Just like Wayne Gretzky, successful sports bettors need to skate to where the puck will be.
"The Great One" had it right. To win on the ice and at the betting window, we need to successfully predict what will happen in the future.
This means we can't only focus on what's happening now. We can't just look at recent results and think we'll have success predicting the future.
In a moneyline sport like the NHL, just going with the "better" team will lose you a lot of money over the long term.
Since the 2006 season, NHL favorites have won 60% of the time. But, betting on a favorite loses the bettor an average of $1.70 for every $100 bet.
To succeed at hockey betting, we have to be selective about the favorites we back, and more importantly, we must find the underdogs that can win.
If you're looking for free NHL picks and predictions, you've come to the right place.
While hockey isn't the most popular sport outside of Canada, I love it because I've done exceptionally well at handicapping the NHL over the past 23 years.
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Dallas Mavericks vs. Golden State Warriors
Golden State seems to do this every round, that is give the opponent a win in an otherwise lopsided series before putting them away the next time out with relative ease. Look for that trend to continue as the Warriors go for another Gentleman's Sweep after losing 119-109 on Tuesday when Luke Doncic scored 30 points for the desperate Mavericks.
It snapped a nine-game winning streak in Western Conference finals games for Golden State and now it goes home where the Warriors have covered nine of their past 11 games. Dallas is 1-5 ATS its last six road games and 9-4 OVER its past 13 on the road and 12-5 OVER overall against teams with winning records.
Game 4 went OVER by 12 points as the teams combined to shoot nearly 50-percent overall. 14 of the past 20 meetings have soared OVER. Golden State lost to Memphis by 39 points in Game 5 when leading 3-1 in the conference semifinals and then blew out the Grizzlies in Game 6.
Look for a similar result tonight. Play the Warriors to cover, and take the OVER.
Why use free NHL picks from a pro handicapper
First off, professional handicappers lend a lot of experience.
I've been doing this for 23 years. Over that time, I have amassed 538 individual data points on each of 24,387 NHL games played.
Using these stats, I've made 11,603 premium NHL picks in my career.
If making your own picks and predictions is working for you, great. But I offer a free way to win for the 99% of sports bettors who lose.
Want to benefit from my experience?
I make daily NHL picks and predictions, and I guarantee every one. Hockey is an unpredictable sport, but I’ve spent 23 years honing an ability to discern the winners from the losers.
Some days, I will score a hat-trick, while other days, my picks might require a shootout to be correct. I won’t be able to give a winning NHL pick every matchup, but my NHL success rate speaks for itself.
Let me help you win: Get my free picks or grab one of my premium NHL pick packages.
Prefer to skate solo with your NHL betting strategy? Learn how to win in my free How to Win Sports Betting Masterclass.
Is there any betting value in free hockey picks?
They say that hockey is the fastest game on two legs. But to be successful betting hockey, you need more than just fast legs—you need a keen eye, a strong mind, and you need to be tough—to take one on the chin and keep playing.
I strive to apply this philosophy in my expert NHL picks. I've spent decades building a cadre of successful trends and situations to consider.
I offer free premium picks all season long, so you can benefit from my experience.
Every single one of my free picks has value because each free pick is one of the premium picks I send my paying subscribers.
Why do I give NHL picks for free?
I get this question a lot. Why would I give something of such high value for free? The free NHL picks I send in my newsletter are a taste of what I send to my paying subscribers. I give out free premium picks because I want you to get a preview of what it's like to become a paying client. I know it can be hard to trust sports handicappers, so this is my way of letting you try before you buy. If you like what you see, I hope you will become a paying client someday.
Wunderdog Free NHL Picks & Predictions
The season is a long one, and it can be a grind. That's why you need someone tough making the calls to get the most out of the long season. I'm bulldog tough (hence my mascot), and a losing call won't bully me. I'm disciplined to stay the course and release quality premium hockey picks all season.
Try out my free picks today—you have absolutely nothing to lose.
NHL Betting Philosophy
My NHL expert picks will come primarily in the form of moneyline and totals picks, along with some puckline bets.
These NHL picks are the result of hours of research every day.
How do I make my NHL picks?
I offer an in-depth look at my NHL hockey betting philosophy here. But at a high level, here's what I am doing when I handicap the NHL:
NHL oddsmakers are lazier with the NHL than other sports. They don't pay as much attention here because many sports bettors don't bet the NHL. Most bettors prefer to bet on sports they follow closely, like football, basketball, and baseball. This provides an opportunity for us to exploit sportsbook mistakes.
The core of my philosophy is that underdogs can and do win. When we bet on underdogs on the moneyline, we score big profits for a small risk.
How do we find the dogs worth betting on? One key is goaltending, which is often overlooked. Additionally, coaching and intangibles play a crucial role.
I use hundreds of historical angles and situations to make my picks. I have data on every single NHL game dating back to the early 2000s, and from this, I know what situations result in optimal betting opportunities.
NHL Predictions Track Record
No one is better at handicapping the NHL than I am. It may sound like hubris, but my results make it a fact.
