We’re back on the frozen pond for another edition of NHL best bets ahead of Friday’s five-game slate. Four of these matchups are valued as competitive, with all four betting favorites at -140 odds or longer. The lone exception is the Dallas Stars at home as a -280 favorite against the San Jose Sharks.
My NHL Best Bets from Black Friday (11/28) turned a profit at 2-1. The Rangers routed the Bruins, 6-2, to cash as a -142 betting favorite, while the Avalanche and Wild finished 3-2 in favor of Minnesota during a shootout, settling our under 6.5 total goals wager at -135 odds. The Senators’ 4-3 regulation loss to the Blues was our only losing wager with Ottawa’s moneyline at -110 odds.
Let’s keep our winning ways intact with three more NHL best bets to tail on Friday night. Follow me on X @Matt_MacKay_ for more NHL analysis and free picks.
NHL Best Bets
(Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook)
Vegas Golden Knights vs. New Jersey Devils
The Vegas Golden Knights carry a two-game winning streak into tonight’s road game against the New Jersey Devils. It’s been a rough patch for the Devils lately, dropping three straight games at home, including a shutout loss to the Stars during their last outing.
Jacob Markstrom draws the start in net for New Jersey. Former Devils goaltender, Akira Schmid, is probable to start for Vegas in the crease tonight. Schmid is inconsistent but has a 2.51 GAA with a 9-2-4 record as a starter for the Golden Knights in 2025.
Markstrom is at 3.55 GAA with a 7-5-1 record, including a low .875 save percentage. New Jersey’s team isn’t the same without Jack Hughes out on I.R. The Devils have lost four of their last five matchups against the Golden Knights, getting outscored 5-1 in two games last season.
Vegas has more momentum and a better, healthier offense. Let’s lay a bit of juice on the Golden Knights moneyline at -132 odds to record a third straight win.
Pick: Vegas Golden Knights Moneyline (-132)
San Jose Sharks vs. Dallas Stars
The most lopsided matchup on the slate tonight could wind up being the most entertaining when the Dallas Stars host the San Jose Sharks. The Sharks are a long +225 moneyline underdog against the Stars, who are -280 favorites on home ice.
San Jose owns one of the best puck line records in the league this season at 20-8 ATS. They are currently +1.5 at a generous -110 price, signaling oddsmakers are bullish on Dallas to continue its winning ways, going 7-1-2 in its last 10 games played.
Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith are a dynamic tandem for the Sharks’ offense. Dallas is starting Jake Oettinger in net, who just logged a shutout over the Devils on the road. San Jose is expected to roll out Alex Nedeljkovic, who has a 3.19 GAA with a 3-5-2 record. Nedeljkovic has struggled recently, which likely explains the fade on the Sharks.
San Jose has covered +1.5 in three of its previous four games, excluding a 7-1 home loss to Washington on Wednesday. Let’s play the underdog in this game and take the Sharks to cover the +1.5 puck line at a rare -110 price
Pick: San Jose Sharks +1.5 (-110)
Washington Capitals vs. Anaheim Ducks
The Washington Capitals are the hottest team in the NHL right now, going 9-1 SU across their last 10 games played. Anaheim just got blanked 7-0 by the previously struggling Utah Mammoth, so the Ducks will look to bounce back in a tough spot at home against the Capitals tonight.
As expected, Washington is a -146 road favorite at the Honda Center. The Ducks remain atop the Pacific Division, while the Capitals have bolted into first place in the Metropolitan Division, rattling off six straight wins.
At home, Anaheim is 9-4, while Washington is 8-4 on the road. Ville Husso draws the start for Anaheim’s injury goaltending, coming off an atrocious outing, giving up four goals on 21 shots faced before being pulled. Logan Thompson, Washington’s top goaltender, has a stout 2.02 GAA and .918 save rate in 2025.
Thompson has held three of his past four opponents to one total goal, while never giving up more than two goals in any of these four consecutive starts in the crease. Anaheim’s offense is up for the challenge, ranked third in goals per game scored (3.48), but Husso is a big liability on the back end.
Washington’s offense is in a strong rhythm, scoring three or more goals in nine straight games. Husso has surrendered four goals to the Kings and Mammoth in the past week. Both teams are notably more limited on offense than Washington right now.
Let’s bet on Washington to go over its team total of 3.5 goals at -106 odds.
Pick: Washington Capitals Over 3.5 Total Goals (-106)
- 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
Subscribe: YouTube | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | iHeart | Castbox | Amazon Music | Podcast Addict | TuneIn