NHL Stanley Cup Playoff Best Bets, Odds, & Picks: Friday (4/24)
The 1st Round of the 2026 NHL Stanley Cup rolls into a three-game slate on Friday night. All three betting favorites are -134 or longer, meaning we should be in store for some competitive matchups as all three series are knotted up at 1-1 entering Game 3.
All three home teams are underdogs, while two of three games have totals set to 5.5. Anaheim and Edmonton’s late-night puck drop is the exception set at 6.5, with a ton of juice on over 6.5 at -162 odds. Vegas and Utah are the tightest game on the slate, with the Mammoth valued at -105 odds in the moneyline betting market during their first home playoff game in franchise history.
I’ve got three best bets to tail for Friday’s 1st Round NHL Stanley Cup Playoff games. Follow me on X @Matt_MacKay_ for more NHL analysis and free picks throughout the remainder of the postseason.
Friday’s NHL Best Bets
(Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook)
Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Montreal Canadiens
The first two games between the Lightning and Canadiens have required overtime to settle a winner. Montreal heads back home to the Bell Centre, which promises to be a raucous environment, giving the Canadiens a big edge.
Montreal has won six straight games as a home underdog. The Canadiens have won three of the last four matchups against their Atlantic Division foes, while ranking seventh in goals scored per game (3.4) and 10th in power play percentage.
Tampa Bay is a veteran group that has former Vezina Trophy winner Andrei Vasilevskiy patrolling the crease. However, Montreal rosters a bunch of ascending young talent, led by Cole Caufield, Nick Suzuki, and Juraj Slafkovsky.
Let’s take the value and bet on Montreal at plus odds to win outright and take a 2-1 series lead during their first home playoff game tonight.
Pick: Montreal Canadiens Moneyline (+102)
Vegas Golden Knights vs. Utah Mammoth
We head out West for this next matchup between two relatively new NHL franchises. Vegas and Utah will play Game 3 in Salt Lake City, where the Mammoth hope to win their second straight game of the series following a 3-2 regulation win on the road in Game 2.
Oddsmakers believe in the Mammoth based on their -105 moneyline odds, the shortest of any home underdog on Friday’s slate. Utah is 3-2 SU against Vegas this season, however, the Golden Knights are 8-2 SU across their previous 10 outings.
Totals have gone under in seven of Vegas’ last eight road games. Unders have also won in four of Utah’s previous six head-to-head matchups against the Golden Knights.
Goaltenders are expected to be Carter Hart and Karel Vejmelka. Vejmelka has posted 46 saves against 51 shots faced. Hart has been busier in this series, logging 57 saves against 62 shots faced.
We’re seeing elite goaltending from both of these netminders. Both teams rank 12th or better in goals allowed per game. Two of the previous three matchups between the Mammoth and Golden Knights have also gone under 5.5.
Let’s continue to pound the plus odds and bet under 5.5 total goals at +106 during tonight’s Game 3 tilt between Vegas and Utah.
Pick: Under 5.5 (+106)
Edmonton Oilers vs. Anaheim Ducks
The Oilers have been the perennial favorite in the Western Conference, as Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl have their sights set on a third straight NHL Stanley Cup appearance.
It’s going to be an uphill battle against the Anaheim Ducks, who just posted a 6-4 road win against Edmonton in Game 2. Oddsmakers expect another high-scoring affair at the Honda Center tonight, with over 6.5 set at -162 odds.
The Oilers are 14-6 SU against the Ducks in their last 20 head-to-head matchups, while the Ducks are 3-9 SU in their most recent games played. 65 percent of moneyline bets remain on Edmonton in a potential bounce-back spot against an Anaheim defense ranked 29th in goals allowed (3.5) and 25th in save percentage.
Goaltenders will likely be Connor Ingram for the Oilers and Lukas Dostal for the Ducks. Neither netminder has played well in this series, each surrendering eight total goals across their first two starts.
The over is too juiced at -162 odds. I’m going to pick a side instead and roll with the Oilers to find their stride again, leaning on a top-10 scoring offense and the league’s No. 1 powerplay unit.
Bet on Edmonton to win Game 3 tonight at -134 odds in the moneyline betting market on FanDuel Sportsbook.
Pick: Edmonton Oilers Moneyline (-134)
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