NHL Best Bet 02/26/2026

Published: Thu Feb 26, 2026, 5:48 pm ET

Read Time: 6 minutes

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The Olympics are officially over and the NHL is BACK! It's the last third of the season and every game will matter for those trying to get into the playoffs. Of course, for teams who are already out there is still plenty to play for, like new contracts and career high stats. It will be important to find those motivated players and teams to keep stacking up the green. But time to zig and zag to find some NHL best bets on this big Thursday slate. Let's start building up units by boosting our 39-42 record on the articles, that has tons of plus money value.

We will be breaking down NHL best bets here at Betting News all playoffs long! Each article will look for VALUE, as in straights you can take to build up your bankroll or pieces you can use to beef up your parlays. All bets will be -135 or better odds. And while we will focus on NHL player props, there are times we will take sides and totals. So keep your eyes peeled here as we will drop these throughout the week.

And if you haven't already be sure to check out some of my favorite futures and awards. So time to lace them up and get ready to ride with Betzky for my favorite NHL best bets of the day.

1. Nathan MacKinnon 2+ Points -110 on Lucky Rebel:

Nathan MacKinnon is a power house at home, making his points a best bet

Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon takes the puck into the offensive zone.

Nothing like a pissed off superstar. Disappointment seems to be the best motivator for the best of the best, and Nathan MacKinnon HAS to be pissed about his Silver Medal performance at the Olympics. Especially as he missed on a wide open net in a critical moment of the Gold Medal game. Now him and the league leading Colorado Avalanche are back at home and he will play for the first time since this heartbreaking moment. Yeah, he's getting on the scoresheet multiple times.

This NHL best bet only gets better as MacKinnon gets one of his favorite targets tonight in division rival the Minnesota Wild. MacKinnon has consistently produced against the Wild throughout his career: 26 goals and 41 assists in 53 games vs Minnesota. That equates to 1.26 points per game, and his high shot volume creates both scoring and assist pathways. He also averages 3.75 shots per game against them, signaling steady offensive pressure.

Colorado's speed and transition attack can stretch Minnesota's defensive coverage, forcing gaps that elite puck carriers like MacKinnon exploit. But he can especially exploit this matchup on the power play.MacKinnon quarterbacks entries and operates in the half-wall shooting lane, where Minnesota's aggressive penalty kill can concede cross-ice seams. And currently Minnesota have the 8th worst penalty kill in the league. Add it all up and it's easy to see why this is an NHL best bet.

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2. Charlie Coyle Point -105 on Lucky Rebel:

Charlie Coyle has been a great fit on Columbus, making his point a NHL best bet

I love a good revenge narrative. And Charlie Coyle will return to Boston for the first time to take on his former team the Bruins. While he may not have the most eye popping stats, Coyle centers a very effective 3rd line for the Columbus Blue Jackets with Cole Sillinger and Olivier. Coyle continues to operate as a reliable middle-six center and secondary power-play contributor. Through the 2025-26 season he has produced roughly 9 goals and 20 assists in 46 games, showing steady playmaking output while maintaining solid shot volume.

Coyle has also been red hot leading into the Olympic break. He has a point in 5 of the last 6 games and has 12 points in those games. His line is absolutely rolling right now. And he will have all the extra motivation to pick up right where he left off, making this an NHL best bet.

Facing his former club adds both narrative motivation and tactical familiarity. While his recent numbers vs Boston are modest, he has still registered offense in the matchup sample. Players often elevate play against former team and Coyle understands Boston's defensive structure and goalie tendencies. Boston is a tough defensive team, as they remain structured, but they struggle with depth scoring when focused on shutting down top lines. Secondary lines and cycle-heavy forwards have historically found success against them.

At nearly even money, it is hard to find a prop that stands out as much as this one in this big slate.

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3. Vince Dunn Point +120 on Lucky Rebel:

Vince Dunn has been ripping puck making his point a best bet

Vince Dunn has been one of the Krakens top point producers

What's better than one revenge spot? TWO! And while the revenge narrative for Vince Dunn is strong, I would love this play whether or not Dunn was playing against the team who drafted him, the St Louis Blues. Dunn was held pointless last night in Dallas, which snapped a three game point streak he had before the Olympics. But as one of the time on ice leaders of the Kraken, this becomes a critical bounce back spot as Seattle looks to hold a wildcard spot.

Dunn remains Seattle's primary puck-moving defenseman and top power-play quarterback. He has produced roughly 8 goals and 26 assists (34 points) this season while skating heavy minutes on the top pairing. His usage drives opportunity: 22+ minutes per night on average, first power-play unit deployment and high involvement in zone entries and offensive transition. When Seattle generates offense, Dunn is often the initiator — either through primary assists, point shots, or rebound creation.

And tonight against the Blues, the Kraken should be able to get their offensive going. The Blues are allowing the 2nd most goals against this season, averaging 3.51 GA/GP. They have struggled in net all season long, and a the team may be rusty after the long break. The Kraken on the other hand have already gotten their feet moving, having played last night. To make this plus money NHL best bet even better is the fact that Dunn has a point in 6 of the last 9 games he has played against his former team.

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