NHL Picks Today: NHL Best Bets, Predictions and Props for Friday, Oct. 23

Today’s Top NHL Picks at a Glance

• Canadiens Moneyline (-154)
• Nikita Kucherov to Record 2+ Points (+160)

Friday brings us a compact two-game NHL slate, but there are still a couple of betting spots worth targeting at FanDuel Sportsbook’s NHL odds.

Montreal visits Chicago in tonight’s opener before Tampa Bay heads to Colorado for a matchup featuring two of the league's more dangerous offenses.

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

Canadiens Moneyline (-154)

Canadiens at Blackhawks — 8:00 p.m. ET

The Canadiens enter Friday at 4-3-2 while the Blackhawks are 3-6-0 through their first nine games. Chicago has also been one of the league's weaker offensive teams thus far, averaging only 2.33 goals per game compared to 3.11 for Montreal.

The matchup gets more appealing when looking at shot generation. Montreal is averaging 29.7 shots per game while Chicago is generating only 21.4. The Blackhawks are also allowing 4.00 goals per game, giving a Montreal offense led by Cole Caufield, Nick Suzuki and Juraj Slafkovsky a favorable opportunity.

Caufield has been especially dangerous, producing six goals and eight points through nine games. Chicago has some offensive talent of its own, but the Canadiens have the deeper scoring profile and significantly better shot-generation numbers, making the moneyline my preferred side of this matchup.

Nikita Kucherov to Record 2+ Points (+160)

Lightning at Avalanche — 9:00 p.m. ET

Nikita Kucherov has picked up right where he left off. The Lightning winger leads Tampa Bay with 13 points through nine games, recording four goals and nine assists while piling up five points across his last two outings.

Kucherov also has an excellent history against Colorado, totaling 25 points in 23 career regular-season meetings with the Avalanche. His current role remains elite, with Kucherov skating on Tampa Bay's top line alongside Brandon Hagel and Anthony Cirelli while continuing to serve as a focal point of the power play.

Colorado has allowed 30 goals through 10 games, and this matchup carries plenty of offensive upside. The Avalanche have scored 41 goals themselves and lead the NHL with 34 five-on-five goals, so Tampa Bay may need multiple goals to keep pace.

That kind of game script suits Kucherov well. With his current form and massive offensive role, I like him to record another multi-point night.

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.

New customers can get up to $350 in Bonus Bets — guaranteed — when you bet $5 every day for seven days. Place your first wager now! See here for full terms and conditions. Learn about today's other offers at FanDuel Sportsbook Promos.

Which NHL bets stand out to you today? Check out FanDuel Sportsbook's NHL odds to see the full menu of options.

Sign up for FanDuel Sportsbook and FanDuel Daily Fantasy today!

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.