Free NHL Picks For Today, Monday 3/17/2025

We have a 5-game slate in the NHL today, and here you can get the NHL Picks for Monday 3/17/2025.

Devils vs Blue Jackets Prediction 3/17/25 NHL Picks

Devils at Blue Jackets at 7 PM ET

The New Jersey Devils have a current record of 36-26-6 this season after suffering a 7-3 defeat to Pittsburgh in their latest match. They began the game with a 1-0 lead in the first period but subsequently allowed four goals from the opposition before their comeback efforts were unsuccessful. The Devils outperformed the Penguins in shots, totaling 27 to 23, won 45% of face-offs, and achieved a 2-for-6 success rate on power plays. Goals for New Jersey were netted by Glass, Hischier, and Meier, while Markstrom stopped 16 of the 22 shots directed at him during the game.

This season, the Columbus Blue Jackets have a record of 31-27-8 after suffering a 4-0 loss to the Rangers in their latest game. During this match, Columbus allowed one goal in the first period, one in the second, and two in the third, resulting in a shutout. The team recorded a total of 21 shots on goal, won 41.5% of their face-offs, and went 0-3 on power plays. Aston-Reese was the standout player for Columbus, registering four shots on goal, while Tarasov made 17 saves out of 20 attempts.

The Pick:

The Blue Jackets currently hold a home record of 20-8-4 this season, while the Devils have a road record of 19-15-2. New Jersey recently suffered a disappointing loss to Pittsburgh, yet they have won three of their last four games. On March 11th, the Devils secured a 5-3 victory against Columbus and are recognized as the more effective defensive team in this matchup. Although the Blue Jackets have encountered difficulties in recent games, they have been reliable at home all season, and the Devils have shown variability in their performance. Therefore, I advise backing Columbus for this game.

Philadelphia Flyers vs Tampa Bay Lightning Prediction 3/17/25 NHL Picks

Flyers at Lightning at 7 PM ET

The Philadelphia Flyers enter this matchup seeking to recover from a recent 5-0 defeat against the Carolina Hurricanes, which has brought their season record to 28-32-8. Leading the Flyers in scoring is Travis Konecny, who has accumulated 65 points through 22 goals and 43 assists. Matvei Michkov follows with 47 points, consisting of 20 goals and 27 assists. Additionally, Owen Tippett has contributed 36 points with 19 goals and 17 assists, while Bobby Brink has added 32 points, including 10 goals and 22 assists. In goal, Samuel Ersson has a record of 19-13-4, with a GAA of 3.02 and a save percentage of .886. Ivan Fedotov has a record of 5-11-3, with a GAA of 3.08 and a save percentage of .884, while Aleksei Kolosov stands at 4-8-1, with a GAA of 3.45 and a save percentage of .870 this season.

The Tampa Bay Lightning approach this game with the intention of capitalizing on their recent 6-2 triumph over the Bruins, aiming to elevate their season record to 38-23-5. Nikita Kucherov stands out as the team’s leader, boasting 93 points, which include 28 goals and 65 assists. Following him, Brandon Hagel has accumulated 73 points, featuring 31 goals and 42 assists, while Anthony Cirelli has contributed 47 points, with 25 assists. Brayden Point has also made a significant impact with 65 points, consisting of 32 goals and 33 assists, and Victor Hedman has recorded 53 points, primarily through 41 assists. Furthermore, Jake Guentzel has achieved 63 points, with 32 goals and 31 assists. In terms of goaltending, Andrei Vasilevskiy has a record of 31-18-3, with a GAA of 2.28 and a save percentage of .919, while Jonas Johansson has a record of 7-5-2, with a GAA of 3.12 and a save percentage of .896 this season.

The Pick:

The victory against Tampa Bay is the sole factor preventing the Flyers from entering a seven-game losing streak, as goaltending remains a persistent concern. Although Tampa Bay faces a challenging travel situation with a single home game before returning to the road, I still believe the Lightning will manage to secure a win in this matchup.

Buffalo Sabres vs Boston Bruins Prediction 3/17/25 NHL Picks

Sabres at Bruins at 7 PM ET

Although the Sabres have not experienced much success this season, they displayed a commendable performance in their latest match. They went up against the Vegas Golden Knights and emerged victorious in the shootout. Two goals in the third period were necessary to bring the game to overtime. Bowen Byram recorded two assists in the game. At present, the Sabres average 3.12 goals per game, while their defense concedes an average of 3.52 goals.

