Best NHL Bets Today | NHL Picks, November 2

Carolina Hurricanes vs. New York Rangers

• Time: 7:07 PM E.T. - Thursday

• Moneyline: Hurricanes (-102) | Rangers (-118)

• Puck Line: Hurricanes +1.5 (-258) | Rangers -1.5 (+210)

• Total: Over 5.5 (-115) | Under 5.5 (-105)

Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook

My Pick: New York Rangers (NY)

The matchup between the Carolina Hurricanes (6-4) and the New York Rangers (7-2) is one of a few exciting Games that are set to kick off a thrilling night of the NHL on Thursday. Many of the games being played on Thursday night, including the Hurricanes and the Rangers, are expected to bring a great chance of significant earnings for betters.

The Hurricanes come into this game with one of the most fast-paced offenses in the league. They ranked sixth in the league in goals per game (3.60) as they rely on speed breakaways and quick passing situations. Seven players have accumulated at least five assists, with three of them accounting for six.

The Rangers possess an elite defense, as they are loaded with league-leading shot blockers and outstanding goalies. New York is second in the league in goals allowed per game, only behind the Boston Bruins. Defender Jacob Trouba leads the NHL in blocked shots (33), followed by center Nick Bonino (31).

This game is going to depend on which team is the most complete team on both sides of the ice. The Hurricanes possess one of the worst defenses in the league, as they allow an average of 3.78 goals per game. On the other side, the Rangers didn't receive as many thanks to their reliable defense. They are a team that likes to win matchups and set up better scoring situations. New York is in second place, only behind the New Jersey Devils, in power play percentage (34.4% on 11 goals).

Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Boston Bruins

• Time: 7:30 PM E.T. - Thursday

• Moneyline: Maple Leafs (-102) | Bruins (-118)

• Puck Line: Maple Leafs +1.5 (-250) | Bruins -1.5 (+205)

• Total: Over 6 (+100) | Under 6 (-120)

Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook

My Pick: Boston Bruins (BOS)

Potentially the best game of Thursday’s NHL game slate is the highly anticipated matchup of the Toronto Maple Leafs (5-3-1) versus the Boston Bruins (8-0-1). The Bruins are coming into this game with an elite defense unit, while the Maple Leaf possesses one of the league’s most talented stars.

The Maple Leafs are coming into this game on a two-game losing streak, with the latest being a 4-1 home loss to the Los Angeles Kings. The Bruins, on the other hand, are on a two-game winning streak, with their latest game being a 3-2 win over the Florida Panthers.

Both the Maple Leafs and the Bruins are tied for 13th in the league in points per game, with an average of 3.20 goals per game. It is, however, the way that Toronto and Boston can score that makes them different.

Toronto is fifth in the league in power play percentage (31.3%), as they love to exploit defensive mismatches. Center Auston Matthews is one of the league's best stars, as he has accounted for 10 points, with seven of them being goals in nine games played. Within the past few games, it has been right-wing William Nylander (13 points) and center John Tavares (12 points) who have been the leaders of the Maple Leafs' offense.

Boston's offense is much simpler as they rely on a combination of star playing from right-wing David Pastrnak (14 points) and left-wing Brad Marchand (9 points).

The Bruins come into this game with the top-ranked defense in goals allowed per game (1.56) and save percentages (94.7%). Boston has a reliable set of defenders, but their biggest success this season is their two star goalies. Jeremy Swayman is second in the league in saves (95.7%), while Linus Ullmark is fifth in the league (93.9%).