Best NHL Bets Today | NHL Picks, April 5

The final night before the weekend in the NHL is set for several conference rivals that could be playoff matchups. There are going to be matchups that possess great game lines as well as great over/under. One of these games has the potential to be a Western Conference finals preview. Look for some of these great betting opportunities to come from DraftKings Sportsbook.

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New York Rangers vs. Detroit Red Wings

• Time: 7:00 PM E.T. - Friday

• Moneyline: Rangers (-135) | Red Wings (+114)

• Puck Line: Rangers -1.5 (+180) | Red Wings +1.5 (-218) 

• Total: Over 6 (-112) | Under 6 (-102)

Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook.

My Pick: New York Rangers (NYR) at DraftKings

Bet on New York Rangers Here 

Kicking off the final night in the NHL before the weekend is the Eastern Conference battle between the New York Rangers (51-21-4) going on the road to take on the Detroit Red Wings (37-30-8). This game tonight will be the final matchup of these two teams with the Rangers winning both matchups at home.

The Rangers are looking like one of the most established playoff teams in the Eastern Conference as they shouldn’t have any to worry about. The Red Wings, on the other hand, are having to fight and claw their way into the Wild Card position for the postseason. They are one point behind the New York Islanders for the final wild-card spot. Detroit has 82 points, the same as the Washinton Capitals, but Washington owns the tiebreaker. The Red Wings need to be nearly perfect for the remainder of the regular season to ensure a spot in the postseason.

There is potential for the Red Wings to be playoff threats, but only on the offensive side of the ice. The Red Wings are ranked ninth in the league in goals per game (3.32) thanks to a great selection of veterans and talented scorers. On the defensive side of the ice, however, the Red Wings are one of the worst teams in the league allowing an average of 3.31 goals per game (24th in the league).

The Rangers are one of the most complete teams in the league with one of the most talented rosters. They are ranked sixth in the league in goals per game (3.42) while the defense allows an average of 2.78 goals per game (seventh in the league).

New York accounted for the two wins over Detroit earlier in the season in November. The Rangers have become one of the most efficient teams in the league while the Red Wings have become much worse defensively. This game should highlight how Stanley Cup title-ready the Rangers are.

Colorado Avalanche vs. Edmonton Oilers

• Time: 7:00 PM E.T. - Friday

• Moneyline: Avalanche (+110) | Oilers (-130)

• Puck Line: Avalanche +1.5 (-218) | Oilers -1.5 (+180) 

• Total: Over 6.5 (-130) | Under 6.5 (+110)

Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook.

My Pick: Over 6.5 Goals Scored (-130) at DraftKings

Bet on Over 6.5 Goals Scored Here 

One of the most thrilling matchups of the night is set as the Colorado Avalanche on the road to take on the Edmonton Oilers. This is a game that could be a potential Western Conference finals preview as both the Avalanche and the Oilers have turned into some of the most elite teams in the league. There is a lot of sports betting value in this game across the board, but the best ones in between to look into tonight is the over/under score of 6.5 goals.

This game tonight will be the second matchup of the season between these two elite teams. The last time Colorado and Edmonton faced each other, the Avalanche took a 3-2 win on the road and overtime on March 16. The last time these two teams played each other as well, both teams hadn’t played a game in three days.

Both teams come into this game with two of the most elite offenses in the league. Colorado is ranked first in the league in goals per game as it averages 3.72 goals. Edmonton is ranked fourth in goals per game as they average 3.54 goals.

Throughout the season, both defenses of the Avalanche and the Oilers have gotten better. The Avalanche and the Oilers are ranked among the top half of the league in goals a lot for him, but they're coming off of a short span of games that offense might take over completely tonight. Look for this game to be a statement performance from one of these elite teams.