NHL Betting Picks for Friday 2/23/24: Will We See Fireworks in Buffalo-Columbus Again?

We have just three games tonight, but we can find a bet we like in each of them.

Whether it's moneylines or total goals, there are plenty of ways to bet on the NHL action all season. It's a long 82-game campaign, meaning that the best selections of each night can be very different based on backup goalies coming into play, injuries that add up, and if teams are due for positive or negative swings.

Let's dive into the best bets for tonight.

Note: Lines are subject to change throughout the day after this article is published. All NHL betting odds and totals are from the NHL odds at FanDuel Sportsbook. All advanced statistics are used from MoneyPuck.com and NaturalStatTrick.com.

NHL Best Bets

Winnipeg Jets at Chicago Blackhawks

Under 5.5 Goals (-118)

The Chicago Blackhawks continue to be a team that struggles to score, even with Connor Bedard back in the lineup. They've scored just seven goals in the four games since Bedard returned.

Chicago averages just 2.07 goals per game on the season. They also average just 2.45 expected goals (xG) per game. Both of these metrics are the worst in the NHL.

So, we shouldn't like their chances of scoring too often against the Winnipeg Jets. Winnipeg allows just 2.35 goals per game, which is the best defensive record in the league.

Winnipeg will have Connor Hellebuyck in net, who leads the league in goals saved above expected (GSAx). Even playing behind Chicago's shaky defense, Petr Mrazek has a positive GSAx on the season.

The Jets aren't the most dynamic offensive team. They are 18th in goals per game, so they are unlikely to take advantage of the Blackhawks being weak defensively.

I like betting the under in both Winnipeg games and in Chicago games separately, so when they play against each, the under is definitely the route I want to go down.

The model on numberFire agrees with the under being the play here, so I don't mind the fact that we have to lay -118 with this bet.

Buffalo Sabres at Columbus Blue Jackets

Over 6.5 Goals (-124)

Two teams that will not be in the playoffs meet tonight, but they have a chance for some fireworks. In a game earlier this season, the Buffalo Sabres and Columbus Blue Jackets combined for 13 goals. We are unlikely to see that many goals, but we should get over 6.5 tonight.

Columbus just returned from a road trip and allowed nine goals in their last two games. They are second in goals allowed per game, conceding 3.73 per contest. The best offense in the NHL only scores 3.68 per game, so Columbus' opponents score more often than the league's highest-scoring team.

The Sabres are an enigma this season. Perhaps nothing epitomizes that better than the fact that after they lost 9-4 to Columbus in December and then proceeded to beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 9-3 in their next game.

Buffalo hasn't been a high-scoring team, but now they have most of their forwards healthy. It helps that they will face Daniil Tarasov, who has been the worst goalie in the league by GSAx per 60 minutes.

Where the Sabres have injuries is on defense. They'll be without Owen Power, Erik Johnson, and Mattias Samuelsson on their blue line. They're already the 10th-worst team in xG allowed per 60 minutes.

The Jackets have offensive talent on their roster, even if they don't always show it. They scored seven goals on Wednesday, so it wouldn't be shocking to see them hold up their end of the bargain on the over.

With these two teams having the propensity to have games going off the rails, I like taking the over in this matchup.

Minnesota Wild at Edmonton Oilers

Oilers -1.5 (+122)

The Edmonton Oilers will host the Minnesota Wild and will look to bounce back after their loss on Wednesday. They've cooled off since their 16-game winning streak ended, but they are still 6-3-1 in their last 10 games.

Edmonton continues to have the best xG% in the NHL -- both at five-on-five and at all strengths. They didn't always need to dominate xG because of the efficiency of their finishers, but now that they do, it's scary for the rest of the league.

The Wild continue to be a team that tries to sneak themselves into the playoff race, but many things are holding them back. They have been without Jared Spurgeon for over a month, which leaves them thin on defense. The goaltending has been a problem all season, as they have the fifth-worst team save percentage in the NHL.

The Oilers are starting Calvin Pickard at goalie tonight, who actually has a higher GSAx per 60 minutes than normal starter Stuart Skinner. If they have the edge in goal, there likely isn't an area on the ice where they are worse than Minnesota.

It's obviously easier to lay a goal and a half with a great offensive team like the Oilers, even if they aren't as good defensively as others. numberFire's model likes the bet a fair bit, giving the Oilers' puck line a two-star rating.

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The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author's advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.