With a decent-sized NHL slate tonight, we have four games tonight with a 9:00 p.m. ET puck drop or later.
You know what that means. Late-night best bets are activated. And even on a Tuesday night, we're having ourselves a night. So let's turn up the volume once the clock strikes 9, and let's cash out.
Let's dive into my NHL best bets, picks, and predictions for the late-night slate on Tuesday, March 17.
NHL Late-Night Best Bets for Tuesday, March 17
| Game | Time (ET) | Pick |
|---|---|---|
  | 9:00 p.m. | |
  | 10:00 p.m. | |
  | 10:00 p.m. | |
  | 10:00 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. | ||
Sharks vs. Oilers
The Sharks keep clinging onto the playoff race by the tips of their fins. But regardless of what happens in the Bay, this has been a tremendously successful season for a team that’s been near the bottom for a while.
They just completed an Atlantic Division swing, where they went 2-2, but recently lost to Ottawa by the score of 7-4. Make no mistake though, this has been a decently performing team.
At 5-on-5 play in the month of March, San Jose is playing to a 50.74% which is nearing the middle of the pack, though defensively they have struggled with a 3.1 GSAx.
Around this time is when the Oilers kick it into high gear, which adds up because in March, they’ve played to a top-four 5-on-5 game on both ends of the ice.
The one question that I will continue to have about the Oilers is their goaltending. Connor Ingram has done OK since coming to the Oilers, but he’s a flight risk, which means you don’t know what you’re going to get out of him.
In Ingram’s past 10 games, he’s been held to a -1.4 GSAx, and an .895 SV%. It’s not terrible numbers, and in his defense, the Oilers managed to get to the Stanley Cup Finals twice with Stuart Skinner posting worse numbers than that.
These lines are so skewed toward Edmonton, that it’s hard to really find a good edge here. Which is why I’m leaning towards an anytime goal scorer pick.
Kiefer Sherwood is a really interesting pick here. He’s a hard-nosed gritty player who likes to get in the goaltender’s faces. Over his past 10 games, the numbers indicate that a breakout is coming too.
He’s posting a 4.2 expected goals rate, a 1.5 expected goals per 60 mins, generates the fourth highest high danger chances in the league, and a 2.43 high danger expected goals.
So at +360, I like my chances on Sherwood lighting one up.
Pick: Kiefer Sherwood Anytime Goal Scorer (+370)
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Panthers vs. Canucks
Statistically, it’s not over for the Florida Panthers, but it pretty much is, as they stand 12 points out of a playoff spot with less than 20 games remaining.
Not having their captain hurts, but it didn’t help that Sergei Bobrovsky was swiss cheese all season long. But I can’t even throw shade, because he’s 37 years old and has played 223 games over the past three seasons. That’s 74 games per season which is unheard of for a goalie… especially at that age.
Well, Florida flies into Vancouver, where the Canucks have been a total disaster this season, and will contend for the number one pick in this offseason’s NHL Draft.
The only real bright spot for the Canucks has been defenseman Filip Hronek, who plays the most minutes and is somehow only a -1.
After not having to travel a far distance, since Florida came from Seattle, I’m not holding my breath here. This game is shockingly listed at 5.5 goal, and at -130, you’re still getting solid value for that.
In the month of March, both Florida and Vancouver have hit over that number five times.
Just because the Cats aren’t going to make the playoffs this year, doesn’t mean they still can’t light the lamp. This is a total mismatch, and it’ll show it on the scoresheet.
Pick: Over 6 (-110)
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Sabres vs. Golden Knights
I still can’t believe what we’re seeing out of the Buffalo Sabres, and I’m genuinely stoked for their fanbase who have been through hell for over a decade.
So I had to do a legitimate double take when I saw that they were the underdogs in this matchup against the Vegas Golden Knights.
Vegas, though not perfect, has been playing a top-10 5-on-5 offense and defense, but Buffalo is actually in the bottom 10 in defense since March. But I’m going to tell you why you shouldn’t look too deep into that.
Last week, the Sabres got into a brawl with the Tampa Bay Lightning, and it was an 8-7 shootout. After letting up seven goals, of course Buffalo’s 5-on-5 numbers were going to take a hit.
Apart from that game, it has only averaged 1.8 goals against.
Both Alex Lyon and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen have helped prop up the Sabres all season with Lyon playing like the best goaltender in the league over the past 10 games with a 12.0 GSAx.
The last time these two faced off was earlier this month, with the Sabres coming out on top 3-2, and I’m envisioning another repeat.
Vegas, albeit victors in the past two games, has been struggling over its last 10, going 4-6. Not just that, Buffalo is dynamite on the road, winning the four games its played outside of KeyBank Arena since returning from the Olympics.
Pick: Sabres ML (+110)
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Lightning vs. Kraken
Similar to the Sharks, the Kraken are in a never-ending fight to retain a playoff spot.
I don’t like the way the Kraken are built, but they did pick up Bobby McMann, who’s been a total beauty since arriving in the Emerald City.
McMann, in his two games played, has recorded three goals and two assists – and he’s averaging three more minutes of ice time.
This may be a fantastic fit for McMann, since the Kraken have had a hard time finding legitimate play drivers.
While I don’t think Seattle comes out on top, because the Lightning are severely better than the Kraken, I think McMann continues his little hot streak.
Over his past 10 games, split between Seattle and the Maple Leafs, McMann has had six high-danger opportunities, posting a 2.45 high-danger expected-goals rate, a 1.3 goals above expected, and a 3.7 xGF%.
Pick: Bobby McMann Anytime Goal Scorer (+375)
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