NHL Best Bets Tonight: 7 Expert Predictions for Big Tuesday Slate (February 13)

Check out our NHL best bets tonight for Tuesday, February 13 – our top hockey picks and predictions.

The Action Network's NHL experts have compiled their favorite betting picks for tonight's big 11-game slate on ESPN+, which we've also covered extensively with our individual NHL game guides.

However, for our NHL best bets tonight, we're targeting six specific games and seven bets. And they include it all: a moneyline, a puck line, some totals and even a trio of player props.

Want some NHL action tonight? Below, check out and tail along with our experts' predictions and picks for those games.

Hockey bettors: Be sure to use our bet365 promo code TANBONUS and tap into their expansive NHL betting markets.

NHL Best Bets

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.

By Tony Sartori

There is an Eastern Conference clash in the early window of Tuesday's NHL slate with the Ottawa Senators hosting the Columbus Blue Jackets. Oddsmakers are expecting a ton of scoring in this matchup with the total priced at either 6.5 or 7, depending on the book.

Part of the reason for this expectation is that goaltender Elvis Merzlikins is slated to guard the cage for Columbus. There is one solid shutout performance over the St. Louis Blues that is holding his stats up in a higher light, but this is still a guy who has allowed three or more goals in nine of his past 11 starts.

Over that stretch, Merzlikins is 3-3-4 with a .893 SV% and 3.48 GAA. Now, to be fair, he is playing behind a team that ranks in the bottom seven of the league in goals scored per game, shots on goal allowed per game and penalty kill percentage.

Their underlying metrics suggest that positive regression is unlikely, ranking 29th in expected goals against per 60 minutes at 5-on-5. This ranking bodes well for Ottawa – or at least forward Brady Tkachuk – to find the back of the net often.

Not only does Tkachuk lead the Sens in goals and co-lead in power-play goals, but he enters this game in particularly good form with three goals over his past four games and six over his past 13. He scored last time out against the Jackets, a game in which Merzlikins also started, and I don't think it is out of the question that he does so again on Tuesday.

We are catching a particularly good price on Tkachuk to score at +130 via FanDuel.

Pick: Brady Tkachuk Anytime Goalscorer (+130)

By Nicholas Martin

Since Shane Pinto returned to the lineup after serving a 41-game gambling suspension, the Senators own a 5-1-1 record. While the Sens already appeared due for better results based upon their strong process, Pinto's excellent play has also been a clear reason for the improved form.

While some questioned if missing so much time might leave him a step behind the field, it has actually done the opposite. He's displayed far more jump than any average skater.

In six games, Pinto's fired 17.21 shot attempts per 60 on goal, and 10.63 shots on goal per 60. Looking away from the data, his play has still really stood out, and it's not surprising or a fluke to see how many attempts he is getting on goal statistically.

The fact that Pinto is set to remain on the Sens' third line tonight isn't ideal, but the fact that he plays on the top power-play unit helps alleviate that concern. He, Ridly Greig and Vlad Tarasenko also could be one of the more effective third units in the league, and they should dominate in some soft matchups versus the Blue Jackets.

Pinto has played 20:14 and 19:08 over the last two games, and if he trends anywhere past 17:00, I do not see today's prices hanging around for too many more matchups.

Play this player prop to +100.

Pick: Shane Pinto Over 2.5 Shots on Goal (+105)

By Greg Liodice

There are few teams hotter than the St. Louis Blues right now. They’ve come out of the All-Star break with a pair of wins in Buffalo and Montreal, and they now head to Toronto to face the Maple Leafs.

You may be familiar with the controversy surrounding Toronto’s Morgan Rielly, who recently underwent an in-person hearing with the NHL after an illegal cross-check to the head, and he will most likely face suspension. With that, comes a probable suspension, and Toronto will play without its No. 1 defenseman.

The Leafs have already struggled defensively, ranking 20th in 5-on-5 defense with a 2.71 xGA/60. Not only that but their penalty kill is mediocre at 78%.

They’re facing a Blues squad that has put together a strong stretch of games, winning seven out of their last eight games. They’re not exactly the best 5-on-5 team, and they haven’t performed well in this stretch. But wins are wins.

Getting exemplary goaltending from Jordan Binnington hasn’t hurt. The six-year veteran has played to a .944 SV% in his last five starts and has looked like he’s gotten his groove back.

All the Blues’ key players are showing up as well. Robert Thomas has points in seven of his last eight, Pavel Buchnevich has seven points in his last six, and Jordan Kyrou has six points in his last four. Things are smooth sailing in the Gateway City.

Ever since firing Craig Berube, St. Louis has had a different feel to it. With the momentum the Blues are gaining, it doesn’t seem like it’s stopping at any point.

Pick: Blues Moneyline (+180)

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By Ryan Dadoun

This is a road trip the Avalanche would rather forget, but they can still salvage something out of it. After dropping their last four games, Colorado will try to end what is already the worst skid of its campaign when the Avalanche play in Washington on Tuesday.

