The NHL is heating up this week with thrilling matchups, playoff races, and star-studded performances. Whether you’re betting on classic rivalries or high-stakes showdowns, bet365 has your back with its $1,000 First Bet Safety Net.

Place a qualifying bet of up to $1,000, and if it loses, you’ll receive a matched refund in Bonus Bets. It’s the perfect way to bet on the NHL’s most exciting games this week.

Key NHL Matchups to Bet On This Week (all stats current as of March 3)

1. Ottawa Senators vs. Washington Capitals (March 3):
   • Ottawa is fresh off a 5-3 win against the Sharks after losing its first two games after the 4 Nations Face-Off break and three games beforehand. Because of that brutal losing streak, the Senators slipped out of a playoff position, now two points behind Detroit. Brady Tkachuk returned to play after missing the games against the Canadiens and Jets and lit the lamp against San Jose. Ottawa will also be on the road where it’s 13-16-2.
   • Washington’s in an incredibly rough spot after losing three in a row and going 4-3-3 in its last 10 games. Amidst it, Alex Ovechkin inches closer to Wayne Gretzky’s all-time goal-scoring record, now trailing by only 11 goals. In his illustrious career, Ovechkin has scored at a point-per-game pace against the Senators in 59 games, including most recently on January 30, when he notched a goal and two assists. Can “The Great 8” move another step closer to the record? Or will the Senators shut him down?
2. Calgary Flames vs. Philadelphia Flyers (March 4):
   • The Western Conference is getting awfully tight. It’s a five-way battle for that final Wild Card spot, and the Calgary Flames are holding onto it for dear life. However, they may let it go soon if they continue to play poorly. Amid a six-game road trip, the Flames have lost three in a row and played three games in four nights, and the game against the Flyers will be their fourth game in six nights. It may be a grind, but Calgary will continue to lean on its stud rookie goaltender, Dustin Wolf, who, since the break, has registered a .925 SV%.
   • March is an incredibly important month for the Flyers. Currently standing four points behind the Red Wings for the final Wild Card position, the Flyers begin a seven-game homestand on Tuesday where they’re 15-13-1. Since returning from the 4 Nations break, Philadelphia has been playing its best hockey. It secured two dominating wins against Edmonton and Pittsburgh, then an overtime loss in Pittsburgh, and an overtime win in Winnipeg. It’s almost as if this homestand couldn’t have come at a better time for the Flyers, especially with how porous Calgary has been. Let’s see if they can keep it up and sneak their way into playoff positioning.
3. Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Vegas Golden Knights (March 5):
   • Toronto had a barn burner in Pittsburgh on Sunday. The Maple Leafs traded momentum with the Penguins throughout the game, only to have William Nylander rip an overtime goal to win the game 6-5. At any other time, the Leafs would probably be the hottest team in the league. However, they share a division with the Panthers and Lightning, who each are riding hot streaks themselves. With the win in Pittsburgh, Toronto has now won five in a row and eight out of its last nine. It will also have played the San Jose Sharks before Wednesday night’s game, so let’s see if the Leafs keep the streak alive.
   • T-Mobile Arena has been awfully kind to the Vegas Golden Knights this season as they own a sparkling 21-6-3 record at home – including three straight wins after a 2-0 beatdown to the Devils. The difference is, in front of them are the Maple Leafs, who are excellent on the road. No one is particularly safe in the West, except maybe the Jets, but the Knights need to win to protect their Pacific Division lead. Jack Eichel and Mark Stone have consistently been Vegas’s top players, each averaging over a point per game. However, it’ll be without top defenseman Shea Theodore, who injured himself early during the 4 Nations Face-Off.
4. Montreal Canadiens vs. Edmonton Oilers (March 6):
   • It’s the day before the NHL Trade Deadline, and it may be especially important for the Montreal Canadiens and Edmonton Oilers.
   • For the first time since 2021, the Canadiens are back in the playoff race – currently just three points behind the Red Wings. Not only that, but the Habs have been hot since returning from the break, winning four straight, and will have played Buffalo on Monday night. Captain Nick Suzuki has been a revelation for Montreal, notching nine points in the four games back, and Cole Caufield has goals in three of those four. Goaltending will continue to be a concern for the Habs with Sam Montembeault as their top guy, but his inconsistencies can sometimes raise red flags around Ville-Marie.
   • In front of Montreal is the Oilers, who finally broke their five-game losing spell against the Carolina Hurricanes on March 1. Leon Draisaitl is having a historic season and was pivotal in the 3-1 victory with two assists, including a helper on Corey Perry’s game-winning goal. Slow starts seem to be Edmonton’s M.O., but it always seems to come back around by the time the playoffs start. Barring any catastrophic collapse, it seems as if the Oilers are safe in their standing in the playoffs, but one has to wonder if general manager Stan Bowman will look to bolster the squad.
5. Minnesota Wild vs. Vancouver Canucks (March 7):
   • The Minnesota Wild are hobbling through the second half of the season, but they’re trucking along. Still without Kirill Kaprizov, they’re also without Joel Eriksson Ek, so it’s been the Matt Boldy and Marco Rossi show in St. Paul until further notice. Minnesota is coming off a defensive battle against the Boston Bruins in which it won by a score of 1-0. Before this game against Vancouver, the Wild will have battled it out with the Seattle Kraken. But don’t count them out on the road. Despite missing two of their key contributors, the Wild are still one of the NHL’s best road teams with a 21-9-3 record.
   • Vancouver is a team to look out for during this trade deadline. Even after sending J.T. Miller to the Rangers, Elias Pettersson’s status with the club is still up in the air. The Canucks are tied with Calgary for the final playoff spot, but neither seems to want to hold onto it. Vancouver has lost two in a row and will have already battled the Anaheim Ducks, in which it lost to on February 27. The one bright spot for this organization has been Kevin Lankinen, who was recently awarded a five-year contract extension. He didn’t fare well against the Kraken on March 1, but before that, he was playing lights-out hockey.
6. Boston Bruins vs. Tampa Bay Lightning (March 8):
   • What an ugly season it’s been for the Boston Bruins. They may still be in the thick of the playoff race, but from the jump, this road to glory has been bumpy. From firing Jim Montgomery early on in the season to losing their top-two defensemen in Charlie McAvoy and Hampus Lindholm, there hasn’t been a whole lot of luck in Beantown. David Pastrnak is the only player producing at a high level, and captain Brad Marchand, while playing decently, is listed as day-to-day. Bruins fans can only hope something turns around quickly, but they won’t have an easy challenge as the Tampa Bay Lightning stand in the way.
   • If the Lightning weren’t in such a stacked division, they would stand atop the Atlantic. Tampa is rolling, with an eight-game winning streak, and has gone 9-0-1 in its last 10 games. Nikita Kucherov, Brandon Hagel, and Brayden Point are all averaging over a point per game, with Jake Guentzel not too far behind, while Andrei Vasilevskiy has returned to form with a .970 SV% since returning from the break. Before this match against Boston, will Tampa start fading? It will have been its fourth game in six nights after playing Florida, Columbus, and Buffalo. It’ll be something to monitor as we approach Saturday afternoon.
7. Winnipeg Jets vs. Carolina Hurricanes (March 9):
   • It’s a battle between two powerhouses. The Winnipeg Jets have been rampantly looking to add to their team at this trade deadline to upgrade their already stacked roster. Winnipeg is currently the best team in the NHL with 88 points and has won eight of its last 10 games. Kyle Connor and Mark Scheifele have been critical to this incredible run, each averaging over a point per game, and Nikolaj Ehlers isn’t too far behind, either. It’s also because of two-time Vezina Trophy winner Connor Hellebuyck, who hasn’t lost a regulation game since January 20. The Jets will already have had a loaded week traveling the East Coast and playing the Devils, Islanders, and Flyers before this matchup.
   • Carolina is going down a road of inconsistency at an incredibly poor time. Since trading for superstar Mikko Rantanen, the Canes have gone 4-6-1, and there’s even chatter about whether Rantanen will get moved again before the deadline. Will we even see No. 96 in red and black for this battle against Winnipeg? Luckily, Sebastian Aho has been a tank all season, and as of March 3, he’s on a three-game goal streak. Besides him and Rantanen, there hasn’t been much else from the usual suspects like Seth Jarvis and Andrei Svechnikov. Goaltending has also been inconsistent, with Pyotr Kochetkov not being as reliable an option as Carolina would’ve hoped. Since returning from the break, he’s playing to an .887 SV%.

