Expert NHL Game Previews, Matchups and Key Insights
The National Hockey League (NHL) has a total of 13 games on Thursday night, including an ESPN doubleheader with the Vegas Golden Knights and Philadelphia Flyers meeting at 7 p.m. ET, and the Florida Panthers and Colorado Avalanche squaring off at 9:30 p.m. ET.
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NHL Best Bets & Picks: Panthers vs Avalanche and Sabres vs Canucks – Expert Game Previews
For the latest NHL Odds, including NHL Futures and NHL player props, visit RotoWire's NHL Betting page. For up-to-date NHL player news and NHL Injury Report info, head to RotoWire's NHL Lineups page. You can find more picks at Bookies.com/picks. Here are our NHL Best Bets today, featuring expert NHL picks for an action-packed slate of games.
NHL Best Bets Tonight: Expert Game Previews, Picks & Matchup Insights
Florida Panthers 
at Colorado Avalanche 
The Panthers (15-12-2) and Avalanche (21-2-7) meet at Ball Arena in Denver at 9:30 p.m. ET in the second end of the ESPN doubleheader.
The Avalanche were a thorn in the side of the Panthers last season, sweeping the series, including a 3-1 victory at Ball Arena on Jan. 6 as slight favorites (-110) as the Under (6) cashed.
The Panthers have picked up the pace lately, winning three in a row, which ties the longest streak of the season. Florida also won three straight games, Oct. 7-11, to start the season. It opened the four-game road trip with a 4-3 win against the Utah Mammoth as slight underdogs (-105) as the Over (5.5) cashed.
Florida has been involved in three one-goal games in the past four outings. However, the Panthers have allowed 34 goals in the past nine outings, or 3.8 goals per game (GPG), while the Over is 6-3 in that nine-game stretch.
The Avalanche suffered a stunning 4-3 shootout loss against the Nashville Predators on Tuesday, and Colorado has played three consecutive one-goal games, winning two of those outings. It has gone to overtime or a shootout in three of the past seven games, too.
Daniil Tarasov (3-4-1, 2.47 GAA, .911 save percentage) is expected to start for the Panthers, while Mackenzie Blackwood (8-1-1, 2.21 GAA, .920 save percentage, 2 SO) is likely to be in between the pipes for the home side.
In this 1996 Stanley Cup Final rematch, and perhaps a preview of future championship series, we'll side with the Panthers as the underdogs on the puck line. They've been red-hot lately, playing arguably their best hockey of the season, although this is a huge measuring-stick game. Still, Florida tends to play best when the stakes are the highest. We'll go low on the total, as well.
- Panthers +1.5 Goals (-125 at BetMGM, Caesars, DraftKings and Fanatics Sportsbooks)
- Under 6.5 Goals (-118 at DraftKings Sportsbook)
Buffalo Sabres 
at Vancouver Canucks 
The Sabres (12-14-4) and Canucks (11-16-3) meet at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, B.C. at 10 p.m. ET, and these are two teams desperate for a victory, as they both try to get going.
Vancouver has won four of the past five in this series, although all five of those meetings have been decided by a single goal. Buffalo won 3-2 in Vancouver as moderate underdogs (+160) in the most recent meeting on Jan. 21. The Under is 3-1 in the past four meetings in the series, too.
Buffalo scored a surprising 4-3 OTW against the Oilers in the fourth stop on the six-game road trip as the Over cashed for the third time in four games on the trip. Alex Lyon picked up the win and will be in goal again Thursday.
Thatcher Demko (5-4-0, 2.80 GAA, .903 save percentage) is projected to start for the Canucks. He hasn't appeared since Nov. 11, when he left a start against the Winnipeg Jets due to what the team termed a lower-body injury. He has experienced knee issues in recent seasons, although it's uncertain if that's the LBI he suffered.
Vancouver hit rock bottom in a 4-0 loss against the Detroit Red Wings on Monday, and the Canucks are just 1-4-1 in the past six games, and 2-7-1 across the past 10 outings, sinking to the bottom of the entire NHL with just 25 points. The Sabres aren't much further ahead with 28 points, mired in last place in the Atlantic Division standings.
Buffalo is just 3-9-2 on the road this season, while Vancouver is 4-9-1 at home. It's a tough game to handicap, but with Demko back, let's look for him to give the home side a little pep in its step. And, we'll go Over on the total, as UPL has been giving in net for Buffalo, and Demko could have some rust after missing a calendar month due to his LBI.
- Canucks ML (+100 at Caesars Sportsbook)
- Over 6 Goals (-115 at Caesars Sportsbook)
Don't make any bets on your favorite sports betting apps without first consulting the latest NHL odds.
Building a Profitable NHL Parlay with Best Bets and Super Parlay Picks
4-Leg NHL Super Parlay (+876 Caesars Sportsbook)
- Panthers +1.5 at Avalanche and Under 6.5 - SGP (+183)
- Canucks ML vs. Sabres and Over 6 - SGP (+245)
2-Leg NHL Totals Parlay (+244 at Caesars Sportsbook)
- Under 6.5 (-120) - Panthers at Avalanche
- Over 6 (-115) - Canucks vs. Sabres
2-Leg NHL Sides Parlay (+260 at Caesars Sportsbook)
- Panthers +1.5 (-125) at Avalanche
- Canucks ML (+100) vs. Sabres
