{"id":492250,"date":"2026-03-08T01:39:22","date_gmt":"2026-03-08T01:39:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/492250\/"},"modified":"2026-03-08T01:39:22","modified_gmt":"2026-03-08T01:39:22","slug":"nhl-best-bets-picks-hurricanes-vs-flames-islanders-vs-sharks-expert-preview","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/492250\/","title":{"rendered":"NHL Best Bets &#038; Picks: Hurricanes vs Flames | Islanders vs Sharks Expert Preview"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>NHL Best Bets &amp; Picks: Hurricanes vs Flames &amp; Islanders vs Sharks \u2013 Expert Game Previews<\/p>\n<p>The National Hockey League (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotowire.com\/hockey\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">NHL<\/a>) has a busy Saturday on tap, with 11 games scheduled. There are a pair of ABC matinee games from Boston and New Jersey, and the Tampa Bay Lightning and Toronto Maple Leafs square off at 7 p.m. ET on NHL Network. We&#8217;re going to focus on a couple of 10 p.m. ET puck drops.<\/p>\n<p>We&#8217;ll provide single plays and parlay opportunities you could potentially pair with Saturday&#8217;s NBA and\/or NCAA basketball action. Good luck with all of your plays! Let&#8217;s get started.<\/p>\n<p>Top up your bankroll thanks to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotowire.com\/betting\/sportsbook-promo-codes\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">sportsbook promos<\/a> like this <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotowire.com\/betting\/betmgm\/bonus-code\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">BetMGM bonus code<\/a> offering $1,500 in bonus bets.<\/p>\n<p>For the latest\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotowire.com\/betting\/nhl\/odds\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">NHL Odds<\/a>, including\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotowire.com\/betting\/nhl\/futures.php\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">NHL Futures<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotowire.com\/betting\/nhl\/player-props.php\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">NHL player props<\/a>, visit RotoWire&#8217;s\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotowire.com\/betting\/nhl\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">NHL Betting<\/a>\u00a0page. For up-to-date\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotowire.com\/hockey\/news.php\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">NHL player news<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotowire.com\/hockey\/injury-report.php\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">NHL Injury Report<\/a>\u00a0info, head to RotoWire&#8217;s\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotowire.com\/hockey\/nhl-lineups.php\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">NHL Lineups<\/a>\u00a0page. You can find more picks at<a href=\"https:\/\/bookies.com\/picks\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\"> Bookies.com\/picks<\/a>. Here are our NHL Best Bets today, featuring expert NHL picks for an action-packed slate of games.<\/p>\n<p>Carolina Hurricanes <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/100CAR.png\" class=\"article__logo\" alt=\"CAR\"\/> at Calgary Flames <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/100CGY.png\" class=\"article__logo\" alt=\"CGY\"\/><\/p>\n<p>The Hurricanes (40-16-6) continue their road trip against the Flames (24-30-7) at the Scotiabank Saddledome at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN+.<\/p>\n<p>These teams met back on Nov. 30, and the Canes picked up a 1-0 win in overtime as major favorites (-245) as the Under (6.5) cashed. That was the second consecutive OTW for Carolina in this series, and the fourth game to be decided in overtime in the past nine meeting since Dec. 9, 2021. The Under has cashed in three in a row, six of the past seven, and eight of the previous 10 installments in this series since Dec. 14, 2019, too.<\/p>\n<p>Carolina didn&#8217;t do much at the NHL trade deadline on Friday, after making huge splashes in the market in the previous couple of seasons. The Canes did gran <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotowire.com\/hockey\/player\/nicolas-deslauriers-3344\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Nicolas Deslauriers<\/a> from the Philadelphia Flyers, hoping to add a little sandpaper for a postseason run, but Caniacs were mostly underwhelmed by the efforts of the team to acquire help.<\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, Calgary shipped off <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotowire.com\/hockey\/player\/nazem-kadri-3254\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Nazem Kadri<\/a> to the Colorado Avalanche, while the Flames received <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotowire.com\/hockey\/player\/victor-olofsson-5669\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Victor Olofsson<\/a> and the rights to an unsigned draft pick <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotowire.com\/hockey\/player\/max-curran-7630\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Max Curran<\/a>, as well as a conditional 2028 first-round pick. On the surface, it looks like Calgary could really win this trade down the stretch.<\/p>\n<p>Carolina doubled up the Edmonton Oilers 6-3 on Friday behind <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotowire.com\/hockey\/player\/frederik-andersen-4054\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Frederik Andersen<\/a>, so it&#8217;s expected super rookie <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotowire.com\/hockey\/player\/brandon-bussi-6635\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Brandon Bussi<\/a> (25-3-1, 2.29 GAA, .903 SV%, 2 SO) will get the nod against the Flames. For Calgary, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotowire.com\/hockey\/player\/devin-cooley-6360\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Devin Cooley<\/a> (7-7-4, 2.27 GAA, .923 SV%) is expected to start for the home side.<\/p>\n<p>The Hurricanes have won seven of the past eight games, while going 12-1-2 in the past 15 outings, and 16-2-3 across the previous 21 contests.<\/p>\n<p>Let&#8217;s back Carolina to cover on the puck line, and we&#8217;ll go Under on the total.