From 2009-24, I’ve won 11 out of 15 seasons (73%) for a net bankroll gain of +$336,510. That's an average annual bankroll increase of 22.4%.
I value 100% transparency. All my picks are posted daily on this website so that you can view every win and loss. Nothing is ever hidden. No other handicapper publishes his full record for verification. I’ve made over 10,000 official premium NHL picks for your review.
The game is ever-changing, with new rules introduced to speed up play and open the ice for superstars to shine. Although my betting systems have long produced a steady profit, I made slight modifications along the way, and the results couldn't have been better:
- Four straight winning seasons from 2020-24
- Net bankroll gain during this run of +$167,420
- The second-most profitable season of all-time set in 2021 (+$92,010)
During the past four years, my NHL Max Plays are 415-291 (58%), delivering a +$101,910 return for dime bettors. No other NHL handicapper can touch this record with best bets.
In December of 2023, I even cashed my NHL Game of the Year, improving my all-time record for moneyline GOY predictions to 9-2 (82%) for +$10,330.
And my record over the past 15 years cannot be matched when the NHL Playoffs hit. Nine winning seasons, including four of the past five, +$59,270 in winnings, and I'm 566-432 (57%) with sides (moneyline and puckline bets).
When the game is on the line, my NHL picks deliver.
Past NHL Premium Picks
Colorado at Anaheim
10:00 PM ET
Utah at Minnesota
8:00 PM ET
New York at Dallas
8:00 PM ET
Free NHL Picks I Provide
Here are the types of NHL picks you will get from me:
Underdog NHL picks
I love NHL underdogs. Betting underdogs is how I chose the name of my company, Wunderdog Sports!
One of my goals in the NHL is to spot live underdogs to bet on. Sometimes, I spot a statistical advantage that isn't correctly accounted for. Other times, it comes down to finding an undervalued team with an emotional edge. Other times, it's about a situational trend that has proven successful.
NHL Consensus Picks
Knowing who the public is backing is important for successful NHL handicapping. I utilize NHL consensus betting information as part of my hockey handicapping approach.
Never blindly follow or fade the betting public, but use the knowledge of who the public favorites are. Try to get a feel for when a team getting a lot of bets is a favorite of the experienced sharp bettors or the inexperienced square bettors. Sometimes, it makes sense to follow the herd; other times, we have to make a bold call and go against the grain.
Free NHL Computer Picks
If you like a do-it-yourself approach, I suggest you use my free NHL computer picks. These use my proprietary computer prediction algorithms to make score predictions for every NHL game played during the regular season, playoffs, and Stanely Cup Finals.
Free Computer Picks vs. Free Premium Picks
My free NHL computer picks are available for every 2023 NHL game. These are important inputs to your NHL predictions, but they have limitations.
Computer picks don't consider all critical aspects of winning handicapping, including team motivation, coaching, historical trends, the betting public, and human nature.
For this reason, computer picks should not be bet blindly. Always include more in-depth analysis, as it can make the difference between winning and losing.
While computer picks are purely statistical, my free premium picks take into account everything and come with detailed written analysis. Make sure you're getting my free expert premium picks in your inbox.
NHL Moneyline Picks
The NHL moneyline wager for NHL games is the most common. You'll find most of my premium picks comprise this type of bet.
Moneyline betting requires picking the winner of the game, regardless of the spread. If the team we pick wins, we win. It doesn't matter if they win by one goal or five.
When betting favorites on the moneyline, we have to risk more than we win. Going with the underdog allows us to win more than we risk. Both options make sense throughout the season.
NHL Picks Against the Spread
The spread in hockey betting is called the puckline. The standard puckline in the NHL is 1.5 goals.
Favorites are listed as -1.5 on the puckline. To win a bet on such a favorite, the team we pick has to win by at least two goals. If they win by only one goal, the bet loses.
Conversely, underdogs are listed as +1.5 goals on the puckline. This means that at the end of the game, we get to add 1.5 goals to their score to determine if our bet won or lost. So, an underdog that loses a game by exactly one goal still provides a winning bet for us.
While I focus more on moneyline bets, I selectively include puckline bets in my NHL premium pick packages.
NHL Over/Under Picks
NHL Over/Under picks (totals picks) allow us an alternative to moneyline and puckline betting. Wagering on the total number of goals scored by both teams means we don't care who wins. Instead, we only care whether the number of goals scored by both teams exceeds or falls short of a posted total number by the oddsmakers.
Based on my massive database of NHL games, I've found many situations where betting the total is profitable. I release these situations as picks to my premium pick subscribers.
NHL Daily Picks
Like the NBA, each NHL team plays 82 regular-season games, which provides many betting opportunities throughout the year.
I provide daily NHL picks, with my premium subscribers getting around five NHL picks each day. Like action? Try my free picks.
NHL Playoffs Picks
By the time the NHL playoffs arrive, we will have a lot of data to use to make playoff picks.
There's nothing quite like hockey playoffs. The intensity goes up several notches, the players play harder, and the checks get more fierce.
That's why my handicapping philosophy must adjust come the NHL playoffs—it's an entirely different season.
