NHL Best Bets Today: Expert NHL Picks for 04/08/2025

The Buffalo Sabres are riding a serious wave of momentum right now, having won seven of their last eight games heading into this crucial matchup against the Carolina Hurricanes. While it might ultimately be too little too late for their playoff hopes, the Sabres have shown tremendous resilience down the stretch when many teams might have packed it in.

What makes this bet particularly enticing is the contrasting motivations between these two squads. Carolina has already clinched their playoff spot and likely secured home-ice advantage for their first-round series. There's simply not much left for them to play for, and we often see playoff-bound teams shift into preservation mode at this stage of the season. The Hurricanes also come in having played back-to-back games on Friday and Saturday, while Buffalo had Sunday off after playing Saturday.

The Sabres' offensive production has been particularly impressive during their hot streak, averaging 4.5 goals per game over their last ten contests. They've lit the lamp at least four times in six of those games, showing they can put pressure on any defense in the league. Buffalo has been especially potent at home, where they're averaging 3.47 goals per game this season.

Carolina has struggled on the road offensively this season, averaging just 2.70 goals per game away from home. This offensive drop-off combined with Buffalo's defensive improvement gives the Sabres a clear path to victory. Buffalo's defensive metrics at home (3.29 goals allowed per game) aren't elite, but their offensive firepower should more than compensate.

The Hurricanes are a formidable opponent any night, but this is a classic schedule and motivation spot that works heavily in Buffalo's favor. With the Sabres fighting for every point and playing inspired hockey in front of their home crowd, they represent excellent value as a home underdog against a Hurricanes team that has little left to play for in the regular season.

Given all these factors, I'm confidently backing the Buffalo Sabres on the moneyline in what should be an entertaining and high-scoring affair at KeyBank Center tonight.

Tonight's matchup between the Boston Bruins and New Jersey Devils offers one of the most compelling value opportunities on the slate. Despite what the oddsmakers suggest, there's reason to believe Boston has a legitimate shot at pulling off the upset at the Prudential Center this evening.

While it's true the Bruins have struggled on the road lately, dropping eight straight away games, this isn't your typical road team scenario. Boston is a veteran-laden squad with playoff experience that knows how to navigate the late-season grind. They're also getting healthier at the right time, with key players returning to the lineup. The Dimers model gives Boston a 35.3% win probability, significantly higher than what the +220 odds imply.

New Jersey has admittedly been playing solid hockey, winning four of their last five games. But a closer look reveals some vulnerabilities. The Devils' penalty kill, while ranking fourth in the league overall, has shown occasional cracks that Boston's power play unit can potentially exploit. Even at a modest 15% conversion rate, the Bruins have enough firepower to capitalize on special teams opportunities.

What's particularly intriguing about this matchup is the recent betting pattern across multiple sportsbooks that shows sharp money coming in on Boston. This suggests professional handicappers see value in the Bruins at this price point. While the Devils have momentum, they're also carrying the pressure of playoff positioning, which can sometimes lead to tight, overthinking performances.

Boston's defensive structure, even during their recent road struggles, has remained relatively sound. They've allowed 12 goals in their last three road games, which isn't great but also isn't catastrophic. If they can tighten up just a bit defensively and generate their usual offensive pressure, they have a realistic path to victory.

At these odds, you're getting tremendous value on a proud Bruins team that's likely tired of their road losing streak and motivated to turn things around before the playoffs. Though New Jersey is justifiably favored, the gap isn't nearly as wide as the odds suggest, making Boston a smart contrarian play with significant upset potential.

The Montreal Canadiens have been one of the hottest teams in hockey over the past couple of weeks, stringing together five consecutive victories and dominating on home ice with wins in eight of their last nine at the Bell Centre. This impressive home record (21-12-5 overall) gives them a significant advantage heading into tonight's matchup against a Detroit Red Wings team that's been stumbling down the stretch.

Detroit's road woes have been particularly pronounced lately, with the Red Wings dropping eight of their last nine games away from Little Caesars Arena. This troubling trend speaks to deeper issues within their team structure when they don't have the benefit of last change and familiar surroundings. The timing couldn't be worse for Detroit as they face a Canadiens squad that's playing with newfound confidence and purpose in front of their passionate home crowd.

Goaltending will likely be a decisive factor tonight, with Montreal's Sam Montembeault providing stability between the pipes. Sporting 29 wins in 58 appearances with a respectable 2.85 GAA and .900 save percentage, Montembeault has been particularly sharp lately, backstopping the Canadiens to victory in each of his last four starts. His ability to make timely saves has given his teammates the confidence to play a more aggressive offensive style.

By contrast, Detroit's Cam Talbot has solid overall numbers (20 wins, 2.87 GAA, .905 save percentage), but the team results tell a different story. The Red Wings have lost seven of the last ten games with Talbot in net, suggesting either defensive breakdowns in front of him or an inability to make the crucial save at critical moments. Against a Canadiens team that's finding its offensive rhythm, this could prove problematic.

The atmosphere at the Bell Centre should provide another advantage for the home team. Montreal fans create one of the most intimidating environments in the NHL, and with the team playing well, the building will be electric from the opening faceoff. For a Detroit team already struggling on the road, this hostile environment could exacerbate their away-from-home difficulties.

When you combine Montreal's home ice advantage, their recent winning streak, superior goaltending form, and Detroit's road struggles, the Canadiens represent excellent value on the moneyline. While Detroit still has talented players who can change a game, the overall momentum and situational factors heavily favor Montreal to extend their winning ways tonight.

Tonight's matchup between the Seattle Kraken and Utah presents one of the most compelling value opportunities on the NHL slate. The Kraken puck line at +1.5 has emerged as a standout bet across multiple analytics platforms, with Dimers' model giving this wager a substantial 62.6% probability of hitting, representing a meaningful 5.1% edge against the current market price.

What makes this bet particularly attractive is Utah's recent inconsistency, especially at home where they've failed to dominate opponents as their talent level suggests they should. Seattle, meanwhile, has been playing with the freedom that comes when playoff pressure is removed, allowing their young stars to showcase their skills without the weight of expectations. This dynamic often leads to competitive performances from teams in Seattle's position late in the season.

The Kraken's defensive structure has been their calling card all season, and they've maintained that disciplined approach even as their playoff hopes faded. Their ability to clog passing lanes and limit high-danger scoring chances gives them a fighting chance to keep any game close, regardless of the opponent. Utah has struggled at times against teams that prioritize defensive responsibility, which plays directly into Seattle's hands.

From a tactical standpoint, Seattle's forecheck has been particularly effective in recent weeks, creating turnovers in the offensive zone and generating scoring chances against unsuspecting defenses. Utah's blueline, while talented, has shown vulnerability when pressured consistently. If the Kraken can establish their forecheck early, they should be able to generate enough offense to keep this game within striking distance.

The goaltending matchup potentially favors Seattle as well, with their netminder likely to face more rubber but also having the opportunity to build rhythm through consistent work. Utah's goaltenders have occasionally struggled with longer gaps between shots, losing focus at inopportune moments. This pattern could very well repeat itself tonight.

While Utah certainly has the talent advantage on paper, the combination of Seattle's structured defensive approach, their recent competitive play, and the natural variance of hockey makes the +1.5 puck line an excellent value proposition. Even if the Kraken don't pull off the outright upset, keeping this game within a single goal is well within their capabilities, making the +1.5 at -135 one of the strongest plays on tonight's NHL card.