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NHL Odds & Best Bets Today: Schedule, Picks for Friday

Connor Cooper

Last Updated: February 17, 2023 10:16 AM EST • 4 min 36 sec read.

NHL best bets
NHL best bets

In Friday’s NHL betting picks, we’re fading two of the worst defensive teams in hockey. Read on for our best NHL picks for Friday, based on the best NHL odds.

Nearly two months remain in the NHL regular season, but teams like the Chicago Blackhawks and Anaheim Ducks are already stumbling towards the finish line. Chicago has lost seven of its last nine games - five of them by three goals or more - while Anaheim has been lit up for 20 goals against in the team's last three outings.

Here are our NHL best bets for Friday (odds via PointsBet, FanDuel Sportsbook, and DraftKings Sportsbook; pick confidence based on a 1-to-5-star scale).

Check out our NHL picks.

Friday’s NHL schedule and odds

(odds via DraftKings)

  • Chicago Blackhawks (+200) vs. Ottawa Senators (-240)
  • Pittsburgh Penguins (-105) vs. New York Islanders (-115)
  • Dallas Stars (-110) vs. Minnesota Wild (-110)
  • New York Rangers (-105) vs. Edmonton Oilers (-115)
  • Los Angeles Kings (-230) vs. Anaheim Ducks (+195)

Friday’s NHL best bets

  • Prop: Senators first to 4 goals vs. Blackhawks (-115 via PointsBet) ⭐⭐⭐
  • Moneyline: Islanders vs. Penguins (-110 via FanDuel) ⭐⭐⭐
  • Total: Stars vs. Wild Under 5.5 (-105 via DraftKings) ⭐⭐⭐⭐
  • Alternate Puck Line: Kings -2.5 vs. Ducks (+175 via PointsBet) ⭐⭐⭐

Friday’s NHL top picks

Senators first to 4 goals vs. Blackhawks (-115 via PointsBet) ⭐⭐⭐

A long season in Chicago isn’t getting any better as the Blackhawks come into Ottawa having lost three straight, five of six and seven of their last nine. The Hawks’ lack of scoring punch has contributed to the recent skid, with Chicago scoring just three goals in its last three games combined, but the Blackhawks’ play in their own end has been a huge issue as well.

Wednesday’s 5-2 loss at Toronto marked the fourth straight road outing in which the Hawks have given up at least four goals, and now Chicago has to face a surging Ottawa team that is playing with a lot of confidence. The Senators enter play having won six of their last seven, averaging more than four goals per outing in their last six.

A disparity in rest won’t help Chicago’s cause here either, with the Blackhawks playing their third road game in four nights while the Senators have had the last two days off. Most sportsbooks are charging -140 or higher to back the Senators team total Over 3.5, but you can lay just -115 at PointsBet if you bet that Ottawa will be the first team to score four goals in this contest. That’s great value backing the Sens offense in a game they should win comfortably.

Islanders vs. Penguins (-110 via FanDuel) ⭐⭐⭐

The Pittsburgh Penguins bounced back from Sunday’s humiliating 6-0 loss to the Los Angeles Kings with a 3-1 victory Tuesday in San Jose, but it was hardly an impressive performance. Pittsburgh was outshot 39-28 on the evening and couldn’t seal the deal against the lowly Sharks until Jake Guentzel’s empty netter with 38 seconds left on the clock.

Excluding Guentzel’s late goal into the unguarded cage, Tuesday marked the eighth time in Pittsburgh’s last 11 road games that the Pens have been held to two goals or less. With Pittsburgh in an awkward scheduling spot that sees the Penguins visit Long Island directly after three games out on the west coast, it’s hard to imagine Pittsburgh’s struggling attack breaking out against a New York Islanders team that has given up more than two goals in just two of its last eight.

New York’s offense doesn’t strike fear in many opponents either, but the Isles have been able to generate more since acquiring center Bo Horvat from the Vancouver Canucks, potting 14 goals in their last four games. I’m comfortable laying up to -125 backing the Isles to down Pittsburgh for the sixth time in the last eight meetings, but be sure to check FanDuel - which was offering New York at -110 on Friday morning, five cents cheaper than any of our other top recommended books.

Total: Stars vs. Wild Under 5.5 (-105 via DraftKings) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

To say that both of these teams are in a scoring slump would be a huge understatement. Dallas has failed to score more than two goals in six of its last seven games, while the Minnesota Wild haven’t eclipsed the two-goal plateau in five of their last six games.

Fortunately for Dallas, the Stars’ team defense has been as good as their offense has been bad. Dallas has given up more than two goals in regulation time just once in the team's last nine games, helping the Stars earn points in eight of their last nine (4-1-4). Minnesota has also had to play defensive-minded hockey to stay in games lately, especially at home - where the Wild have allowed just 15 regulation time markers in their last six.

The Under is 22-5-1 in Dallas’ last 28 games, 21-7-4 in the Stars’ last 32 road outings and 12-3-1 in Minnesota’s last 16 at home. Barring an empty-netter, I don’t see either team scoring four goals in this one, which is what it’ll take to sink our Under 5.5 play. Expect this line to move before puck drop, but I’m still content playing it as a four-star wager up to -120 juice. Most books were charging -110 vig on the Under at the time of writing, but DraftKings had the best price in market with a discounted -105.

Alternate Puck Line: Kings -2.5 vs. Ducks (+175 via PointsBet) ⭐⭐⭐

Based on these teams’ recent form, you won’t find many bigger mismatches on an NHL card. The Kings outscored the Buffalo Sabres and Pittsburgh Penguins 11-2 in their last two games, part of a 5-1-1 surge that has shot the team up to within three points of Vegas for the Pacific Division lead. At the other end of the rink, the Ducks have been outscored 20-8 in their last three outings, giving up an average of 47.3 shots in those contests.

Of course, Anaheim’s defensive struggles go back much further than that. The Ducks have surrendered at least 39 shots in seven of their last nine games, and they’ve given up at least six goals in five of their last six at Honda Center.

Look for those issues to get exposed once again by a Kings attack that has scored at least four goals in five of its last six games overall and three of four on the road. Rather than laying juice backing the -1.5 puck line, I’ll take a shot at a plus-money return on the -2.5 alternate spread at PointsBet - a risk worth taking when you consider that each of Anaheim’s last seven losses at home have come by three goals or more.

NHL Best Bets made 17/02/2023 at 8:20 a.m. ET.

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Written By:
Connor Cooper
Connor Cooper is a contributing writer for Sportsbook Review, specializing in the National Football League and college football, as well as the National Hockey League and National Basketball Association. A diehard Maple Leafs and Blue Jays fan growing up in Toronto, Connor quickly shed all his allegiances once he realized that making money betting on sports was much more fun than cheering for his favorite team. He still holds a soft spot for the Leafs, Jays, Toronto Raptors, Denver Broncos, and Florida Gators, but Connor won’t hesitate to bet on — or against — anybody if that’s where the value lies. In addition to analyzing recent and season-long statistics, Connor always looks to account for the human element when breaking down games, weighing situational and motivational factors into his handicapping process.