How to Use bet365 Bonus Code DAILYBONUS to Get A $1,000 First Bet Safety Net

Here’s how you can take advantage of this generous offer:

1. Sign Up: Open a new bet365 account and opt into the First Bet Safety Net promotion.
2. Enter the bet365’s Bonus Code DAILYBONUS.
3. Place Your Bet: Make a qualifying wager of up to $1,000 on any NHL game.
4. Enjoy a Refund if You Lose: If your qualifying bet loses, you’ll get a matched refund in Bonus Bets.

Example:

• Bet $1,000 on the Maple Leafs to win. If they lose, you’ll get $1,000 back in Bonus Bets to try again!

This offer lets you bet big with peace of mind.

Best NHL Betting Strategies

1. Player Prop Bets:

• Focus on stars like Connor McDavid, Auston Matthews, and Nylander. Popular options include Player to score anytime or Over/Under points.
• Example: Bet on McDavid to record Over 1.5 points in Edmonton’s games this week.

2. Over/Under Bets:

• When expecting a higher score in a certain game, betting the over is an optimal choice. Alternative totals depending on what sportsbook is in use, are also available. However, depending on what total is chosen, expect the odds to change
• Example: Ottawa vs. Washington’s total is 5.5 which is typically a barometer for a lower scoring game. However, if you have good reason and analysis to suggest a high-scoring game, the over – essentially, that both teams combine to score six or more goals – is the bet you want to place.

3. Live Betting Opportunities:

• Tight games like the Jets vs. Hurricanes are ideal for live betting, where momentum shifts can create unique opportunities.
• Example: Winnipeg took a two-goal lead heading into the third period. Once the third starts, Carolina scores a goal in the first minute, creating an opportune time to live bet Carolina to continue its momentum.

Best NHL Bets For This Week

This week’s NHL action promises big matchups and even bigger betting opportunities. With bet365’s $1,000 First Bet Safety Net, you can bet boldly knowing you’ll get a second chance if your first wager doesn’t hit.

Don’t miss out—sign up today, claim the offer, and get ready for an unforgettable week of NHL betting!