NHL Picks Today: NHL Best Bets, Predictions and Props for Wednesday, October 21

Top NHL Picks at a Glance

• Tage Thompson 4+ Shots on Goal (-120)
• Senators Moneyline (-108)

Wednesday gives us a compact two-game NHL slate, but there are still a couple of appealing betting angles. The Philadelphia Flyers visit the Buffalo Sabres, while the Florida Panthers head north to take on the Ottawa Senators.

Let's dive into the best bets for tonight.

For additional NHL insights, check out FanDuel Research's daily NHL projections, which are powered by numberFire.

NHL odds come from FanDuel Sportsbook and may change after this article is published.

NHL Predictions Today: Player Props, Best Bets

Tage Thompson 4+ Shots on Goal (-120)

Flyers vs. Sabres, 7:40 p.m. ET

Tage Thompson is the player I want to target in the Philadelphia-Buffalo matchup.

Thompson continues to operate as the focal point of the Buffalo Sabres’ offense, and his recent shot volume gives him a realistic path to four shots. He put six shots on net against Toronto on October 15 and followed that with five against Montreal on October 17. He has also reached six shots in two other games already this season.

The matchup helps, too. The Philadelphia Flyers have surrendered 32.3 shots on goal per game, the second-highest rate in the NHL entering Wednesday.

With Thompson seeing heavy offensive-zone usage and serving as Buffalo's primary shooting threat, I like him to get to at least four shots in this spot.

Senators Moneyline (-108)

Panthers vs. Senators, 7:40 p.m. ET

I'm willing to back the Ottawa Senators at essentially pick'em odds at home.

Ottawa enters Wednesday at 6-3-0 while the Florida Panthers are 5-2-2. The biggest reason to lean toward the Senators is their potential edge in net. Linus Ullmark is the likely starter and has opened the season 6-1-0 with a stellar 1.33 goals-against average and .945 save percentage.

Florida's goaltending outlook is shakier with Jacob Markstrom on injured reserve. The Panthers are also playing without Aleksander Barkov and Brad Marchand, although they've still managed to start 5-2-2 and have won three straight.

That makes this far from an easy matchup, but getting Ottawa around even money at home with Ullmark potentially carrying a significant goaltending advantage is enough for me to side with the Senators.

NHL Betting -- Frequently Asked Questions

What Is the Puck Line in NHL Betting?

The puck line is hockey's version of a point spread. The standard puck line is usually set at 1.5 goals, meaning a team listed at -1.5 must win by at least two goals for the bet to cash. A team at +1.5 can either win outright or lose by one goal.

What Does the Moneyline Mean in NHL Betting?

A moneyline bet is a wager on which team will win the game. Favorites have negative odds, while underdogs have positive odds. Unlike the puck line, the margin of victory does not matter.

What Are NHL Player Props?

NHL player props allow bettors to wager on an individual player's performance rather than the final result of the game. Common markets include goals, assists, points, shots on goal, and goalie saves.

What Should You Consider When Betting on NHL Games?

Several factors can influence NHL betting decisions, including starting goaltenders, injuries, recent team performance, special-teams play, expected line combinations, and whether a team is playing on consecutive nights. Because goalie confirmations can significantly impact a matchup, it can be useful to check the latest lineup news before placing a bet.

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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.