I provide NHL Playoff picks as part of my premium packages.
NHL Parlay Picks
My Parlay Club is a cross-sport parlay feast every day of the betting year. During the NHL season, I sprinkle a few NHL plays into my parlays.
Tools for NHL betting
While my free premium picks will give you the best chance at winning in the NHL over the long haul, I understand you may want to do it yourself.
If you want some support, check out these free resources to help you win more of your own NHL picks:
Consensus Data
What team is the betting public favoring? Knowing the answer to this question can help you test your hunches.
Check out my NHL consensus data
Lines and Odds
Looking for up-to-the-minute lines and odds for all of today's NHL games?
Use my NHL lines and odds to start your handicapping process.
NHL Hockey Resources
Hockey is a great sports wagering opportunity because oddsmakers are more careless when setting lines, this and other key factors are part of my NHL handicapping approach.
Wunderdog Sports Picks is an excellent long-term investment, and I want you to know how much you can expect to win vs. other investment opportunities.
Thirsty for more sports betting information? Check out the Dog Pound, an extensive resource for all my sports gambling articles and advice.
Access to all of my previous NHL premium predictions. Win or lose - I give you visibility to all past picks, including my in-depth analysis.
Real-time lines and odds for all upcoming NHL games. Check out the latest moneyline odds, puck lines, and totals from around the rink.
If you want to know how the public is betting, this is your page! A collective source for public consensus information on all upcoming NHL games.
Purchase a premium NHL picks package and get access to my daily picks, detailed write-ups, game information, and top-of-the-line customer service.
My free video series, "How to Win at Sports Betting," is the ultimate guide for bettors of all experience levels. Learn about bankroll management, how to find winning picks, and other vital factors to help you become a winning NHL Hockey bettor.
Exclusive NHL Hockey betting videos I've posted throughout the past couple of years to help give you an inside edge against the bookmaker.
I get it. You're hesitant to invest in a sports betting service. That's why my picks packages are backed by an ironclad guarantee. My picks will win for you, or you'll automatically get an equivalent subscription for free until they do. No strings attached.
Updated NHL scoreboard with consensus betting data, plus current/closing odds for each matchup.
NHL FAQ
Q: What are NHL picks and predictions?
A: NHL picks and predictions are expert opinions or recommendations on which team will likely win or cover the spread in a particular NHL game. These picks are based on team performance, player injuries, previous matchups, and other statistical analyses.
Q: How can I find the best NHL picks today?
A: To find the best NHL picks today, you can rely on expert handicappers (like me), popular sports betting websites, or specialized services that provide free or paid NHL picks. These sources usually analyze various factors and statistics to make predictions. The best place to start is my free NHL premium picks.
Q: What are NHL consensus picks?
A: NHL consensus picks are predictions based on multiple experts' or analysts' collective opinions or agreement. These picks are formed by aggregating and summarizing the predictions of different public betting sources to provide a consensus recommendation.
Q: How can I bet on NHL games?
A: To bet on NHL games, you need to sign up with a reputable sportsbook or online betting platform that offers NHL betting. Once you have an account, you can browse the available NHL games and place your bets on different outcomes, such as the winning team, the total number of goals scored, or specific player performances.
Q: What are computer picks in NHL betting?
A: Computer picks in NHL betting refer to predictions generated by computer algorithms or models. These models analyze historical data, player statistics, and other relevant factors to predict the outcome of NHL games. Computer picks can be a valuable tool for bettors looking for data-driven insights, but should never be bet blindly.
Q: How can I make NHL picks and predictions myself?
A: If you want to make NHL picks and predictions yourself, you can start by researching team statistics, player performance, recent trends, and other relevant information. Analyzing head-to-head matchups, home/away records and injury updates can also help you form your own predictions. It's essential to stay updated with the latest news and developments in the NHL to make informed picks. Start with my free How-to-Win at Sports Betting Video Series.
Q: What are the best strategies for NHL betting?
A: Some popular strategies for NHL betting include focusing on specific teams or divisions, tracking line movements and betting trends, analyzing goaltender matchups, and paying attention to historical head-to-head records. It's also important to manage your bankroll effectively and not to chase losses. Finding value in the betting lines and being disciplined in your wagering approach can help improve your chances of success.
Q: Are there any free NHL expert picks available?
A: Yes, some websites and services provide free NHL expert picks. These picks are often shared by experienced handicappers such as myself or analysts who share their predictions for specific NHL games. Take my picks for a test drive.
Q: What are NHL futures?
A: NHL futures are long-term bets or predictions on the outcome of the NHL season or specific events such as the Stanley Cup winner, division champions, or individual award winners. These bets are placed before the season starts and can offer higher potential payouts if you make accurate predictions. I tend not to bet on these as they tie up funds that could be used to win bets throughout the season.
Q: Where can I find the latest NHL picks and predictions?
A: You can find the latest NHL picks and predictions on various sports betting websites, forums, and social media platforms. Following trusted handicappers like me or subscribing to newsletters that provide sports betting insights can also keep you updated with the latest picks and predictions.
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