Check out the NHL odds with our expert picks and predictions for hockey games on Friday, October 18.
The NHL schedule tonight features just three games. However, our hockey pros have examined the Friday NHL odds board, and they've got a trio of bets for all three matchups, including:
- Hurricanes vs. Penguins (7 p.m. ET, NHL Network)
- Sharks vs. Jets (8 p.m. ET, ESPN+)
- Ducks vs. Avalanche (9 p.m. ET, ESPN+)
Below, check out their NHL picks and predictions, which include a bet on the total, a pick on the puck line, and an anytime goalscorer prop bet.
NHL odds for matchups as of Friday evening and via ESPN BET. Bet on the NHL with our ESPN BET promo code.
NHL Odds & Best Bets
The team logos in the table below represent each of the matchups that our NHL betting staff is targeting from today's slate of games. Click on the team logos for any of the matchups below to navigate to a specific bet discussed in this article.
| Game | Time (ET) | Pick |
|---|---|---|
  | 7 p.m. | |
  | 8 p.m. | |
  | 9 p.m. | |
Specific betting recommendations come from the sportsbook offering preferred odds as of writing. Always shop for the best price using our NHL Odds page, which automatically surfaces the best lines for every game. | ||
Hurricanes vs. Penguins
After a rough loss in their season opener, the Pittsburgh Penguins (+145) have won three of their last four games as they cost Carolina (-170), and it’s no surprise it's been their big dogs leading the way. Evgeni Malkin has 11 points in five contests, and Sidney Crosby is sitting on six.
But one player who has also enjoyed a decent start to life as a Penguin is Anthony Beauvillier. Although he only has two points (both of which came in a two-goal game), the former Islander is leading the Pens in shots with 15.
Beauvillier may not have the natural skill you’d want for a player deployed with Crosby, but he works hard and gets to the net consistently, so he should continue to get decent looks with Sid doing the heavy lifting beside him.
As long as Beauvillier continues to get time on Crosby’s wing he’s worth a sprinkle as an anytime goalscorer bet at +490.
Pick: Anthony Beauvillier Anytime Goalscorer (+490 at Caesars)
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Sharks vs. Jets
By Greg Liodice
Once again, the Sharks are a dumpster fire, but at least it’s by design. The problem is, they’ll be missing out on the first overall draft pick last season, Macklin Celebrini, who’s on IR.
Tyler Toffoli has been, to no surprise, a solid veteran addition, Fabian Zetterlund is a solid goalscorer, and William Eklund continues to get better. Outside of them, who else is there? I’m sure the Sharks would like to get more out of Will Smith, their fourth overall draft pick in 2023.
The problem is everything is going wrong in San Jose. The 5-on-5 play is abysmal with the Sharks dead last in expected goals with a 42.9 xGF%, and they’re second to last with a 4.16 xGA/60 defensively.
They head up north to take on the Winnipeg Jets, who, to my surprise, look exceptional. I’m not holding my breath for a successful Jets run this season, considering I’ve been burned by them before, but this is a franchise that can bring it.
Winnipeg will grind and grind all game. The team is not an offensive juggernaut (though there are a ton of offensive dynamos on this roster), but so far, the talent is on the back end. Defensively, the Jets are holding up well, ranking seventh with a 2.8 xGA/60 along with Vezina Trophy netminder Connor Hellebuyck.
Having Hellebuyck at their disposal only does wonders for Winnipeg (-400), especially against a low-tiered young team like the Sharks (+320).
This bout is completely mismatched, and I think the Jets come out on top in big fashion.
Pick: Jets -1.5 (-125 at DraftKings)
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Ducks vs. Avalanche
By Nick Martin
The high-powered Avalanche have played a lot of high-scoring hockey over the last three seasons, and even in their Cup Winning 2022 season, they were not a defensive juggernaut. All four Avalanche games have gone over the total this season, and those games have averaged 9.5 goals.
There are a lot of things that would need to change in order for Avs' game totals to start trending down. They are skating without several important NHL regulars such as Devon Toews, Jonathan Drouin and Arturri Lehkonen.
Playing with a depleted roster has certainly played a role in their inability to defend this season, but they have looked highly disorganized beyond that. Receiving a save% of only .776 has also been a massive part of the problem.
All summer I've been beating the drum that Anaheim's offensive core is deeper than it gets credit for, and I believe the Ducks (+220) can do their share to contribute to this total against an Avalanche (-270) team struggling mightily on the defensive side of things.
I'm still expecting some growing pains defensively from the Ducks this season, though. Given Colorado's 0-4-0 start and lack of depth, we can expect huge minutes from Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar and Mikko Rantanen in most game scripts.
This doesn't look like the matchup to shy away from backing another high-scoring Avs' game as they take on a Ducks side that should play fairly high-event hockey in their own right. At anything better than -130, I see value in backing the game to go Over 6.5 goals.
Pick: Over 6.5 (-120 at BetRivers)
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