Top NHL Odds, Picks & Predictions: Friday (10/27)
We have an entertaining six-game slate on Friday with some great betting angles to attack. Below, I walk through my three best bets for Friday’s NHL slate.
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Friday’s NHL Best Bets
Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook
Buffalo Sabres (+158) @ New Jersey Devils (-192) | O/U 6.5 (-158/+128)
A high total here makes sense considering these two fast-paced teams. However, +128 is too long to pass up for the Under at 6.5.
At 5-on-5 this year, both clubs rank in the bottom half of the league in expected goals for per 60 minutes (xGF/60). There have been six or fewer total goals scored in five of Buffalo’s seven games, which is a product of an improving blue line and lackluster offensive play to start the campaign.
With goaltender Devon Levi shelved with an injury, Eric Comrie has stepped in nicely for the Sabres. Through two starts, he owns a .923 SV% and 2.05 GAA.
Meanwhile, Vitek Vanecek is expected to get the nod between the pipes for New Jersey, and he also possess a .900 SV% and 3.10 GAA.
Bet: Under 6.5 (+128)
Los Angeles Kings (-130) @ Arizona Coyotes (+108) | O/U 6 (-142/+112)
We are going to target another Under as the Coyotes host the Kings. These two clubs just squared off on Tuesday as Los Angeles won 6-3, although I think regression is coming this time around in the scoring department.
Adjusting for flurry, score and venue, there were only 4.38 cumulative expected goals in that outing. We should expect a much stronger performance from Karel Vejmelka, who owns a .942 SV% and 1.85 GAA for the Yotes this season.
Meanwhile, Cam Talbot starting over Pheonix Copley for Los Angeles should also be an improvement. Arizona ranks 26th in the league in xGF/60 at 5-on-5, which may present a lot of trouble against a Los Angeles blue line that currently ranks first in expected goals against per 60 minutes (xGA/60) at 5-on-5.
Bet: Under 6 (+112)
St. Louis Blues (+155) @ Vancouver Canucks (-188) | O/U 6.5 (-106/-114)
Vancouver hosts St. Louis in the other late-slate game, and +155 feels too wide for a Blues team that has played some competitive hockey to start this campaign. At 5-on-5, St. Louis ranks higher than the Canucks in xGA/60 while both teams are in the last two spots in xGF/60.
This game could ultimately come down to goaltending, and both Jordan Binnington and Thatcher Demko have looked tremendous thus far. Binnington is 2-1-1 with a .945 SV% and 1.69 GAA while Demko sports a .923 SV% and 2.42 GAA to go along with his 2-2 record.
The main reason that oddsmakers have Vancouver laying close to two dollars is that they have not played since Tuesday while the Blues enter this contest on the second half of a back-to-back. However, St. Louis looked great last night against Calgary and a back-to-back this early in the season does not mean nearly as much as it does after the turn of the calendar year.
Through six career starts against the Canucks, Binnington is 4-0-2 with a .926 SV% and 2.38 GAA. Finally, the Blues have won five of the past six meetings between these two teams.
Bet: Blues ML (+155)
Make sure to check out our other best bets for Friday:
- Top NHL Odds, Picks & Predictions
- MLB World Series Game 1 Odds & Picks
- NFL Week 8 Totals Odds, Picks & Predictions (2023)
- NBA Same Game Parlay Odds, Picks, & Predictions
- College Football Week 9 Same Game Parlay Odds & Picks (2023)
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Tony Sartori is a featured writer at BettingPros. For more from Tony, check out his archive and follow him @tony_sartori.