The Bruins find themselves in a challenging situation, having lost two consecutive matches. In their latest game against the Tampa Bay Lightning, they suffered a 6-2 loss. The team allowed three goals in the second period, which proved insurmountable. Elias Lindholm was the Bruins’ most effective player, scoring one goal and assisting another. Jeremy Swayman played in goal, making 34 saves out of 38 shots. The Bruins’ offensive output stands at an average of 2.71 goals per game, while their defense is yielding 3.19 goals per game.

The Pick:

The Sabres’ offensive capabilities have been relatively strong, in contrast to the Bruins’ goaltending issues, particularly with Swayman as the goalkeeper. The Sabres are likely to launch a quick offensive attack in this game. The Bruins have only managed one win in their last seven home encounters. As a result, the Sabres are expected to cause an upset. They ought to be viewed as the favorites in this contest, despite being on the road.

Calgary Flames vs Toronto Maple Leafs Prediction 3/17/25 NHL Picks

Flames at Maple Leafs at 7:30 PM ET

Recently, the Calgary Flames have been underperforming, having lost six of their last eight contests. Following a six-game road trip that resulted in four defeats, the Flames returned home, where they managed to defeat the Capitals and Flyers. They kicked off their three-game homestand with a narrow 1-0 win against the Canadiens but subsequently lost their next two matches to the Canucks and Avalanche. The Flames currently occupy the fifth position in the Pacific Division standings, holding 71 points, which is 15 points behind the division leaders, the Golden Knights. This season, the team averages 2.55 goals per game, ranking them 32nd, while they concede an average of 2.89 goals per game, placing them 14th.

The Toronto Maple Leafs are enduring their most difficult stretch of the season, having lost five out of their last six games. The sole victory during this period was against the Hockey Club. They commenced their four-game homestand with defeats to the Panthers and Senators. Currently, the Maple Leafs sit third in the Atlantic Division standings, sharing 81 points with the Lightning and trailing the Panthers by four points. They average 3.17 goals scored per game, which ranks them 11th, while their goals against average is 2.97, placing them 18th.

The Pick:

I am not particularly impressed by Toronto’s recent gameplay; the Maple Leafs have been permitting a significant number of goals. Even though they are up against the NHL’s lowest-scoring team, I expect the home side to yield at least two or three goals. Notably, five out of the last six head-to-head matchups have surpassed the goal threshold, leading me to forecast a minimum of six goals in this game.

Los Angeles Kings vs Minnesota Wild Prediction 3/17/25 NHL Picks

Kings at Wild at 8 PM ET

The Los Angeles Kings secured victories against both the Capitals and the Predators. Currently, the team averages 2.83 goals per game and successfully converts 15.2 percent of their power play chances. Leading the team in scoring, Adrian Kempe has netted 27 goals, while Anze Kopitar contributes with 37 assists, and Kevin Fiala has recorded 189 shots on goal. On the defensive front, the Kings permit an average of 2.55 goals per game and successfully kill off 82.5 percent of their opponents’ power play opportunities. In terms of goaltending, Darcy Kuemper has conceded 82 goals from 996 shots faced, whereas David Rittich has allowed 71 goals from 618 shots.

The Minnesota Wild faced losses against the Rangers and the Blues in their recent games. The team is currently averaging 2.7 goals per game and has a power play success rate of 20.6 percent. Kirill Kaprizov stands out as the top scorer for Minnesota with 23 goals, while Matt Boldy has provided 34 assists, and Ryan Hartman has taken 124 shots on goal. Defensively, the Wild are allowing 2.87 goals per game and successfully killing 71.2 percent of their opponents’ power plays. In goal, Filip Gustavsson has given up 115 goals on 1,331 shots, and Marc-Andre Fleury has surrendered 57 goals on 594 shots.

The Pick:

The Kings clearly stand out as the superior team, no matter the location, and the low cost is quite appealing. The Wild have endured a difficult week, with their offense stagnating, scoring two or fewer goals in five consecutive games. This is not an ideal scenario when facing a Kings defense that ranks second in both goals and shots allowed per game. I am inclined to back the Kings at this reasonable price.