Top Shelf Picks: Best NHL Bets and Props Today (Bet Rangers to Beat Maple Leafs at Madison Square Garden)

Iain MacMillan | Mar 20, 2025

Bet the Rangers as small favorites to the Maple Leafs on Thursday night. / Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

Don't let March Madness distract you from Thursday night's loaded NHL slate.

We're going to keep things simple tonight and bet two sides and a player prop. If you can spare an extra television tonight, the Maple Leafs vs. Rangers at Madison Square Garden is going to be an electric showdown.

Let's take a look at my best bets for tonight.

• Season-to-date record: 138-138-8 (-9.15 units)

Top NHL Picks and Props Today

Odds via BetMGM Sportsbook

• Senators +100 vs. Avalanche
• Rangers -125 vs. Maple Leafs
• Jackson Blake Anytime Goal +280 vs. Sharks

Avalanche vs. Senators Prediction

The Colorado Avalanche will be playing in the second leg of a back-to-back after losing in Toronto on Wednesday night.

The Senators have been hot lately, going 7-3-1 since the All-Star Break, good enough to put them in a wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference Playoffs. In that time frame, they're ninth in the NHL in expected goals percentage while averaging 3.6 goals per 60 minutes, the fifth-highest mark in that time frame.

I'll take a shot at them as small home underdogs tonight.

Pick: Senators +100

Maple Leafs vs. Rangers Prediction

Despite it not working their last two games, I'm going to continue my strategy of fading the Maple Leafs. Their advanced numbers have been atrocious since the All-Star Break and despite beating the Colorado Avalanche last night, they were outshot 39-26.

Now, not only do they have to play in a back-to-back, but they have to travel as well, playing in New York tonight after playing in Toronto on Wednesday.

The Rangers have begun to fix the shooting issues they suffered from earlier in the season. They're 10th in the league in shooting percentage over their last 10 games. On top of that, Igor Shesterkin is rocking a strong .926 save percentage this month.

Pick: Rangers -125

Hurricanes vs. Sharks Prop Bet

You may not be aware of Jackson Blake, but the Carolina Hurricanes rookie has started playing on the top line beside Sebastian Aho and Seth Jarvis. As a result, he's been averaging over 16 minutes of ice time per game since the start of February and he's been on for over 17:20 of ice time in three of his last four games.

Now is the time to invest in some Blake anytime goal props and tonight seems like a great time considering the Hurricanes are facing rookie goalie Georgi Romanov, who allowed two goals on 11 shots in his only appearance so far this season.

Pick: Jackson Blake Anytime Goal (+280)

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Odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.

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You can check out all of Iain's bets here!