In this article I’ll break down my two best bets from Saturday’s monster 13-game NHL slate based on Friday’s opening prices at online sportsbooks. Six of the seven Canadian NHL teams will be in action Saturday, and we will also touch on game notes from those matchups.
Best NHL bets for Nov. 15
Anaheim Ducks Moneyline: +115
Ducks moneyline vs. Wild
The Ducks opened at +120 on bet365 and have already ticked down to a price of +115 at the time of writing. It wouldn’t surprise me if the price to back Anaheim ticks down to the +105 range by game time, so long as Lukas Dostal is to start in goal. The Ducks appear worthy of holding a superior record than the Minnesota Wild, having owned a comparable share of the overall run of play while displaying more skill throughout the lineup offensively.
The Ducks entered the season with a low power rating thanks to last year’s ugly results under head coach Greg Cronin. However, most sharp analysts viewed them as a team with a high ceiling, offering a roster featuring several top-five draft picks that appeared poised to author breakout campaigns under a sharper head coach in Joel Quenneville.
The Ducks have scored 3.88 goals per game this season, which ranks second in the NHL. They hold the NHL’s sixth-highest shooting percentage, which is one potential argument towards regression, but their deep top nine has looked quite dangerous and likely has the skill and shooting talent to continue finishing scoring chances at a high rate all season long.
Over the last 10 games, the Ducks hold a 49.58% expected goal share, while in the same span the Wild own a 49.24% expected goal share. Anaheim has played a tougher schedule in that span, playing to a record of 7-3-0 with a number of wins over teams viewed as Stanley Cup contenders.
The Wild will be without a key piece in Saturday’s matchup, as regular top-six centre Marco Rossi will miss this matchup with a lower-body injury. Rossi has put up 13 points in 17 games this season, while holding strong underlying results.
Dostal has played three straight games and has already started 14 this season. He’s been fantastic in stopping +8.9 goals above expected after a quietly brilliant 2024-25 campaign. I am concerned that Petr Mrazek will get the nod Saturday, but even if that is the case, the current price of +115 looks to provide value, though I would not take worse than +115 if Mrazek is confirmed as Anaheim’s starter.
Best NHL bets for Nov. 15
New York Rangers vs Columbus Blue Jackets Under 6.5 Goals: -120
Rangers vs. Blue Jackets under 6.5 goals
While the Rangers have finally started to find the positive offensive regression that their underlying metrics suggested they were due for, head coach Mike Sullivan’s side is certainly still likely to be a team whose greatest strength this season is suppressing the opponent offensively. With that in mind, I’m happy to back the under in Saturday’s important divisional matchup.
Last season, the Rangers were one of the worst defensive teams in the NHL, and Sullivan made it well known entering the year that his greatest goal was to improve the team’s defensive play. So far Sullivan has succeeded, as the Rangers have allowed only 2.56 goals against per game, which is the second-best mark in the NHL.
The Rangers have allowed only 3.10 xGA/60 per game, which is the seventh-best mark in the NHL. In previous years they have relied heavily upon Igor Shesterkin to mask shaky defensive play, but so far this season they have defended well while still getting strong play in goal from Shesterkin, who owns a 2.50 GAA and +7.1 GSAx rating in his 14 appearances this season.
If the Rangers happen to start Jonathan Quick, we can certainly live with that, as Quick holds a +4.2 GSAx rating and .950 save percentage in four appearances.
While the Rangers have been better offensively of late, their offensive depth is still a concern, and the Blue Jackets might be able to hold the Rangers to a respectable total in this spot. Four of the Blue Jackets’ last eight games have gone over the betting total, but their recent matchups that have been higher scoring have come versus high-event opponents, while the four matchups versus lower-event teams, such as the St. Louis Blues and Seattle Kraken, have not opened up as much.
Considering the high total at the time of writing, I see value in betting this game to feature under 6.5 goals, based on my belief that in general the Rangers will still be a team that finds success based upon strong goal suppression this season.
Boston Bruins vs Montreal Canadiens
| Bruins moneyline odds | +150 |
| Canadiens moneyline odds | -180 |
| Game total | Over 6 goals (-120), Under 6 goals (+100) |
| Time | 7:07 p.m. ET |
All odds courtesy of bet365.
- The Canadiens will be looking to respond after back-to-back blowout losses on home ice to start the week, as they have been outscored 12-1 by the Los Angeles Kings and Dallas Stars. The Canadiens are 5-3-1 on home ice so far this season.
