Friday night’s NHL slate is bigger than last week’s condensed two-game calendar, featuring five games on the frozen pond. Four of the five betting favorites are -144 or longer, excluding the Colorado Avalanche as a -245 home favorite against the Winnipeg Jets.
My NHL Best Bets, Odds, & Picks: Friday (12/12) settled 0-2. Chicago’s 3-2 regulation loss to St. Louis started 0-1, then Utah poured it on in the third period to go over 5.5 goals.
I’ve got a play in three of tonight’s five NHL matchups. Follow me on X @Matt_MacKay_ for more NHL analysis and free picks.
NHL Best Bets
(Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook)
Carolina Hurricanes vs. Florida Panthers
Two of the hottest teams in the Eastern Conference will go head-to-head in Sunrise, Florida tonight. The Panthers are home underdogs against the surging Hurricanes, while both franchises are currently riding multi-game winning streaks.
Carolina has not fared well against Florida historically. The Hurricanes are 1-4 SU against the Panthers in their last five head-to-head games, while Florida has only lost once in its last seven outings.
Yes, the Hurricanes are on a five-game winning streak. However, four of those wins came against Columbus, Philadelphia, and Nashville, who are at least a tier lower than Florida.
The Panthers are equally talented to Carolina, even without Matthew Tkachuk and Aleksander Barkov available. Florida is 11-6 at home this season, while the Hurricanes are 11-4 on the road.
Florida holds the goaltending edge with Sergei Bobrovsky likely entering the crease against Carolina. Pyotr Kochetkov, if he plays, has allowed three or more goals in three of his previous five starts to the Canucks, Sharks, and Flyers.
Let’s pounce on this plus odds value and bet on the Panthers’ moneyline as a home underdog.
Pick: Panthers Moneyline (+105)
Vancouver Canucks vs. New York Islanders
Vancouver currently sits in last place within the Western Conference. Now, the Canucks face a New York Islanders team that is trending upward in December, going 6-3-1 in their previous 10 games played.
New York’s rookie sensation, defenseman Matthew Schaefer, joins a veteran core that includes Bo Horvat and Mathew Barzal. Ilya Sorokin is already confirmed as a starter for New York in net, with a 2.52 GAA and three shutouts logged in 2025.
The Canucks rank 27th in goals scored per game (2.73) and seventh in goals allowed per game (3.39), which does not bode well for their chances against the Islanders on the road on Friday night. They have won two games in a row, including a 3-0 shutout victory over the Rangers in their last outing, to carry momentum into tonight’s tilt against the Islanders.
New York is 18-16 ATS, compared to Vancouver’s 16-17 ATS record. The Islanders have won five straight games at home and will lean on a mixture of youth and veteran talent, including a better netminder, to log a sixth straight win at UBS Arena.
Pick: Islanders Moneyline (-142)
New Jersey Devils vs. Utah Mammoth
For our nightcap, let’s jump on under 5.5 total goals between the Devils and Mammoth at even odds. Utah hosts New Jersey as a -138 betting favorite, returning home after a convincing 4-1 road win over Detroit on Wednesday.
The Devils picked up a huge overtime win on the road in Vegas on Wednesday. New Jersey’s offense has sputtered without star forward Jack Hughes, yet the Devils’ defense is the main unit that has kept them competitive.
The goal total has gone under in four of the Devils’ last six road games. This includes their 2-1 overtime win against the Golden Knights. It’s also gone under in six of New Jersey’s previous eight matchups.
Utah has cooled off since a fast start earlier this season. The Mammoth have scored four or more goals in three of its last four matchups, although that came against weaker defensive teams like the Kraken, Penguins, and Red Wings.
New Jersey ranks third-worst in shot percentage. The Devils have been held to two or fewer goals in five of their past eight starts.
Goaltenders have yet to be confirmed, but Jacob Markstrom and Karel Vejmelka are expected. Vejmelka just stuffed Detroit on the road with one goal allowed and 27 saves. Markstrom has allowed three goals in four of his previous five starts, except for two goals on just 15 shots faced in a losing effort against Vancouver in his last start.
Let’s bet on a gritty defensive effort from the Devils to grind out this game into a low-scoring cage match. Utah’s offense is more talented at the moment, so expect the Mammoth to control time of possession on home ice.
Utah has gone under 5.5 in back-to-back games played against the Bruins and Red Wings. This line has also gone under in consecutive matchups for the Devils against the Canucks and Golden Knights.
Simply put, we’re going to bet under 5.5 total goals at even odds between New Jersey and Utah ahead of tonight’s 9 p.m. ET puck drop from Salt Lake City, Utah.
Pick: Under 5.5 (+100)
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