Top NHL Picks, Ranked

Detroit Red Wings @ Tampa Bay Lightning

Tampa Bay's penalty kill is the cleaner edge here, a defensive advantage that holds up even without the offense fully lining up behind it, which is exactly why this sits at four stars and not five. The scoring numbers actually cut against the Lightning, Detroit's attack against Tampa's defense looks more favorable than the reverse, and that crosscurrent is the real reason this doesn't climb higher.

Calgary Flames @ Los Angeles Kings

Los Angeles gets the rest edge coming in with a full day on Calgary, a meaningful leg up that anchors this pick at four stars, but the goaltending situation works against it. Darcy Kuemper is the better option between the pipes here compared to Dustin Wolf, and that advantage belongs to the home side, which keeps this from being a cleaner four-star play.

Edmonton Oilers @ Toronto Maple Leafs

Tristan Jarry gives Edmonton a real edge in net over Sergei Bobrovsky, and that goaltending gap is the spine of this pick, strong enough to keep it at four stars and ahead of the picks below it. The one thing stopping it from being cleaner is that Toronto's defense does the better job of limiting shots, a structural advantage that cuts against the Oilers even if the goaltending split still wins out.