NHL Best Bets Today: Expert NHL Picks for 04/15/2025

Columbus has massive motivation here – they're still fighting for an Eastern Conference Wild Card spot with just two games left and need to win both to have any chance of making the playoffs.

The Blue Jackets have dominated this series recently, winning four of the last five against Philadelphia including their most recent matchup in January (3-2 in a shootout).

Philadelphia has been eliminated from playoff contention, which typically leads to a lack of focus and intensity as teams play out the string – a significant mental edge for the desperate Blue Jackets.

Columbus enters with momentum on their side, having won four of their last six games against Eastern Conference opponents.

While this game is in Philadelphia, the motivational difference should be enough for Columbus to overcome the home-ice disadvantage and secure a critical win in their playoff chase.

The Minnesota Wild are heavy favorites against Anaheim, but the Ducks puck line looks like the smart play today with strong consensus across multiple expert sources.

Anaheim matches up well defensively here, with their ability to limit shots and create turnovers in the defensive zone. The Ducks have allowed just three goals in their last two games, showing they can keep games tight.

Dimers' predictive model gives this bet a significant 4.6% edge with a 58.1% probability of hitting – one of their highest confidence plays of the day.

While Minnesota needs this win to secure a playoff spot, the pressure could work against them, and they've struggled to score consistently, averaging only 2.74 goals per game.

Lukas Dostal has been solid in net for Anaheim and should keep this competitive enough for the Ducks to stay within the 1.5-goal margin, even if they don't pull off the outright upset.

St. Louis has been one of the stingier teams in the NHL this season, allowing just 2.84 goals per game while Utah sits at 2.98 – both solid defensive marks.

The Blues are fighting to secure their playoff position, which typically leads to more conservative, defensively responsible hockey – especially at home where they've been stronger defensively.

Joel Hofer has been reliable in net for St. Louis, while Karel Vejmelka has shown he can steal games for Utah when he's on his form.

The defensive corps for both teams match up well, with Philip Broberg and Justin Faulk leading the way for St. Louis while Mikhail Sergachev and Ian Cole anchor Utah's blueline.

With Utah averaging just 2.90 goals per game offensively and both teams likely to prioritize defensive structure, this sets up as a tight-checking affair that should stay under the 6-goal total.

The Golden Knights-Flames matchup has all the makings of a defensive battle, with both teams featuring strong defensive units that excel at limiting scoring chances.

Vegas allows just 2.61 goals per game while Calgary sits at 2.92, and both goalies – Adin Hill for Vegas and Dustin Wolf for Calgary – have been in excellent form lately.

The Flames have allowed only four goals in their last two games, demonstrating their commitment to tight defensive play as they make their playoff push.

While both teams have talented forwards, the defensive matchups should control the pace, with players like MacKenzie Weegar and Kevin Bahl for Calgary and Brayden McNabb and Noah Hanifin for Vegas disrupting offensive flow.

The total has consistently been recommended as a strong Under play by experts, with the defensive systems of both teams likely to dominate in what projects as a tight, low-scoring affair.

The Kings-Kraken matchup sets up perfectly for an over, especially with the Kings likely starting backup David Rittich who posted a concerning 3.22 GAA and .894 save percentage in March and hasn't started a game in April.

Seattle will be aggressive in their season finale at home, looking to give their fans something to celebrate after a disappointing season, which should lead to an open, offensive-minded approach.

While their previous meeting featured just three total goals, their earlier clash at Climate Pledge Arena resulted in six goals with Seattle winning 4-2 – suggesting the Kraken can find success against the Kings in their building.

Los Angeles might be resting key defensemen after their crucial Monday night game against Edmonton, further weakening their defensive structure.

Joey Daccord has been inconsistent for Seattle, allowing more than two goals in one of his last five starts, and with both teams playing loose in a relatively low-stakes game, conditions favor a higher-scoring affair.