NHL Best Bets, Expert Picks & Predictions Tonight (Tuesday, April 23)
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Check out our expert NHL picks along with our predictions and best bets for Tuesday, April 23.
The Stanley Cup Playoffs continue on with four NHL games tonight, and we've got picks and predictions for all of the matchups.
For Tuesday's NHL best bets, we're targeting four player props as well as a game prop, including a few with exceptionally juicy odds.
Below, check out and tail along with our experts' NHL picks for tonight's big Tuesday-night slate, which is available on ESPN and ESPN2 beginning at 7 p.m. ET (4 p.m. PT).
(Hockey fans: North Carolina sports betting is live! Join tonight's NHL postseason betting action now!)
NHL Best Bets & Expert Picks
The team logos in the table below represent each of the matchups that our NHL betting staff is targeting from today's slate of games. Click on the team logos for any of the matchups below to navigate to a specific bet discussed in this article.
| Game | Time (ET) | Pick |
|---|---|---|
| 7 p.m. | ||
| 7:30 p.m. | ||
| 7:30 p.m. | ||
| 9:30 p.m. | ||
| 9:30 p.m. | ||
Specific betting recommendations come from the sportsbook offering preferred odds as of writing. Always shop for the best price using our NHL Odds page, which automatically surfaces the best lines for every game. | ||
Capitals vs. Rangers
By Carol Schram
On a New York Rangers team that boasts luminous stars including Artemi Panarin, Adam Fox and Igor Shesterkin, no Blueshirt is more beloved on Broadway these days than towering rookie Matt Rempe.
Rempe's love for the game and his old-school willingness to drop the gloves have made him an instant folk hero. And when a player makes his NHL debut in front of nearly 80,000 fans at MetLife Stadium, even the big stage and high expectations of the Stanley Cup Playoffs at Madison Square Garden are a moment to be embraced, not feared.
A useful deterrent to any shenanigans that Tom Wilson might get up to, there were questions about whether the brash and eager Rempe could show enough discipline to avoid being a liability as the stakes were raised. He answered that with the icebreaking goal that got the Rangers rolling in Game 1 while logging 8:48 of ice time – the second-highest tally to date in his 18-game NHL career.
Even at lower levels, Rempe hasn't been known as much of a scorer. But he has quickly developed a reputation as a big-game player in Manhattan, and he's feeding off the adulation of the fans.
With his juicy line, why not throw a few bucks on him to find the net again on Tuesday?
Let's play this one down to +700.
Pick: Matt Rempe Anytime Goalscorer (+850 at FanDuel)
Lightning vs. Panthers
By Greg Liodice
Brandon Hagel has been one of the Tampa Bay Lightning’s more efficient players all season long.
Now with the playoffs in full swing, Hagel has continued his high-end efficiency. In Game 1 against the Florida Panthers, Hagel found the back of the net on his only shot on goal.
Even with only one registered shot, the fifth-year veteran made his presence felt.
Hagel led forwards in Corsi, and he was third in expected goals. Not only that, but he also tied for the team lead in scoring chances.
He may not be a household name, but Hagel is a player who is built for the playoffs. With a nose for the net, and a solid shot, the chance to light the lamp for the second straight game is a real possibility.
Being lined up with captain Steven Stamkos and Anthony Cirelli doesn’t hurt either. His line seemed to be the only one going for the Lightning, and it seemed the Panthers dominated play. Tampa essentially had no answer for the defending Eastern Conference Champions with a dreadful 4.34 xGA/60.
Yet, today is a new day. Even after how poorly the Lightning played, I’d be stunned if they continued this poor pace. Tampa is a battle-tested group and played a solid brand of hockey in the second half of the season.
Given how he has been one of the more dominant players on the ice, I think you can get great value betting on Hagel again.
Pick: Brandon Hagel Anyime Goalscorer (+333 at BetMGM)
Lightning vs. Panthers
By Ryan Dadoun
If you’re predicting that Tampa Bay will bounce back in Game 2, which I think is probable, then betting on the Lightning scoring more than two goals seems like a good compliment to that.
