The 2022/23 NHL season is starting to take shape now, and with some cracking action this Thursday night, we thought it was a good time to bring you some of our free NHL betting picks.
Of the matches we are looking at tonight, the main teams in action are the Vegas Golden Knights, Boston Bruins, Calgary Flames, and Colorado Avalanche.
At the start of the season, the Avalanche and the Golden Knights were two betting favorites to win the Stanley Cup. Of those two, the Avalanche are still the outright favorites to win the Stanley Cup with the best NHL betting sites, but the Golden Knights have dropped the betting.
BetUS currently has Colorado at +500 to retain the title they won earlier this year. Following on from the Avalanche is the Boston Bruins at +900. The Bruins have been backed in after an impressive start to the season.
Of the other teams we are looking at this Thursday, the Calgary Flames are +1200, and the Golden Knights are +1400 to win their first-ever Stanley Cup. In the interests of fairness, it’s only right to give you the odds of the other two teams we are previewing. The Buffalo Sabres are +7000, and the Nashville Predators are +8000.
| 2023 Stanley Cup Winner Betting |  |
|---|---|
| Colorado Avalanche | +500 |
| Boston Bruins | +900 |
| Carolina Hurricanes | +1000 |
| Toronto Maple Leafs | +1200 |
| Tampa Bay Lightning | +1200 |
| Calgary Flames | +1200 |
| Florida Panthers | +1200 |
| Vegas Golden Knights | +1400 |
| Edmonton Oilers | +1600 |
| New York Rangers | +1600 |
| Minnesota Wild | +2200 |
BetUS provides the odds above. You can find out more about this popular betting site at our BetUS sportsbook review. Now, onto our NHL betting picks.
The first match we’re looking at on Thursday is the Sabres against the Golden Knights. The Sabres started the season well, winning seven of their first ten. Things have been slightly wrong lately, with Don Granato’s team losing their last three.
As for the Golden Knights, they are flying and sit at the top of the Pacific Division, thanks to a run of eight straight victories. Notable wins in that run include 4-3 and 3-1 wins over the Maple Leafs.
I thought this should be a win for the Golden Knights. The Sabres have lost their last three but haven’t been taken apart. The 4-1 defeat in their last match to the Coyotes is alarming, though. So, I’m happy to take the Golden Knights to win on the handicap, and overs in the total points market.
The Boston Bruins have won 11 of their 13 matches, but a seven-match winning run was brought to an end by the Maple Leafs last weekend. The Bruins did bounce back immediately with a 3-1 win over the Blues on Monday night.
After winning five of their first six games, the Flames have now lost six in a row. They’re in the mix with the Las Vegas NHL odds setters to win the Stanley Cup, so it appears the top Vegas betting sites are considering this run more of a blip than a serious problem.
Although the Flames will pick up at some point, I have to go with the Bruins to win tonight. I think that odds of +148 on the handicap look good to me, and I’m happy to make a win for Boston, my next pick.
After a troubled start to the season, Jared Bednar’s team defeated the Golden Knights 3-2 in Nevada in their sixth match. That looked like it could be the turning point for the defending champions. They then followed that magnificent win up with a 3-2 win at the Rangers, and all of a sudden, things started to look ominous for the rest of the NHL.
They then lost their next two matches to the in-form Devils (1-0) and Islanders (5-4). Since those back-to-back losses, Colorado has won two. Last weekend they defeated the Blue Jackets in the two overseas games in Finland, winning 6-3 and 5-1.
This leaves Colorado with a 6-4-1 record from their 11 games this season.
So with a few days’ break after flying back, can they keep the momentum going when they take on the Predators on Thursday night?
The Avalanche host a Predators side that has had a poor start to the season. John Hynes’ team sits at the second bottom of the Central Division with a 5-7-1 record. They’re on a losing streak of one but did win three of their previous five, including an excellent 4-1 victory over the Flames.
I’m still not convinced the Avalanche have hit their straps yet this season, and there have already been a couple of false dawns. It’s tough and probably foolhardy to back against them, though. And therefore, I am sticking with Jared Bedner and his team, hoping they have come through their sticky period.
Colorado Avalanche to win on the handicap if my final NHL pick for Thursday night.
