This article is part of our NHL Picks series.
NHL Best Bets & Picks: Rangers vs Islanders, Flyers vs Blue Jackets & More – Expert Game Previews
The National Hockey League (NHL) has three games on the slate, and we're going to preview each while offering a pick. The Philadelphia Flyers and Columbus Blue Jackets meet at 7:30 p.m. ET in the lone nationally-televised game on TNT/truTV/HBO Max.
We'll provide single plays and parlay opportunities you could potentially pair with Wednesday's NBA and/or NCAA basketball action. Good luck with all of your plays! Let's get started.
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For the latest NHL Odds, including NHL Futures and NHL player props, visit RotoWire's NHL Betting page. For up-to-date NHL player news and NHL Injury Report info, head to RotoWire's NHL Lineups page. You can find more picks at Bookies.com/picks. Here are our NHL Best Bets today, featuring expert NHL picks for an action-packed slate of games.
New York Rangers 
at New York Islanders 
The Rangers (22-25-6) and the Islanders (28-19-5) meet at UBS Arena at 7 p.m. ET, and the game can be viewed or streamed on ESPN+.
These rivals have met twice this season, and the Islanders have posted a pair of shutouts. Ilya Sorokin stopped 33 shots in a 5-0 win on Nov. 8 at Madison Square Garden, while David Rittich turned aside all 27 shots he faced in a 2-0 win on the Island in the most recent meeting on Dec. 27.
The Rangers posted a 4-3 win in overtime behind Jonathan Quick last time out on Monday, halting a three-game losing streak. The Blueshirts are still just 3-9-2 in the past 14 games, kicking off that stretch with the 2-0 loss to the Isles. The Over is 5-1 in the past six games, and 9-2-1 across the previous 12 outings.
For the Islanders, they're coming off another shutout by Sorokin, as they pushed past the Philadelphia Flyers on the road Monday. Still, they're just 2-3-0 in the past five games, with the Under cashing in three in a row.
Based on the dominance of the Islanders so far this season, and the frequent shutout loss for the Rangers, to both the Isles and everyone else, we'll go low on the total. In fact, if you can get Under 6.5 at either Fanatics or FanDuel, go rather aggressively on that.
- Islanders ML (-140 at BetMGM)
- Under 6.5 (-125 at Fanatics Sportsbook)
Philadelphia Flyers 
at Columbus Blue Jackets 
The Flyers (24-18-9) and the Blue Jackets (24-20-7) meet at Nationwide Arena in Columbus in the nationally-televised TNT game at 7:30 p.m. ET.
Philadelphia suffered a 4-0 loss to the Islanders and Sorokin, and it is just 2-7-1 in the past 10 games since Jan. 8, with the Over going 2-1 in the past three outings, and 10-3-1 across the previous 14 contests.
For Columbus, its most recent victory was amazing, outlasting the Tampa Bay Lightning 8-5 on Saturday at home at even-money (+100) as the Over (6.5) cashed. In that wild win, Mason Marchment recorded the hat trick while turning in a four-point night. Charlie Coyle also had a goal and three points with a plus-3 rating, with his goal coming on the man advantage.
These teams are meeting for the first time this season. The teams split 2-2 in four meetings, with Columbus winning the final two battles, with the Under cashing in each.
Dan Vladar (16-7-4, 2.46 GAA, .905 SV%) is expected to start for the Fly Guys, with Elvis Merzlikins (8-8-1, 3.81 GAA, .882 SV%) likely to go for the home side.
For the Flyers, Travis Konecny has managed three goals and six points across the past five outings, and for the Jackets, Zach Werenski has 10 goals, 25 points and six power-play points in the previous 17 outings.
Let's back the Flyers on the road, but go lightly. And, we'll go high on the total, and go a little heavier if Merzlikins does, indeed, get the starting nod.
- Flyers ML (+114 at DraftKings Sportsbook)
- Over 6 (-125 at BetMGM)
Colorado Avalanche 
at Ottawa Senators 
For the late game, it's the least interesting from a betting perspective, so we'll keep it brief. The Avalanche (35-6-9) rolls into Canada's capital city to battle the Senators (24-21-7) at 7:30 p.m. ET.
Colorado has won seven in a row in this series, including a margin of victory of 3.4 goals per game (GPG) in that dominant span. The Over is 8-0-1 in the past nine meetings, too.
Ottawa belted the visiting Vegas Golden Knights 7-1 at home as a slight underdog (+125) as the Over (6.5) cashed behind Mads Sogaard. Still, the Sens are 4-6-2 in the past 12 outings. They've lost the same number of games in regulation since Jan. 5 that the Avalanche has lost for the entire season.
Colorado waffled Ottawa 8-2 in Denver as a heavy favorite (-240) as the Over (6.5) cashed, with Josh Manson going for two goals and four points, with Brock Nelson posting two goals and an assist. Nathan MacKinnon had a goal and three helpers, with Cale Makar going for a goal and two apples.
We're going to roll with the Avalanche on the puck line, while going Over on the total.
- Avalanche -1.5 Goals (+160 at Fanatics Sportsbooks)
- Over 6.5 (-124 at FanDuel Sportsbook)
Don't make any bets on your favorite sports betting apps without first consulting the latest NHL odds.
Parlay Strategy and Super Parlay Picks for NHL Betting Slates
6-Leg NHL Ginormous Parlay (+4115 at FanDuel Sportsbook)
- Islanders ML (-150) vs. Rangers
- Under 6.5 (-134) - Islanders vs. Rangers
- Over 6.5 (-102) - Flyers at Blue Jackets
- Flyers ML (+112) at Blue Jackets
- Avalanche -1.5 (+144) at Senators
- Over 6.5 (-130) - Avalanche at Senators
3-Leg NHL Sides Parlay (+762 at FanDuel Sportsbook)
- Islanders ML (-150) vs. Rangers
- Flyers ML (+112) at Blue Jackets
- Avalanche -1.5 (+144) at Senators
3-Leg NHL Totals Parlay (+511 at FanDuel Sportsbook)
- Under 6.5 (-134) - Islanders vs. Rangers
- Over 6.5 (-102) - Flyers at Blue Jackets
- Over 6.5 (-130) - Avalanche at Senators
