Tuesday NHL Best Bet March 17: Will Oilers & Sharks cash over?

Tuesday night’s NHL slate gives bettors a strong mix of tight moneylines, playoff-caliber matchups, and exploitable totals. With the regular season winding down, urgency is rising—and that’s where sharp betting edges start to appear. Continue reading our Tuesday NHL Best Bet March 17 column for three betting selections ahead of today’s slate.

NHL Best Bet: Jets -135 (vs. Predators)

Winnipeg is much stronger at home (17 wins), while Nashville has struggled on the road.

From a roster standpoint:

• Connor Hellebuyck remains one of the NHL’s most reliable goaltenders

• Mark Scheifele continues to drive offense

• Winnipeg’s defensive structure is still solid despite injuries

Nashville, meanwhile, lacks consistent scoring depth outside of Filip Forsberg and Ryan O’Reilly.

Why it cashes:
Winnipeg’s goaltending + home ice + slightly deeper lineup gives them the edge in a tight, low-total game.

NHL Best Bet: Bruins/Canadiens over 6.5

This is a classic market misprice on a rivalry game total.

Both teams are legit contenders:

• Boston features elite scorers like David Pastrňák and Pavel Zacha

• Montreal counters with young firepower led by Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield

Montreal has taken a step forward offensively this season, and Boston’s attack remains one of the most efficient in hockey.

Why it cashes:

• Two top-tier offenses

• Playoff-style intensity → more power play chances

NHL Best Bet: Sharks/Oilers over 7

We’re not touching Edmonton’s heavy moneyline—but the total is where the value is.

Edmonton remains one of the most explosive offenses in hockey:

• Connor McDavid (elite playmaker)

• Leon Draisaitl (top-tier finisher)

San Jose, on the other hand:

• Struggles defensively

• Allows high shot volume

• Missing key contributors due to injuries

Why it cashes:

• Edmonton can score 4–5 goals on its own

• Sharks’ defensive issues create high-event hockey

• Garbage-time goals often push totals over

Tuesday NHL Best Bet March 17

1. Winnipeg Jets -135
2. Bruins/Canadiens over 6.5
3. Sharks/Oilers over 7