While Florida has a high-end netminder in Sergei Bobrovsky, containing the Lightning’s offense, which averaged 3.51 goals per game in the regular season, will be difficult for Florida to accomplish for a second straight game.
I’m looking for the Lightning’s attackers to do considerably better tonight. Above, Greg Liodice noted Brandon Hagel as a potential goalscorer for the Lightning, and I agree he's a good choice for tonight. I’m also looking for Nikita Kucherov to have a big game after contributing an incredible 44 goals and 144 points in the regular season.
Keep in mind, Kucherov ranks 22nd on the all-time playoff scoring list with 161 points (53 goals) in 143 games, and he’s done especially well against the Panthers in the postseason, collecting five goals and 19 points across 11 career contests.
Another Lightning forward worth keeping an eye on is Anthony Duclair. He’s getting choice minutes on the top line and comes with an interesting history after serving with the Panthers from 2020-23. In fact, he played a noteworthy role in Florida’s 2023 playoff run to the Stanley Cup Finals, supplying four goals and 11 points in 20 postseason games, so it wouldn’t be surprising to see him factor into this series.
The potential payout for taking Tampa Bay getting more than 2.5 goals isn’t the juiciest, but I believe it’s a probable enough bet to still make it worth your while, especially if you are weighing in favor of Tampa Bay tonight anyway.
Play the Tampa Bay team total to -125.
Pick: Tampa Bay Team Total Over 2.5 (-110 at BetMGM)
Avalanche vs. Jets
By Tony Sartori
Winnipeg forward Kyle Connor scored twice in Game 1 en route to the Jets' 7-6 victory over Colorado, and I think he will find the back of the net once again in Game 2. Connor ended the regular season in good form as well, and he has now scored six goals over his past six games.
This success could continue against the Avalanche, a team he has scored four goals against over the past three meetings. The biggest takeaway from Game 1 of this series was that the Avs are in a lot of trouble in net as Alexandar Georgiev has now allowed four or more goals in seven of his past nine starts.
Georgiev possesses a fade-worthy .841 SV% and 5.12 GAA over that stretch. I personally think that Colorado should already move to backup Justus Annunen for Game 2, but I don't think it will for two reasons.
First, it's been Georgiev's crease all season, and you usually want to give your main guy cracks at it to start the series before pulling him. Second, Annunen has been battling an illness, and he didn't even suit up for Game 1.
Annunen also missed practice on Monday, so I doubt he will even be available anyway for Game 2. Subsequently, the Avs have brought up Arvid Holm on an emergency basis, but there is no way they sit Georgiev for a guy who has yet to make an NHL start.
So, Colorado is likely stuck with Georgiev for one more game, which could mean more success for Connor and company. Finally, we are catching a particularly good price on this prop at +170 via BetMGM, a line that is five to 20 cents longer than the rest of the market at the time of writing.
Pick: Kyle Connor Anytime Goalscorer (+170 at BetMGM)
Avalanche vs. Jets
The Colorado Avalanche poured 46 shots on goal in Game 1 as they pushed desperately for offense to help cover up a putrid performance from Alex Georgiev in goal.
Considering the game script, it's not surprising that the likely Hart Trophy winner in Nathan MacKinnon played huge minutes (24:11 TOI).
What is surprising is that while MacKinnon did look true to form, he ended up with only four shots on goal. I'll bet we see that mark tick upward tonight – and throughout the rest of the series.
MacKinnon's shot-on-goal average has always climbed in the postseason. He averaged 5.71 shots per game last playoffs, and 5.85 the season before.
The Jets will try their best to clean it up defensively tonight, but ultimately I think we will see MacKinnon and the Avs' generate plenty of chances all series long as they look to win in spite of a huge goaltending mismatch.
Pick: Nathan MacKinnon Over 4.5 Shots on Goal (-135 at DraftKings)
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