to-head history also favors the over, with these teams playing over the total in their last three meetings. Their most recent clash saw 7 total goals in a 5-2 Devils victory, demonstrating both the scoring potential and defensive vulnerabilities present in this matchup.

Despite missing key offensive players (Jack Hughes for New Jersey and Kirill Kaprizov for Minnesota), both teams have maintained respectable offensive outputs. The Devils are averaging 3.33 goals per game in their last three contests, while Minnesota has put up 2.33 goals per game during the same stretch – numbers that combine to exceed the total.

With both teams showing offensive capabilities and defensive vulnerabilities, coupled with a significant special teams mismatch that should lead to power play goals, this game has all the ingredients for a high-scoring affair that clears the 5.5 total. The consistent trend of overs in recent meetings between these teams further strengthens this as one of the strongest plays on tonight's NHL slate.

Tonight's Predators-Flyers matchup has all the makings of a tight, defensive struggle that should stay under the 6-goal total. Both teams have struggled offensively this season, with Philadelphia averaging just 2.80 goals per game and Nashville even worse at 2.52 – numbers that place them among the league's lowest-scoring teams.

The Flyers' defensive unit, anchored by Travis Sanheim and Nick Seeler, has shown the ability to limit high-danger scoring chances and force turnovers in the defensive zone. Their commitment to defensive structure should make it difficult for a Nashville offense that has managed just three goals in their last two games to find much rhythm.

On the other side, Brady Skjei and Nick Blankenburg lead a Predators defensive corps that should be able to contain Philadelphia's attack. The Flyers have some talented young forwards in Travis Konecny and Matvei Michkov, but Nashville's ability to create turnovers and limit clean zone entries should keep scoring opportunities to a minimum.

The goaltending matchup also favors a lower-scoring affair. Samuel Ersson has been solid between the pipes for Philadelphia, while Nashville's Juuse Saros remains one of the league's most reliable netminders. Both goalies are capable of stealing games, and in what should be a tight contest, they'll likely be the difference-makers.

Recent form also suggests goals will be at a premium tonight. The Predators have struggled to generate offense consistently, while the Flyers, despite winning their last two games, haven't exactly been lighting up the scoreboard. When two teams with offensive limitations meet, the under becomes particularly attractive.

With both teams likely to prioritize defensive responsibility and limited firepower on either side, this game projects to be a low-scoring affair that should stay under the 6-goal total. The combination of strong goaltending, committed defensive units, and offensive limitations makes this one of the strongest under plays on tonight's NHL slate.

The Dallas Stars head into Seattle with momentum on their side and a chance to sweep this Pacific Northwest trip. Despite missing Tyler Seguin due to a hip injury, the Stars' offense continues to operate at peak efficiency, making them a strong candidate to cover the puckline against a struggling Kraken defense.

Seattle's goaltending situation presents a major concern tonight. Joey Daccord has allowed four goals in three of his last four starts, while backup Philipp Grubauer has been inconsistent all season. This vulnerable last line of defense faces a Dallas attack that's been clinical in their finishing and should be able to find the back of the net multiple times.

The Stars demonstrated their offensive firepower in their previous meeting with Seattle, and there's little reason to expect a different outcome tonight. While the Kraken did manage 36 shots in their last meeting, Jake Oettinger stood tall and limited them to just one goal – further evidence of the gap in quality between these two sides.

Historical trends also favor a multi-goal win for Dallas. Six of the previous seven matchups between these teams at Climate Pledge Arena have featured at least six total goals, suggesting we're in for an open, high-scoring affair. In such games, the team with superior talent and finishing ability typically prevails by a comfortable margin.

The return of Chandler Stephenson (11 goals, 37 assists) provides Seattle with a boost, but it likely won't be enough to counter Dallas' balanced attack. The Stars have multiple scoring threats and have shown the ability to pull away from opponents, particularly those with defensive vulnerabilities like the Kraken.

With Dallas firing on all cylinders and Seattle struggling to keep pucks out of their net, the Stars covering the -1.5 puckline offers excellent value. Their recent form, offensive capabilities, and Seattle's defensive issues all point to a multi-goal victory for Dallas, making this one of the strongest plays on tonight's NHL slate.