NHL Picks Today: NHL Best Bets, Predictions and Props for Friday, Oct. 30

Today’s Top NHL Picks at a Glance

• Golden Knights Moneyline (-113)
• Mark Scheifele Over 1.5 Shots on Goal (-148)
• Kraken Moneyline (-120)

Friday’s NHL slate is small, with just three games on the schedule, but there are still some intriguing betting opportunities across the moneyline and player-prop markets.

We’ll target one wager from each matchup, including a shots-on-goal prop.

Let's dive into the best bets for tonight.

For additional NHL insights, check out FanDuel Research's daily NHL projections, which are powered by numberFire.

NHL odds come from FanDuel Sportsbook and may change after this article is published.

NHL Predictions Today: Player Props, Best Bets

Golden Knights Moneyline (-113)

Devils at Golden Knights — 6:00 p.m. ET

Vegas enters Friday at 9-4-1 and has been especially difficult to beat defensively early in the season.

The Golden Knights are allowing only 2.79 goals per game, which ranks among the better marks in the league. New Jersey has also defended well, surrendering 2.92 goals per contest, so this doesn't profile as a matchup in which either side should be able to generate easy offense.

That makes home ice particularly valuable in what FanDuel has essentially priced as a toss-up. Vegas has the slightly better record, and numberFire gives the Golden Knights a 60.6% chance to win despite their moneyline sitting at only -113.

New Jersey is certainly capable of winning this one, but with Vegas getting the game at T-Mobile Arena and carrying the stronger win probability, I'll side with the Golden Knights at a modest favorite price.

Mark Scheifele Over 1.5 Shots on Goal (-148)

Jets at Panthers — 7:00 p.m. ET

Mark Scheifele's recent shot volume makes two shots a reasonable target against Florida.

Scheifele is averaging 2.3 shots on goal per game this season, and that number has climbed to 3.0 across his last five appearances. He's recorded at least two shots in four of those five games, including a seven-shot performance against Montreal in his most recent outing.

His workload also provides a strong floor. Scheifele is averaging more than 21 minutes of ice time per game this season and continues to skate on Winnipeg's top line and first power-play unit.

Florida is a sizable favorite, which could actually help this prop if Winnipeg spends much of the night chasing the game and asking its top offensive players to generate chances.

We don't need Scheifele to score or record a point. Two shots gets the job done, and his combination of recent volume and heavy ice time makes the over appealing.

Kraken Moneyline (-120)

Kraken at Flames — 8:00 p.m. ET

Seattle has been the much better team through the opening portion of the season, making the Kraken an appealing moneyline pick.

The Kraken enter Friday at 8-4-1, while Calgary is just 5-7. FanDuel has Seattle’s ML at -120, and numberFire's model gives the Kraken a 56.4% probability of leaving Calgary with a win, which comes out to a -129 ML.

Goaltending has also been an issue for the Flames. Dustin Wolf has struggled in his recent starts, and Calgary enters this matchup having had trouble consistently keeping opponents off the scoreboard.

The Kraken have banked points consistently through their first 13 games and enter with three more wins than Calgary.

With the stronger early-season résumé, Seattle is my preferred side in the final game of Friday's NHL slate.

NHL Betting -- Frequently Asked Questions

What Is the Puck Line in NHL Betting?

The puck line is hockey's version of a point spread. The standard puck line is usually set at 1.5 goals, meaning a team listed at -1.5 must win by at least two goals for the bet to cash. A team at +1.5 can either win outright or lose by one goal.

What Does the Moneyline Mean in NHL Betting?

A moneyline bet is a wager on which team will win the game. Favorites have negative odds, while underdogs have positive odds. Unlike the puck line, the margin of victory does not matter.

What Are NHL Player Props?

NHL player props allow bettors to wager on an individual player's performance rather than the final result of the game. Common markets include goals, assists, points, shots on goal, and goalie saves.

What Should You Consider When Betting on NHL Games?

Several factors can influence NHL betting decisions, including starting goaltenders, injuries, recent team performance, special-teams play, expected line combinations, and whether a team is playing on consecutive nights. Because goalie confirmations can significantly impact a matchup, it can be useful to check the latest lineup news before placing a bet.

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The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author's advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.