- The Bruins continue to be surprisingly effective offensively, having scored 3.37 goals per game this season (seventh best in NHL), and at least three goals in five straight matchups. My belief was that if the Bruins were to be improved this season under head coach Marco Sturm, it would be because they were a strong defensive side, but so far that take has been inaccurate.
- With Casey Mittelstadt and Elias Lindholm sidelined due to injury, the Bruins’ centre depth is currently a significant concern.
Edmonton Oilers vs Carolina Hurricanes
| Oilers moneyline odds | +100 |
| Hurricanes moneyline odds | -120 |
| Game total | Over 6 goals (-120), Under 6 goals (+100) |
| Time | 7:07 p.m. ET |
All odds courtesy of bet365.
- Zach Hyman is expected to make his season debut for the Oilers. My best guess is that he will be inserted onto the top line alongside Connor McDavid and Matthew Savoie. Savoie has recorded three points over the last two games, and it would seem more natural to have Hyman overtake Andrew Mangiapane’s spot.
- Carolina may potentially be forced to start third-string goaltender Brandon Bussi in this matchup, after Frederik Andersen left Tuesday’s matchup with the Washington Capitals with a concussion.
- While his defensive play has still been much worse than usual, Evan Bouchard is producing offensively at a much higher rate with 12 points over the last 10 games.
Los Angeles Kings vs Ottawa Senators
| Kings moneyline odds | +105 |
| Senators moneyline odds | -125 |
| Game total | Over 5.5 goals (-120), Under 5.5 goals (+100) |
| Time | 7:07 p.m. ET |
All odds courtesy of bet365.
- The Kings have had a great start to their lengthy six-game road trip, outscoring the Pittsburgh Penguins, Montreal Canadiens, and Toronto Maple Leafs 12-6 and managing a 64.07% expected goal share.
- After recording two goals and an assist in Thursday’s win over the Boston Bruins, Tim Stutzle now has 19 points in the first 18 games of the season.
- The Senators own the fifth-highest shooting percentage in the NHL this season.
- Both teams hold an identical record of 9-5-4 and have managed six wins in their last 10 games.
Toronto Maple Leafs vs Chicago Blackhawks
| Leafs moneyline odds | -135 |
| Blackhawks moneyline odds | +115 |
| Game total | Over 6 goals (-110), Under 6 goals (-110) |
| Time | 7:07 p.m. ET |
All odds courtesy of bet365.
- Joseph Woll has been activated to the Maple Leafs roster. At the time of writing, it is unclear whether or not he will make his season debut in this matchup.
- Auston Matthews has been placed on the IR retroactive to November 11 and will miss at least two more games. Easton Cowan has been recalled from the AHL and will presumably garner a role in Toronto’s top nine in this matchup.
- Toronto’s defensive core has been struggling mightily to move the puck out of the defensive zone and help turn play in the other direction. The Leafs were not a team that controlled much of the overall play last season under head coach Craig Berube, but did a better job of avoiding true defensive breakdowns than we have typically seen this season and also received sharper play in goal.
- The Blackhawks are 5-3-2 over the last 10 games, and are currently holding the final Western Conference playoff spot.
- Bobby McMann has offered higher shot volume in matchups where Matthews has been injured over the last two seasons, and he did record three shots on goal on Thursday versus the Kings, despite the fact that Toronto was heavily outplayed and managed only 15 shots on goal.
Winnipeg Jets vs Calgary Flames
| Jets moneyline odds | -135 |
| Flames moneyline odds | +115 |
| Game total | Over 5.5 goals (-120), Under 5.5 goals (+100) |
| Time | 10:07 p.m. ET |
All odds courtesy of bet365.
- The Jets are 5-6-0 over the last 11 games, and have played to an expected goal share of 49.51% in that span. They rank 22nd in expected goal share this season and have leaned pretty heavily on strong goaltending from Connor Hellebuyck and clinical finishing in order to find success.
- To some extent, the Flames are at the other end of the spectrum, particularly recently. Over the last 10 games, the Flames have generated 31.55 shots per 60, which is the third-highest mark in the NHL, but due to their lack of quality finishing talent, have still not found success.
- This is the third meeting of the season between these two sides, and the first two have looked as expected to some extent. The Jets won both of the previous two meetings, but the Flames did generate a comparable amount of chances.