NHL Best Bet 03/05/2026

Last Update: Thu Mar 05, 2026, 5:19 pm ET

Read Time: 6 minutes

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It's the last fourth of the NHL season, and with the trade deadline just one day away, teams will look to prove to their GM's whether they deserve to have additions or subtractions to their rosters. It's been a bit bumpy since the Olympics break, but I'm going to hone in on this last stretch of games to find value on the board every Tuesday and Thursday. Let's start building up units by boosting our 40-44 record on the articles, that has tons of plus money value by finding some of the best NHL bets tonight.

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. Yegor Chinakhov o2.5 SOG +135 on Lucky Rebel:

Yegor Chinakov has been a welcome addition to the Penguins

As the Pittsburgh Penguins gear up to face the Buffalo Sabres tonight, Yegor Chinakhov stands out as a solid bet for over 2.5 shots on goal (SOG). Here's why this prop bet is worth considering. And we are going to turn to the new father to bring us some green. Chinakhov had a child before his game against Vegas on 3/1. Which means he has been blessed with "new dad strength" which is a real thing in the NHL. He scored against Vegas and has a combined 7 SOG off of 12 shot attempts in the two games since the birth of his kid.

But the baby bump isn't the only reason why this looks like an NHL best bet. Chinakhov has received an upgrade since Sidney Crosby has been out with injury. He now is on the top line with Malkin and getting prime minutes. He's hit his 2.5 SOG in 8 of the last 10 games, averaging 5.1 shot attempts. This is a young player getting the best opportunity of his life to prove himself as a true top 6 forward in the NHL.

His opponent is another factor of why this is an NHL Best bet. Buffalo has struggled defensively this season, particularly against forwards who can create their own shot opportunities. They rank among the bottom teams in the league in shots allowed per game, providing Chinakov with plenty of chances to get his shots off. With both teams playing high octane, offensive first systems we should see a high action game.

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2. Auston Matthews Goal +150 on Lucky Rebel:

Leafs forward Auston Matthews goes after the puck after a faceoff.

Auston Matthews is goalless since the Olympics break. In fact he is goalless in 9 straight games. This is an outlier for him, and something he has not done all season long, and did not happen last season. He is due. And I love betting on players who are due. The Toronto Maple Leafs have now lost every game since the break and desperately need a win. I just don't see how Matthews doesn't get on board.

This is a prime matchup to get on the scoresheet as well. Over the last 10 home games the New York Rangers have allowed the 3rd most goals against. They have begun selling pieces and look to be going towards a rebuild or re-tool. The Leafs on the other hand would love to end the season strong to give their general manager some clue of what to do in the offseason.

In his career against New York, Matthews has consistently found success against the Rangers, scoring 14 goals and adding 9 assists in 20 games. This impressive average of 1.15 points per game showcases his knack for performing against this opponent. In fact he has 6 goals in his last 7 games against the Rangers. You can tell Matthews is ready to get the monkey off his back as well. Over the last two games he has a combined 14 SOG off of 20 shot attempts. Add it all up and it's easy to see why this is an NHL best bet.

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3. Anders Lee Point +155 on Lucky Rebel:

New York Islanders forward Anders Lee celebrates a goal with his teammates on the bench.

Anders Lee is helping drag his New York Islanders into a playoff spot. The Captain has been a huge reason for this teams success, especially lately with a point in four straight games. However, the team just took a loss to the Ducks last night and will look to bounce back against a Los Angeles Kings team who are struggling. Luckily this is a favorite opponent of Lee's.

In his career against Los Angeles, Lee has been productive, tallying 10 goals and 8 assists in 20 games. This translates to an average of 0.9 points per game, showcasing his ability to perform against this opponent. Over the last four games against L.A he has a total of four points. Currently the Kings have been allowing the 6th most goals against over the course of the last 10 home games. They also have been dreadful at home all season.

Lee's physical presence and net-front ability make him a threat during 5-on-5 play and on the power play. His history of scoring against the Kings further solidifies his potential to record a point tonight. This could prove to be the straw that breaks the Kings back tonight, who are struggling with defensive and forward depth. The 3rd line that Lee is one could easily exploit mismatches, making this an NHL best bet tonight.

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