Nathan MacKinnon has been a major part of the team’s success, so it’s not too surprising that Colorado’s slump corresponds with his struggles; the 28-year-old forward hasn’t recorded a point over his last three contests.

However, that’s unlikely to last. He has 32 goals and 85 points across 53 contests this year and a big part of his success has been his consistency – this three-game drought is the longest of the campaign – so I expect him to rebound in short order.

This is also an opportune time for the frustrated Avalanche to make a statement. Washington isn’t a good team, ranking 30th offensively (2.37 goals per game) and featuring one of the worst goal differentials in the NHL at -34. Alexander Ovechkin is on a five-game goal-scoring streak, so at least the Capitals have that going for them. But even during that run, Washington has managed just one victory and is a middling 23-20-8 overall.

Washington didn’t fare well in its last match against Colorado, either, suffering a 6-2 defeat on Jan. 24. MacKinnon came up huge in that contest, scoring four goals and providing an assist, which further plays into the idea that this should be a bounce-back night for him.

The one X factor is the star forward’s health. MacKinnon left Saturday’s game in the third period due to a chin injury and skipped Monday’s practice. Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said MacKinnon was just getting treatment and should be fine to play Tuesday. Assuming that’s the case, I feel comfortable recommending Colorado on the puck line.

However, it might be best to wait until closer to game time to see if there are any further developments before locking in your bet.

Play this down to +125.

Pick: Avalanche Puck Line/-1.5 (+135)

By Brian Paget

This should be an exciting battle between two Stanley Cup contenders, but don’t expect it to be high-scoring.

Hurt by shaky goaltending at times, the Dallas Stars and Carolina Hurricanes have sneakily been two of the league’s best defensive teams this season. Carolina’s 2.19 xGA/60 at 5-on-5 ranks second in the NHL, and Dallas’ 2.25 mark ranks fourth.

Since being recalled from the minors following the All-Star break, Pyotr Kochetkov has shown flashes he might be the answer to the Hurricanes’ goaltending woes. In three starts, he has given up five total goals. The 24-year-old is fresh off a shutout against the New Jersey Devils on Saturday.

(Are you in the Tar Heel State? With North Carolina sports betting going online, you’ll soon be able to bet on the NHL legally at major sportsbooks. Learn more.)

For Dallas, goaltender Jake Oettinger looks to have also gotten back on track since the hiatus. After struggling a bit following his return from an injury before the break, Oettinger gave up three total goals across his two starts last week.

Both of these clubs have been playing tight-checking, low-event hockey of late, and I’m expecting that trend to continue.

At just -105 at PointsBet and -115 elsewhere, I’m jumping on the under in this one.

Pick: Hurricanes-Stars Under 6.5 (-105)

By Carol Schram

From Raleigh back to Jersey and now on to Nashville, the Devils will be playing their third game in four nights when they take on the Predators on Tuesday. But they’ve played some impressive defensive hockey over their last two outings, and both Vitek Vanecek and Nico Daws have been outstanding, giving up one goal each.

It should be Vanecek’s turn again in Music City as Lindy Ruff tries to keep serving up the Kool-Aid that is helping the Devils keep the Eastern Conference playoff teams in their view.

At the other end of the ice, the Predators are in a near-identical spot in the Western Conference standings, also with 56 points. They’re at home and playing just their second game after their bye week, so they should be better rested.

Nashville is a sound puck-possession team with a very good goalie in Juuse Saros, who hasn’t been playing up to his usual standard in the last few games. He’s due for a high-quality start.

Expect the Preds to take care of their house and lock down the tired Devils while New Jersey also delivers a strong defensive outing.

The total for this game opened at 6 but moved to 6.5 on Monday night. That offers bettors an opportunity to get on board with decent value in a potential payoff.

Pick: Devils-Predators Under 6.5 (-110)

By Grant White

The Edmonton Oilers made a splash ahead of the All-Star Break, adding wily veteran Corey Perry to their lineup.

Not surprisingly, Perry has fit in well with his new team while riding shotgun on Leon Draisaitl's line. He had yet to find the back of the net with the Oilers, but we like him to buck that trend versus the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday night.

Perry has been driving the offensive production with his new linemates. Through four games, the winger is already up to 30 scoring and 14 high-danger chances at 5-on-5, with identical scoring and high-danger ratings of 66.7%. That production also correlates with shots on net; Perry has recorded two shots in three of his four outings with the Oilers.

Still, Perry and his linemates are operating below capacity with respect to output. As noted, Perry has a 0% shooting percentage in Edmonton, dragging his line down to 7.7% at 5-on-5.

Tonight is the night that Perry endears himself to the Oilers faithful, and we're backing him as an anytime goalscorer at +260 or better. BetMGM is offering juicy +380 odds, as of this writing.

Pick: Corey Perry Anytime Goalscorer (+380)