<\/p>\n<p>Hurricanes -1.5 Goals (+145 at Bet365 and DraftKings Sportsbooks)Under 6 (-118 at BetMGM Sportsbooks)<\/p>\n<p>Don&#8217;t make any bets on your favorite <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotowire.com\/betting\/sports-betting-apps\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">sports betting apps<\/a> without first consulting the latest <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotowire.com\/betting\/nhl\/odds\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">NHL odds<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>New York Islanders <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/100NYI.png\" class=\"article__logo\" alt=\"NYI\"\/> at San Jose Sharks <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/100SJS.png\" class=\"article__logo\" alt=\"SJS\"\/><\/p>\n<p>The Islanders (35-23-5) and Sharks (30-25-5) lock horns at SAP Center in San Jose at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN+.<\/p>\n<p>New York made one of the bigger splashes at the deadline, landing <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotowire.com\/hockey\/player\/brayden-schenn-3252\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Brayden Schenn<\/a> to bolster its blue line. The Isles are 18-13-3 on the road this season, while the Sharks are 17-10-4 at home.<\/p>\n<p>The Sharks parted with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotowire.com\/hockey\/player\/timothy-liljegren-5408\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Timothy Liljegren<\/a> at the deadline, as he is headed for Washington. The biggest thing San Jose was able to do was extend <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotowire.com\/hockey\/player\/alex-nedeljkovic-4427\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Alex Nedeljkovic<\/a>, keeping the one-two punch of Ned and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotowire.com\/hockey\/player\/yaroslav-askarov-6187\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Yaroslav Askarov<\/a> in the crease.<\/p>\n<p>San Jose suffered a 3-2 loss in overtime against the St. Louis Blues behind the aforementioned Nedeljkovic. Still, San Jose is 3-0-1 in the past four games.<\/p>\n<p>New York lost 5-3 on the road against the Los Angeles Kings, and it is 0-for-2 on the current four-game road trip. The Over has cashed in four of the past five games for the Isles, too.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotowire.com\/hockey\/player\/ilya-sorokin-4478\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Ilya Sorokin<\/a> (21-14-2, 2.61 GAA, .911 SV%, 5 SO) is projected to start for the Isles, while Askarov (19-16-2, 3.57 GAA, .887 SV%) is expected to get the nod for the home side.<\/p>\n<p>New York has won four in a row in this series, including a 4-3 victory on Oct. 21, 2025 at UBS Arena in Elmont, N.Y. as the Over (6.5) cashed. The Over is 4-1 in the past five meetings, and 6-2 across the previous eight installments.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotowire.com\/hockey\/player\/mathew-barzal-4778\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Mathew Barzal<\/a> has managed four goals and 12 points with a plus-4 rating in the past nine games to help the Islanders, while <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotowire.com\/hockey\/player\/tony-deangelo-4432\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Tony DeAngelo<\/a> has picked up five assists in the past five outings.<\/p>\n<p>For the Sharks, it&#8217;s no surprise that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotowire.com\/hockey\/player\/macklin-celebrini-7127\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Macklin Celebrini<\/a> is hot, going for three goals and seven points in the past three games, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotowire.com\/hockey\/player\/michael-misa-7379\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Michael Misa<\/a> has three goals and five points in the past five contests.<\/p>\n<p>Let&#8217;s back the Islanders to maintain their mastery of the Sharks, and we&#8217;ll go Over on the total.<\/p>\n<p>Sharks ML (+118 at FanDuel Sportsbook)Over 6 (-118 at BetMGM)<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotowire.com\/betting\/apps\/missouri\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Missouri sports betting<\/a>\u00a0is live, and you can check in on the best\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotowire.com\/betting\/promos\/missouri\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Missouri sportsbook promos<\/a>\u00a0if you&#8217;re located in the Show Me State.<\/p>\n<p>Parlay Strategy and Super Parlay Picks for NHL Betting Slates4-Leg NHL Super Parlay (+2244 at DraftKings Sportsbook)Hurricanes -1.5 Goals (+145) at FlamesUnder 5.5 (+110) &#8211; Hurricanes at FlamesOver 6.5 (+102) &#8211; Sharks vs. IslandersSharks ML (+114) vs. Islanders2-Leg NHL Sides Parlay (+424 at DraftKings Sportsbook)Hurricanes -1.5 Goals (+145) at FlamesSharks ML (+114) vs. Islanders2-Leg NHL Totals Parlay (+324 at DraftKings Sportsbook)Under 5.5 (+110) &#8211; Hurricanes at FlamesOver 6.5 (+102) &#8211; Sharks vs. Islanders<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"NHL Best Bets &amp; Picks: Hurricanes vs Flames &amp; Islanders vs Sharks \u2013 Expert Game Previews The National&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":195380,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5124],"tags":[895,26,5294,896,5,55615,4],"class_list":{"0":"post-492250","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-calgary-flames","8":"tag-calgary","9":"tag-calgary-flames","10":"tag-calgaryflames","11":"tag-flames","12":"tag-hockey","13":"tag-minor-league-stats","14":"tag-nhl"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/channels.im\/@nhl\/116191007780487155","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/492250","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=492250"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/492250\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/195380"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=492250"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=492250"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=492250"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}