NHL Picks Today: Saturday Predictions & Best Bets (Nov. 14)
By Chris Amberley in NHL Hockey
Published:
- My NHL predictions cover all 14 games on Saturday’s slate, with a projected winner for every matchup
- Three best bets make my card, including a plus-money puck line on a team riding a five-game win streak
- See below for my NHL picks today, including my favorite Saturday predictions and best bets for Nov. 14
Saturday’s NHL schedule runs 14 games deep, and a blockbuster Canadian matchup sits at the top of the slate. The Edmonton Oilers head east to face a Toronto Maple Leafs team searching for answers to snap out of a tough slump.
Montreal also draws a tough visitor. Colorado has scored 81 goals through 20 games, but the Canadiens have won eight of their last 10. That helps explain the one-goal margin in my projection for the Avalanche. Seattle and Carolina open the schedule in Helsinki, where the Hurricanes have outscored opponents 82-46.
The red-hot Minnesota Wild also step into TD Garden for a heavyweight battle with the Boston Bruins. Below are my NHL picks today for the full slate, including my favorite Saturday predictions and best bets for Nov. 14.
NHL Saturday Predictions
All prices were confirmed at BetMGM on Friday, Nov. 13 at 5:34 p.m. ET.
These projected scores are our game-by-game predictions, not betting recommendations. Lines move throughout the day, so compare the latest NHL odds before puck drop.
Our official plays are the three best bets below. Each one lines up with its projected score, and each comes with a confirmed BetMGM price. New users can claim the BetMGM promo code and get a bonus to use on any NHL game today.
NHL Picks and Best Bets for Saturday
If you want to narrow down the board, these are the most statistically sound wagers on Saturday’s schedule.
NHL Pick Today #1: Jets -1.5 at Chicago
- Pick: Jets -1.5 (+145 at BetMGM)
Chicago enters at 5-13-1. The Blackhawks have been outscored 78-42 through 19 games and have won twice in their last 10. Winnipeg comes in on a five-game winning streak. A one-goal Jets win would lose this bet, so Chicago’s scoring deficit matters more to the pick than its place in the standings.
Winnipeg has scored 61 goals through 20 games, or 3.05 per game. Chicago averages 2.21. The Blackhawks have allowed 4.11 per game, enough for Winnipeg to get to the four goals in my projection without needing an unusually high-scoring game from both teams.
My 4-2 projection clears the puck line. At +145, Winnipeg needs a multi-goal win about 41% of the time to break even. The risk is that Chicago keeps the game close until the final minutes. Even a Jets overtime win pays out on the opposite side of this market.
NHL Pick Today #2: Wild to Win at Boston
- Pick: Wild Moneyline (-120 at BetMGM)
Minnesota has nine road wins and eight wins in its last 10 overall. Boston brings eight home wins of its own, which is one reason I prefer the Wild moneyline to laying a goal and a half. My 3-2 projection leaves room for Minnesota to win in overtime in this clash of Stanley Cup odds contenders.
There’s little between these teams on goal differential. Both are plus-24, and each has scored 70 goals. Minnesota reached those totals in 21 games and Boston in 19. The Bruins can score enough at home to turn this into a one-goal game even if the Wild have the better night.
Minnesota has allowed 46 goals in 21 games, just 2.19 per game. That gives the Wild a route to a road win without scoring four or five. At -120, I need them to win about 55% of the time. Boston’s scoring is the reason I wouldn’t chase a substantially shorter price.
NHL Pick Today #3: Oilers–Maple Leafs Over 6.5
- Pick: Over 6.5 Goals (-139 at BetMGM)
Edmonton has 81 goals through 20 games, led by Hart Trophy odds favorite Connor McDavid. Toronto has scored 69 and allowed 75 in 21 games. The Oilers can carry much of the scoring here, but I still want the Leafs to contribute. A 4-2 Edmonton win would get the side right in my table and lose the Over.
Toronto is on a five-game losing streak and Edmonton has won three straight. That makes an early Oilers lead a plausible route to the Over if the Leafs have to press for a tying goal. A low-event game with Edmonton protecting a lead is the risk at this price.
My Edmonton vs Toronto prediction is 4-3. At -139, seven or more goals need to land about 58% of the time to break even. That price is already asking plenty, so the number matters: a total of seven would turn the projected result into a push.
Sports Writer
As SBD's resident Swiss Army Knife, Chris covers virtually every sport including NFL, PGA, NBA, MLB, NCAAB, NCAAF and the Olympics. A true grinder, he'd rather pick off small edges in the player props market than swing for the fences with a 5-leg parlay.
