Top Bets for NHL Games 3/24/2023: Islanders, Jack Hughes

• A small slate of NHL games features limited value as only six teams play.
• The New York Islanders are the team to watch as a win would further solidify their narrow lead in a heated playoff race between them, the Pittsburgh Penguins, and the Florida Panthers.
• Various player props feature value with the Blue Jackets and Coyotes being some of the weaker defenses.

COLUMBUS, Ohio – A relatively small NHL slate is on the docket for Friday night featuring some quite lopsided matchups. The main game that is important in the NHL landscape is for the New York Islanders, as they lead a very close playoff race and will need a win to continue holding onto the top wildcard spot.

One game to likely steer clear of on legal betting sites is the Arizona Coyotes against the Colorado Avalanche, as the odds heavily favor the Avalanche.

Friday, March 24 NHL Slate Odds

New York Islanders @ Columbus Blue Jackets

With this being the highest stakes matchup of the day, the Islanders are going to be playing hard for the win. The Blue Jackets on the other hand are among the worst teams in the NHL and are currently last in the Metropolitan Division.

Something to note is that the Blue Jackets allows the third most shots on goal this year at over 35 per game as well as the third most goals allowed at nearly four per game.

Both of those bode well for an anytime goal scorer prop for Brock Nelson, who has scored four goals over the last five games against Columbus. He also comes with solid +120 odds and will have to pick up some of the slack with teammate Mathew Barzal out.

Top pick for this game: Brock Nelson Anytime Goalscorer (+120)

New Jersey Devils @ Buffalo Sabres

The most evenly matched teams of the day both come into the game on skids, with the Devils losing four out of their last five and the Sabres with just two wins out of their last 10.

The Devils have mainly struggled on offense, only mustering more than three goals once during their last five. The Sabres on the other hand struggle mainly on defense, allowing an average of over five goals per game, including two back-to-back games with seven goals put up on them.

Because of this horrific defensive streak for the Sabres, the two top lines in the game are likely to be the Devils best goalscorers Timo Meier and Jack Hughes. Meier sports -115 odds to be an anytime goalscorer while Hughes features -110 odds for the same.

Meier has yet to play against the Sabres in a Devils uniform, but has performed rather poorly vs them in his recent games, mustering just one goal over the last three matchups and only seven total shots on goal over that span. Hughes on the other hand seems to be a much better value, scoring in his last three games straight against the Sabres, making him the top play for this matchup.

Top pick for this game: Jack Hughes Anytime Goalscorer (-110)

Arizona Coyotes @ Colorado Avalanche

This game is easily the most lopsided affair of the evening, with most game lines being far outside of the realm of value if betting on the Avalanche. The Coyotes do make a curious case for their strong +135 odds of covering the +1.5 puck line, as they have done so in four straight games against the Avs.

For those interested in the Avalanche’s recent hot streak, the best line available for them is likely a player prop of over 5.5 shots on goal for superstar Nathan MacKinnon. While the line is unbelievably high, MacKinnon has cleared it in three of the last five matchups vs them, with one of the misses being five shots. At strong -106 odds, it is one of the better value props on NHL sportsbooks for betting on the Avalanche.

Top pick for this game: Nathan MacKinnon over 5.5 Total Shots on Goal (-106)