Best NHL Bets Today: Expert Picks for Thursday, April 3

Best NHL Bets Today: Expert Picks for Thursday, April 3

This article is part of our NHL Picks series.

The National Hockey League has nine games scheduled for Thursday night. We have a pair of games at 7 p.m. ET kicking off the early window, with two games at 10 p.m. ET or later, including the Edmonton Oilers and San Jose Sharks on ESPN+/hulu/Disney+ at 10:30 p.m. ET from SAP Center. We'll focus on a few Western Conference tilts. Let's get started.

Top up your bankroll thanks to sportsbook promos like this BetMGM bonus code offering $1,500 in bonus bets.

Best NHL Bets Today: Expert NHL Picks for 
Thursday, April 3

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.

Nashville Predators at Dallas Stars

The Predators (27-40-8) and Stars (49-21-4) meet at American Airlines Centers at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN+.

These teams have different goals. The Predators have been eliminated from the postseason hunt, while the Stars are just four points behind the Winnipeg Jets for first place in the Central Division with one game in hand. Dallas is also three points behind the Washington Capitals, and four points behind the Jets, for the most points in the NHL, in a three-horse President's Trophy race.

The Predators were hammered 8-4 last time out in Columbus, and Nashville has dropped four in a row, while the Under is 5-1 in the past six outings. The Under is 11-2 in the past 13 games for the Preds, too.

For the Stars, they swept another eliminated team, the Seattle Kraken, in a back-to-back at Climate Pledge Arena on Friday and Sunday. Dallas has won six in a row, while going 7-0-2 in the past nine outings, while the Under is 4-2-1 in the past seven games.

Let's back the Stars on the puck line, while going low on the total.

  • Stars -1.5 (-115 at ESPN Bet Sportsbook)
  • Under 6 Goals (-120 at Caesars Sportsbook)

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

Los Angeles Kings at Utah Hockey Club

The Kings (42-23-9) and the Utah Hockey Club (34-29-12) meet at Delta Center in Salt Lake City at 9 p.m. ET on ESPN+.

L.A. is two points ahead of the Edmonton Oilers for second place, and home-ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs, with eight games to go. If the Kings want to go deep into the playoffs, they need to figure out how to win on the road. The Kings are just 14-19-5 away from home, the worst road mark among teams still eligible to make the playoffs in the Western Conference. In fact, only the Kings and the Ducks have losing records on the road among teams not yet eliminated.

The Kings have won the first two meetings, both in L.A., outscoring Utah 8-5 to win both times as a favorite. The Over-Under has split in the two previous meetings.

Utah has rebounded from an 8-0 loss at Tampa Bay March 27, going 2-0-1 in the past three games.

L.A. has won back-to-back games, outscoring the opposition 12-2, including a 4-1 win over the Jets last time out. The Under is 4-1 in the past five outings.

Let's go with the Kings, based on the series trends, and we'll play the Under.

  • Kings ML (-126 at FanDuel Sportsbook)
  • Under 5.5 Goals (-105 at FanDuel Sportsbook)

Winnipeg Jets at Vegas Golden Knights

The Jets (51-20-4) and Golden Knights (45-21-8) meet at T-Mobile Arena at 10 p.m. ET. The Jets hope the third time is a charm.

Winnipeg sits atop the NHL standings, but it has dropped both previous meetings with Vegas, including a 4-3 loss at T-Mobile Arena on Nov. 29. The Golden Knights won 3-2 in overtime at Canada Life Centre on Dec. 12 in the most recent meeting, too.

In fact, VGK has won nine straight meetings in this series since April 20, 2023, something to remember if these teams happen to meet in the postseason. The Over is 7-3 in the past 10 in this series since April 18, 2023, too.

The Jets lost 4-1 in L.A. last time out, and it is just 4-3-0 in the past seven games, with only two regulation victories. The Under has hit in four in a row, too.

For the Golden Knights, they're give points clear of the Kings for first place in the Pacific Division with eight games remaining for both. VGK lost 3-2 to Edmonton Tuesday, halting a six-game win streak.

Based on Vegas' dominance in this series, take the Golden Knights, and go low on the total.

  • Golden Knights ML (-125 at Bet365 Sportsbook)
  • Under 5.5 Goals (-106 at FanDuel Sportsbook)

Best NHL Parlays Today

6-Leg NHL Super Parlay (+4534 at FanDuel Sportsbook)

  • Stars -1.5 (-115) vs. Predators
  • Under 5.5 (+104) - Stars vs. Predators
  • Under 5.5 (-105) - Kings at Utah Hockey Club
  • Kings ML (-126) at Utah Hockey Club
  • Golden Knights ML (-125) vs. Jets
  • Under 5.5 (-106) - Golden Knights vs. Jets

3-Leg NHL Sides Parlay (+503 at FanDuel Bet Sportsbook)

  • Stars -1.5 (-115) vs. Predators
  • Kings ML (-126) at Utah Hockey Club
  • Golden Knights ML (-125) vs. Jets

3-Leg NHL Totals Parlay (+674 at FanDuel Bet Sportsbook)

  • Under 5.5 (+104) - Stars vs. Predators
  • Under 5.5 (-105) - Kings at Utah Hockey Club
  • Under 5.5 (-106) - Golden Knights vs. Jets

2-Leg NHL Conservative Parlay (+236 at FanDuel Bet Sportsbook)

  • Stars -1.5 (-115) vs. Predators
  • Golden Knights ML (-125) vs. Jets

RotoWire Community
Join Our Subscriber-Only NHL Chat
Chat with our writers and other RotoWire NHL fans for all the pre-game info and in-game banter.
Join The Discussion
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Daniel Dobish
Hockey writer, handicapper, unskilled fourth liner, 25-year fantasy sports and gambling industry veteran, FSWA's 2024 Player Notes Writer of the Year, and five-time FSWA award winner. Twitter: @danieledobish
NHL DFS Picks: FanDuel Plays and Strategy for Thursday, April 3
NHL DFS Picks: FanDuel Plays and Strategy for Thursday, April 3
Best Frozen Four Bets Today: Expert Picks for April 10-12
Best Frozen Four Bets Today: Expert Picks for April 10-12
The Goalie Report: Risers and Fallers
The Goalie Report: Risers and Fallers
NHL DFS Picks: DraftKings Plays and Strategy for Thursday, April 3
NHL DFS Picks: DraftKings Plays and Strategy for Thursday, April 3
Best NHL Bets Today: Expert Picks for Wednesday, April 2
Best NHL Bets Today: Expert Picks for Wednesday, April 2
NHL DFS Picks: FanDuel Plays and Strategy for Wednesday, April 2
NHL DFS Picks: FanDuel Plays and Strategy for Wednesday, April 2