NHL Best Bets, Odds, & Picks: Friday (1/16)

The NHL has a five-game slate for us to enjoy on Friday night. Notable matchups include the Hurricanes hosting the Panthers, the Sharks on the road against the Red Wings, and a cross-town divisional rivalry between the Anaheim Ducks and Los Angeles Kings.

My NHL Best Bets, Odds, & Picks: Friday (1/9) settled as a losing night at 1-2. The Mammoth won in regulation during a 4-2 victory at home against the St. Louis Blues at -105 odds. Winnipeg’s offense came to life and cruised over 2.5 total goals against the Kings, while the other loss was on the Chicago Blackhawks as a home underdog in a 5-1 loss to the Washington Capitals.

I’ve got three plays in three different games on Friday’s NHL slate. Follow me on X @Matt_MacKay_ for more NHL analysis and free picks throughout the 2025-26 season.

Our NHL Prop Bet Cheat Sheet assists bettors by comparing lines from leading sportsbooks with our daily projections >>

NHL Best Bets

(Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook)

Florida Panthers vs. Carolina Hurricanes

The Carolina Hurricanes enter tonight’s home stand in Raleigh as -162 moneyline favorites against the Florida Panthers. Florida is a +134 moneyline underdog in this matchup but boasts an 8-3 record in its last 11 road games.

Goaltenders have yet to be confirmed but Sergei Bobrovsky is expected to draw the start for the Panthers, while Brandon Bussi is likely for the Hurricanes. Bussi is an impressive 16-3-1 as a starter for Carolina, while Bobrovsky is 19-12-1.

Bobrovsky has won back-to-back starts against Ottawa and Buffalo. Florida is also 6-1 SU in its last seven matchups against Carolina. The Hurricanes have lost five straight home games against the Panthers.

Carolina has lost consecutive games against the Red Wings and Blues. Both were on the road, however, St. Louis posted a 3-0 shutout win against Carolina with Bussi in the crease.

Let’s grab the value and bet on the Panthers to win outright as underdogs at plus odds against Carolina tonight.

Pick: Florida Panthers Moneyline (+134)

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Tampa Bay Lightning vs. St. Louis Blues

Tampa Bay is riding a 10-game winning streak into tonight’s road contest against St. Louis. The Blues are also trending upward, going 4-1 at the Enterprise Center in their last five games on home ice.

Andrei Vasilevskiy and Joel Hofer are expected to start in goal for their respective teams tonight. Vasilevskiy has been on a tear, as the former Vezina Trophy winner has held three straight opponents, including the Avalanche, to two or fewer goals. Hofer also just logged his fourth shutout of the season against Carolina.

Oddsmakers have adjusted the goal total to 5.5 due to these stout goaltenders. The total has also gone under in four of the Blues’ last five home games against the Lightning and in four of their previous six matchups against an Eastern Conference opponent.

St. Louis has been held to three or fewer goals in five straight games, while the Lightning were just held to two goals by Pittsburgh during their last outing. We’ll side with the quality netminding of both teams in this game and bet under 5.5 total goals at -102 odds.

Pick: Under 5.5 Total Goals (-102)

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Nashville Predators vs. Colorado Avalanche

Colorado is a massive -315 moneyline favorite at home against the Nashville Predators tonight. The Avalanche are 8-0 SU against the Predators in their last eight head-to-head matchups, including a 4-2 win at Ball Arena on December 13th.

Nashville has improved lately, winning nine of its previous 13 games played. The Predators have logged back-to-back wins against the Capitals and Oilers, gaining momentum into tonight’s matchup against the top team in the NHL.

Juuse Saros and Scott Wedgewood are projected to start as tonight’s goaltenders. Wedgewood sports a stout 2.19 GAA with a 19-3-4 record for Colorado, while Saros is 18-14-3 with a 2.93 GAA.

Wedgewood has allowed three or more goals in three of his previous five starts in net for the Avalanche. Saros has allowed six total goals across his past three starts, resulting in a 2-1 record.

The total has gone under in four of the Predators’ last six games against a Central Division opponent. It’s also gone under in four of the past six head-to-head matchups against Colorado, including December’s 4-2 road loss.

Colorado is coming off a 4-3 overtime loss at home to Toronto. They have only last back-to-back games twice this season, so expect the Avalanche, led by Nathan MacKinnon, to get off to a hot start.

Let’s bet on the Avalanche to cover their -1.5 puck line at -128 odds. Colorado has done this in both of its previous wins at home against Ottawa and Columbus, so expect a similar outcome against a team they’ve recently dominated like Nashville.

Pick: Colorado Avalanche -1.5 (-128)

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