NHL Expert Picks Today: Thursday's Best Bets Include Two Moneyline Plays [4/17/2025]

NHL betting is back for another pulse-pounding day on 4/17, and we're here to bring you our top picks for Thursday's hockey action.

Today's NHL best bets come from a range of matchups, including Hurricanes vs. Senators and Lightning vs. Rangers, with this article updated throughout the day to highlight the most attractive upcoming games.

Led by a standout moneyline play at 7:00PM ET, these picks are based on cutting-edge simulations and machine learning.

For unlimited access to everything Dimers has to offer on Thursday, April 17, 2025—including our complete set of NHL picks and best bets—check out Dimers Pro.

List of NHL Expert Picks Tonight [4/17, Updated: 6:30PM ET]

After crunching the numbers and conducting thousands of simulations, our leading predictive analytics model has figured out the best hockey bets for Thursday, April 17, 2025.

We sort these picks by start times, reserving the highest edges and probabilities exclusively for Dimers Pro subscribers.

Hurricanes ML (+140)

• Edge: 4.1%
• Probability: 45.7%
• Matchup: Hurricanes vs. Senators (7:00PM ET, Thursday)

Our model has pinpointed the next NHL betting opportunity tonight, which comes in the Hurricanes vs. Senators game. We recommend a bet on the Hurricanes ML at +140 odds, offering an edge of 4.1%.

Lightning vs. Rangers Under 6.5 Goals (+102)

• Edge: 2.5%
• Probability: 52%
• Matchup: Lightning vs. Rangers (7:00PM ET, Thursday)

Our model has found another great NHL bet for Thursday's hockey action, this time in the game between the Lightning and Rangers. We suggest placing an over/under wager on Under 6.5 Goals at +102 odds, with our analysis showing a compelling 2.5% edge.

MORE: NHL Props Thursday

Islanders ML (+160)

• Edge: 2.3%
• Probability: 40.7%
• Matchup: Islanders vs. Blue Jackets (7:00PM ET, Thursday)

Our next pick for tonight's hockey action is from the Islanders vs. Blue Jackets game. We recommend a bet on Islanders ML at +160 odds. Our model suggests a favorable 2.3% edge for this wager.

MORE: Thursday Parlay Picker

NHL Best Bets: Thursday, 4/17/2025

As of 6:30PM ET, here are the next three NHL bets recommended by our model:

Matchup	Bet	Odds	Edge
Hurricanes vs. Senators	Hurricanes ML	+140 @ BetMGM	4.1%
Lightning vs. Rangers	Under 6.5 Goals	+102 @ DraftKings	2.5%
Islanders vs. Blue Jackets	Islanders ML	+160 @ DraftKings	2.3%

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While the bets listed are all positive expected value (+EV) opportunities, subscribing to Dimers Pro grants you instant access to today's best bets across all sports, powered by our advanced model.

Join Dimers Pro now to access these picks, along with a comprehensive range of props, trends and parlays for April 17, 2025.

More NHL Betting Guides

This article is part of our NHL player props and NHL best bets series. For related content on April 17, check out our NHL Player Prop Picks for Thursday

List of Upcoming NHL Games to Bet On [4/17/2025]

• Islanders vs. Blue Jackets (7:00PM ET, Thursday)
• Hurricanes vs. Senators (7:00PM ET, Thursday)
• Flyers vs. Sabres (7:00PM ET, Thursday)
• Capitals vs. Penguins (7:00PM ET, Thursday)
• Lightning vs. Rangers (7:00PM ET, Thursday)
• Red Wings vs. Maple Leafs (7:00PM ET, Thursday)
• Flames vs. Kings (9:30PM ET, Thursday)

More on NHL

For more NHL betting content, we have NHL betting news and the latest Stanley Cup odds and predictions.

Conclusion

This article, enhanced by AI and automation, aims to deliver accurate NHL insights quickly, with human oversight ensuring high editorial quality. Our predictions are drawn from current data to help you make informed decisions. For additional resources and advice on responsible gambling, please call 1-800-GAMBLER.

All odds and probabilities in this article are correct and accurate at the time of publication.