The 2025-26 NHL season is officially underway, featuring a four-game slate on Friday night. Three of these matchups have a moneyline betting favorite of -145 or longer, indicating oddsmakers expect a lot of competitive games.
Home underdogs on Friday include the Detroit Red Wings (+132) against the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Chicago Blackhawks (+114) hosting the 2-2 Vancouver Canucks. Favorites at home include the Washington Capitals (-126) against the Minnesota Wild and the Utah Mammoth (-255) facing the winless San Jose Sharks.
I’ve got three NHL best bets, each worth one unit, to tail ahead of puck drop tonight. Follow me on X @Matt_MacKay_ for more NHL free bets and analysis.
NHL Best Bets
(Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook)
Chicago Blackhawks Moneyline (+114)
The Chicago Blackhawks host the Vancouver Canucks as a home underdog at +114 odds on the moneyline. The Blackhawks have been better than expected to start the season, with all three of their losses by a one-goal deficit, in addition to two straight wins against Utah and St. Louis.
Chicago’s last outing was their most impressive performance, netting eight goals on the road in a dominant 8-3 win over the Blues on Wednesday. The Blackhawks will deploy Spencer Knight in the crease, who has a solid 2.35 GAA and a 1-2 record this season.
Kevin Lankinen is expected to be in the net for the Canucks tonight. He’s 0-1 with a 4.09 GAA. Vancouver is coming off of a 5-3 road win over the Dallas Stars, however, tonight is the second leg of a back-to-back.
The Blackhawks have a rest advantage and home ice, plus a better goaltender. Odds have shortened on Chicago since opening, so let’s bet on the Blackhawks to upset Vancouver at plus odds.
Minnesota Wild vs. Washington Capitals – Under 5.5 (-102)
Washington is one of the best teams in the league at holding opponents to minimal production. The Capitals rank third in goals allowed per game at 1.75 and will host a Minnesota Wild team averaging 3.5 goals with a 2-2 record.
Tonight’s goaltenders will be Filip Gustavsson and Logan Thompson. The Wild’s goaltender has a 3.06 GAA, while Thompson is playing well like he did last season, boasting a stout 2.01 GAA.
Washington’s offense has not been highly productive yet, averaging a bottom-five 2.25 goals per game. The Capitals’ recipe for winning is shutting down opponents with smothering defense, bailing out their anemic offense.
Let’s bet on under 5.5 total goals between the Wild and Capitals available at -102 odds.
Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Detroit Red Wings – Jake Guentzel 1+ Assists (+134)
We’ve got a fun Atlantic Division matchup between Tampa Bay and Detroit tonight at Little Caesars Arena. The Red Wings, despite a 3-1 record, are +132 to win outright at home.
One of the Lightning’s top players, Jake Guentzel, is set to face Red Wings goaltender John Gibson. Gibson’s only start was a disaster, allowing five goals on eight shots against Montreal.
Guentzel leads Tampa Bay with five points, including four assists. He skates on the second line and top powerplay unit, affording him plenty of chances to finish a possession in the offensive zone.
In four games, Guentzel has two matchups where he’s logged multiple assists. At +134, we’re obligated to bet on Guentzel to record his fifth assist against a weak goaltender.
For more information about hockey betting, check out our informative articles below.
- The Top 5 Bet Types for Beginner NHL Bettors
- How To Bet NHL Player Props: A Beginner's Guide
- What is the Puck Line?
- Puck Line Betting Strategy
- Advanced Stats to Improve Your Odds
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