NHL Betting Picks and Player Props to Target: Sunday 11/26/23

Sunday in the NHL during football season is usually quiet, and today is no different with just five games. How can we find value amongst them?

Whether it's moneylines, total goals, or player props, there are plenty of ways to bet on the NHL action all season long. It's a long 82-game season, 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 come from FanDuel Sportsbook.

Columbus Blue Jackets at Carolina Hurricanes

Blue Jackets +1.5 (+104)
Patrik Laine Anytime Goal (+270)

It'll be a tough feat for the Columbus Blue Jackets to win...well anything. However, we might be able to forecast a tight affair in Raleigh tonight.

Carolina's expected-goals-for rate (54.7 xGF%) is sixth-best in the NHL, and Columbus' 46.3 xGF% is sixth-worst in the NHL. There's a massive gap between these skaters, but there's also one in goal.

Elvis Merzlikins of the Blue Jackets is 21st of 73 qualifiers in goals saved above expectation (3.62 GSAx), and Carolina's backup that'll get the nod tonight, Pyotr Kochetkov, is 64th (-3.60 GSAx).

If Columbus puts up a fight, Patrik Laine could be a sneaky contributor. His role is admittedly odd at the moment, logging only 15:49 TOI this month and even being a healthy scratch last Sunday. However, he's taken 17 shots in 7 games this month, so he's trying to get his.

numberFire's model is expecting Columbus to cover this spread 52.0% of the time, and it's giving Laine a 31.0% chance to put one past the struggling Kochetkov tonight. Both are showing solid value.

Winnipeg Jets at Nashville Predators

Under 6.5 (-118)

Only one game is showing two-star (or better) value among tonight's contests, and it's the under in this affair.

Last year, a matchup of Connor Hellebuyck and Juuse Saros wouldn't have had a 6.5-goal total, but a slow start to the year for Saros is responsible. The Nashville Predators netminder has posted an ugly -3.15 GSAx this season.

Thankfully for him, the Winnipeg Jets post the eighth-fewest expected goals per 60 minutes (2.96), so he's got the right matchup to get it going. Winnipeg has largely rode Hellebuyck (5.37 GSAx) and their defense to win to this point.

numberFire's model projects 5.69 total goals in this one at a median.

Anaheim Ducks at Edmonton Oilers

Oilers -1.5 (-125)
Zach Hyman Over 3.5 Shots on Goal (-106)
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins Anytime Goal (+220)

The 9-11 Anaheim Ducks feel like they're plugging holes in their piping with duct tape.

Anaheim's 44.7 xGF% is fourth-worst in the NHL, and they've been carried by a surprise season by goaltender John Gibson. Gibson is sixth in the NHL in GSAx (9.03), but I can't trust it stays. The veteran has posted five straight seasons with a negative GSAx before this year.

Tonight, one of the league's unluckiest teams could benefit. The Edmonton Oilers have a 6-12-1 record despite a 54.8 xGF% (fifth-best in the NHL). A lot of that has had to do with Stuart Skinner's struggles (-6.05 GSAx), but like Saros, Skinner will have an easier night at the office with Anaheim posting just 2.85 expected goals per 60.

If this is an Oilers coming out party, some of their peripheral offensive pieces -- not Connor McDavid or Leon Draisaitl -- are significantly undervalued.

Promoted to McDavid's line, Zach Hyman has been firing the puck. He's posted 3.45 shots per game in November, and that's been at least five in each of his previous two games. It's not a surprise he's generating chances next to one of the best to ever do it. numberFire has Hyman projected for 3.59 shots tonight -- third-best on the entire slate. Those in his projection tier are -120 or shorter to put four-plus pucks on goal.

As for finding the scoresheet, I really like Ryan Nugent-Hopkins' role on that same line. The former top pick has pounded 19:37 TOI next to those two, and he's been incredibly unlucky with 4-for-41 (9.8%) shooting this season. RNH posted an 18.4% shooting rate a season ago.

numberFire pegs appropriate odds for a Nugent-Hopkins goal at +104, so these +220 odds are tremendous value.

Looking for more NHL betting opportunities? Check out all of the NHL odds at FanDuel Sportsbook.

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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.