Best NHL Bets Today: NHL Picks, Odds & NHL Predictions for 10/20
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FREE NHL Picks & Best Bets for 10/20:
- ⭐ New York Islanders Moneyline (-108) at FanDuel
- ⭐ Calgary and Columbus Over 6.5 Goals (-120) at DraftKings
- ⭐ Brock Nelson Anytime Goal (+210) at FanDuel
- ⭐ Johnny Gaudreau Over 0.5 Powerplay Points (+250) at BetMGM
NHL Picks for Friday night is another one of these tiny slates. Please note Saturday is an immense behemoth with 15 games in all. Then Sunday and Monday are very light. Again, last night was a bonanza with three underdogs coming up big. That included Arizona, who scored a bunch of goals and won on the moneyline. Seattle turned on the jets, scoring seven times against Carolina. In short, late games saw plenty of goals.
BetMGM, Caesars, DraftKings, and FanDuel are among our best online betting sites for the end of the week. Friday NHL hockey predictions tip-toe gently with very modest wagers. After all, if one bets hockey every day, management is vital. Let’s get picking!
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NHL Picks: New Jersey vs. New York Odds & NHL Predictions
⭐ Pick: New York Islanders Moneyline (-108) at FanDuel
The New Jersey Devils head on the road to face the New York Islanders on Friday night. This game is televised on NHL Network, starting at 7:30 pm ET. Right now, the projected goalie for New Jersey is Vitek Vanecek, while the Islanders will likely start Ilya Sorokin. Do not look into the preseason meetings too much, but New Jersey is trying to get its line back to a couple of weeks ago. Will that change be helpful?
NHL Picks are not too keen on this slate. For total transparency, being a fan of the team clouds the judgment sometimes. Now, it is hard to maintain that objectivity in the heat of the betting moment. Anyway, there is a 5.5 Over/Under for a rarity. That may not last at -134 on FanDuel. If it does, that may be something to look further into. New Jersey vs. New York predictions are a matchup to tread lightly. The Devils have been slow in their starts. New York can be considerably inconsistent offensively.
New Jersey needs to get moving and scoring early. Now, most forget that the Devils started slowly last season before their incredible winning streak. With an almost even Moneyline, this game becomes more of a coin flip. It is early, yet New Jersey probably has to stop dropping points to teams lower than them from a projections standpoint. Traditionally, the Devils have problems playing on Long Island. This is not an easy wager, but the New York Moneyline is -108 on FanDuel.
⭐ Pick: New York Islanders Moneyline (-108) at FanDuel
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NHL Picks: Calgary vs. Columbus Odds & NHL Predictions
⭐ Over 6.5 Goals (-120) at DraftKings
Calgary and Columbus are two more hard-to-figure-out teams for a Friday night. The Flames still appear all over the place. Calgary can score goals, but can they hold a lead defensively? Sometimes they can, but they have blown a couple of leads already this season. Columbus has its issues with injuries. Calgary is playing its fourth road game of the season, while the Blue Jackets are now on the fourth game of a homestand.
Free NHL picks try to make heads or tails of what might happen here. The certainty appears to be goals. The Over/Under is swinging around between 6.5 and 7.0. Most betting venues are at 6.5 currently at around -120 to -135. FanDuel briefly dipped to -124 and DraftKings to -120. Both goaltenders are capable of giving up three or more goals with ease, too. Jakob Markstrom and Elvis Merzlikins do not inspire that much confidence.
Therefore, NHL picks like that both teams are averaging at or just over 3.5 goals per contest. It is a game that could trend toward a faster tempo. Look at scoring chances and shots for a second. One will see that the Flames and Blue Jackets were two teams determined to play faster. With speed comes chances in both directions and, naturally, more goals.
Calgary and Columbus predictions take the Over at 6.5 goals (-120) . The best NHL bets do not feel too apt to consider the Columbus moneyline. Watch the numbers here as the boards are changing Moneylines. These little slates can get away from a bettor very fast. Take a look at powerplay props for the Blue Jackets. Calgary has been allowing quite a few high-danger chances on their penalty kill.
⭐ Recommended Bet: Over 6.5 Goals (-120) at DraftKings
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NHL Picks: Brock Nelson Anytime Goal
⭐ Brock Nelson Anytime Goal (+210) at FanDuel
Welcome again to the NHL picks props section. On lighter nights, we will dip into the pool of props. There will be game props, player props, and more. Tonight, we took at “Brocktober.” What is that? Yes, we are talking about Brock Nelson and his propensity to score in October and against the New Jersey Devils. Most places are offering Nelson’s anytime goal around +150 to +175. However, FanDuel popped in at +210 on Friday night. Bo Horvat is at the same number, by the way.
Free NHL picks do not worry too much as these prop bets are worth a few dollar wager. No one is betting $50 or $100 here or has to. The goal is to get in on more of the action. Experimenting to see how far some trends go helps set betting boundaries.
Okay, Brock Nelson’s shot prop is even worth a look. Nelson is at Even to record 3+ shots on goal via FanDuel. Shop around, though. One may get lucky closer to game time. Also, some might look for multiple goals here. Do not get too greedy here on Friday night.
Nelson trends to continue his hot start.
⭐ Best NHL Bet: Brock Nelson Anytime Goal (+210) at FanDuel
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NHL Picks: Johnny Gaudreau Over 0.5 Powerplay Points
⭐ Erik Karlsson Over 0.5 Powerplay Points (+250) at BetMGM
Johnny Gaudreau has two assists in three games for the Calgary Flames this season. The Columbus winger managed some quality chances in his past two games but has not lit the lamp. He only has one powerplay assist to show for his efforts. Gaudreau plays his former team, the Calgary Flames, tonight. Yes, it has been a year, but the memories of 2022 should inspire the New Jersey native. Free NHL picks like this prop.
NHL picks like the chances of another powerplay point tonight at +250.
⭐ Best NHL Bet: Erik Karlsson Over 0.5 Powerplay Points (+250) at BetMGM
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Final Words on the NHL Hockey Best Bets Today
The best online betting sites are there for the wagering. Good luck tonight!
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As we look forward to the thrilling NHL matchups for today, there's another exciting development on the horizon for sports betting enthusiasts. As of September 28, Kentucky has officially launched online sports betting, paving the way for the emergence of new sports betting apps in Kentucky. This opens up a new realm of opportunities for fans and bettors alike. Stay tuned for more updates on this front.
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