NHL Best Bets for March 4: Can San Jose End Its Poor ATS Streak in Buffalo?
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Eric Kelly
- March 4, 2025
Top NHL Pick: San Jose Sharks +1.5 (-110) at BetOnline (visit our BetOnline Review)
Tonight’s NHL card has ten games spread across the board with lots of exciting matchups. Both our selections for tonight’s picks are coming in at -110 NHL betting odds.
Firstly we head to Tampa Bay where we are expecting a goal feast between two teams who regularly produce high scoring games when they come head-to-head.
Our second selection tonight sees us get back on the San Jose ATS train as we believe they can turn things around tonight in Buffalo.
Let’s dive into detailed analysis and the latest betting odds from top-rated sportsbooks.
Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Tampa Bay Lightning
Tuesday, March 04, 2025 – 07:00 PM ET at Amalie Arena
Columbus and Tampa Always Produce Goals
Both the Columbus Blue Jackets and Tampa Bay Lightning are two of the NHL’s highest scoring teams. The Lightning have seen the second most goals per game with 3.5 and the Blue Jackets the 4th most with 3.35 per game. Coming into this matchup these two teams have had plenty of high scoring affairs in recent times.
Despite Tampa Bay having a somewhat poor over record when it comes to the total with a 25-29-6 record to the total over, it must be noted the majority of Tampa Bay games have been set at 6 or a 6.5 line.
Columbus has had their fair share of high lines also, but obviously not the defence to back up their high scoring. Tampa Bay has a top 5 defence.
Columbus & Tampa Bay Trends & Facts
- The Columbus Blue Jackets have seen the most games go over the total this season having gone 35-23-2 to the over.
- The previous five games between these teams produced an average of 7.3 goals per game.
The Pick
As we have been saying throughout the season, “it’s always hard to take an under on a Columbus Game” and that saying sticks well and through tonight as we believe we are in for a feast of goals in Tampa Bay.
Columbus has had a lot of high scoring games lately with 8/7/10/6/7 goals in their last five outings. We believe the 6 line for the total to go over tonight at -110 NHL betting odds is very generous and we would happily lay as low as -130 or alternatively if the line has gone up to 6.5, we like the odds in around +100.
NHL Pick: Over 6 Goals (-130) at BetOnline
San Jose Sharks vs. Buffalo Sabres
Tuesday, March 04, 2025 – 07:00 PM ET at KeyBank Center
San Jose Can End 0-5 ATS Trend
Despite the San Jose Sharks being one of the best at the spread teams in the NHL this season, they have struggled against the Buffalo Sabres in recent times, failing to cover the spread in their previous five games. That said we are hoping they can put an end to that cold streak tonight.
To be fair the San Jose Sharks have the worst goals against record, yet at the same time have the 3rd best ATS record on the road, not so much at home with just the 6th best (still impressive).
The Buffalo Sabres are playing back-to-back and got beaten 4-3 last night having lost their previous three games. The Sabres are impressive going forward, but their overall record isn’t much better than the Sharks. Yes, San Jose has the worst winning record in the league, but the Sabres have the 3rd worst.
San Jose & Buffalo Trends & Facts
- The San Jose Sharks have the 3rd best ATS record in the NHL when playing on the road.
- San Jose has made +4.7 units this season ATS compared to Buffalos -7.6 units (based on 1 unit per bet).
- San Jose has failed to cover the spread in their previous five games against the Buffalo Sabres.
The Pick
San Jose might be going through a bad patch right now having lost 13 of their previous 15 games and covered the +1.5 Pk line 7 times out of those 13 losses.
The Sharks have been getting back on track lately coming off a win against the Toronto Maple Leafs, San Jose has covered the +1.5 PK line in 4 of their previous 5 games.
With the Sabres on a back-to-back we like the Sharks’ chances of going for back-to-back wins, or at the very least keep it a close game and cover the +1.5 Pk line at -110 NHL betting odds.
NHL Pick: San Jose Sharks +1.5 (-110) at BetOnline
*The line and/or odds on picks in this article might have moved since the content was commissioned. For updated line movements, visit BMR’s free betting odds product.
