Best NHL Bets Today: Expert Picks for Friday, February 7

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Published on February 7, 2025

The National Hockey League (NHL) has five games on the schedule, including the Pittsburgh Penguins and New York Rangers squaring off at NHL Network at 7 p.m. ET. The other four games can be viewed or streamed on ESPN+. We'll try and cobble together a couple of parlay opportunities, as we build bankroll for this weekend's Super Bowl LIX, the 4 Nations Face-off, etc. Let's get started.

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Best NHL Bets Today: Expert NHL Picks for
Friday, Feb. 7

For the latest NHL Odds, including NHL Futures and NHL player props, visit RotoWire's NHL Betting page. For up-to-date NHL player news and NHL Injury Report info, head to RotoWire's NHL Lineups page. You can find more picks at Bookies.com/picks. Here are our NHL Best Bets today, featuring expert NHL picks for an action-packed slate of games.

Pittsburgh Penguins at New York Rangers

The Penguins (22-24-9) and the Rangers (26-23-4) meet at Madison Square Garden at 7 p.m. ET, and the game can be viewed or streamed on NHL Network.

New York has dominated this series, winning six of the past seven meetings since March 16, 2023, including the two meetings this season. New York won 6-0 in Pittsburgh on Oct. 9 as a moderate favorite (-142), pushing against the total (6), while doubling up the Pens 4-2 at MSG on Dec. 6 as a heavy favorite (-195) as the Under (6.5) connected. The Blueshirts have scored four or more goals in five of the past seven games against the Pens.

Pittsburgh is just 4-7-1 in the past 12 games, while the Under has cashed in five in a row. For New York, it has picked up the pace lately, winning 4-2 against the Vegas Golden Knights and 3-2 against the Boston Bruins. After a four-game skid, the Rangers have rebounded rather nicely.

Alex Nedeljkovic (11-9-5, 2.97 GAA, .899 SV%, 1 SO) is projected to start in the crease, while Igor Shesterkin (18-18-2, 2.86 GAA, .906 SV%, 3 SO) is expected to go for the home side.

Based on New York's dominance in this series in the past few seasons, and the first two installments this season, let's back to the Rangers on the puck line. And, with the Pens struggling to light the lamp lately, posting just 1.8 GPG in the past six games, posting the Under at a 5-0-1 clip, go low on the total.

Rangers -1.5 (+130 at Caesars Sportsbook)
Under 6 Goals (-112 at BetRivers)

Don't make any picks on your favorite sports betting apps without consulting the NHL odds first.

New York Islanders at Winnipeg Jets

The Islanders (25-21-7) and Jets (38-14-3) drop the puck at 8 p.m. ET at Canada Life Centre, and that game can be viewed or streamed on ESPN+.

New York has been surprisingly dominant in this series, winning eight of the past nine battles since March 28, 2019, including a 4-1-0 record in Manitoba. The Isles have cashed as an underdog in three of the past four meetings, too.

The Islanders are coming off a 2-1 win over the Golden Knights on Tuesday, winning as an underdog (+132) as the Under (6) easily cashed. New York is 8-1-0 in the past nine games, while the Under has connected at a 7-2-0 pace.

The Jets blanked the Carolina Hurricanes 3-0 last time out Tuesday behind backup goaltender Eric Comrie. Look for starting netminder Connor Hellebuyck (33-7-2, 2.04 GAA, .925 SV%, 6 SO) to be back in the crease. Winnipeg has won seven straight games since a 5-2 loss at Utah on Jan. 20.

These are two red-hot teams squaring off in the 'Peg. We can't back the Jets on the moneyline, as it will cost you nearly two times your potential return. That's way too much risk for not nearly enough reward. Instead, back the Islanders catching the goal and a half, and let's hope for an Isles outright win, a one-goal loss in regulation, overtime or a shootout.

Ilya Sorokin (20-14-4, 2.58 GAA, .910 SV%, 3 SO) is likely to go for the Islanders opposite Hellebuyck, and that's two hot tendies facing one another. Let's go low on the total.

Islanders +1.5 (-155 at DraftKings Sportsbook)
Under 5.5 Goals (-110 at Caesars Sportsbook)

Today's Best NHL Bet(s)

On Thursday, we rolled the dice on the Blue Jackets as short 'dogs at home, and Utah ended up grabbing the road win. It was 2-2 late in the second period, and we had a scoreless third period, but Dylan Guenther notched the winner to send the Columbus faithful home with frowns.

On Friday, let's back the Islanders catching the goal and a half in a surprisingly strong matchup against the Jets in CLC.