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Top 3 NHL Player Prop Betting Picks for Tonight’s Games Oct 18, 2024
- Andrei Svechnikov and Frank Vatrano among players looking for their first goal of the season on Friday.
- Is this the night when the Colorado Avalanche finally win a game?
- Check the latest NHL betting odds for the three games scheduled for Friday.
NHL fans will get to see both ends of the spectrum in the three-game schedule on Friday with the Winnipeg Jets having a chance to join the Calgary Flames as the only 4-0 teams in the NHL, while the Colorado Avalanche look to avoid an 0-5 start.
The best game of the night might come in Pittsburgh where Sidney Crosby, NHL scoring leader Evgeni Malkin and the Pittsburgh Penguins welcome the Carolina Hurricanes to town with the NHL betting lines listing the Penguins as the home underdog for the second time this season.
When looking at the NHL injury report, Vasily Ponomarev of the Carolina Hurricanes, Isac Lundestrom and Jackson LaCombe of the Anaheim Ducks, and Colorado’s Miles Wood are among the players considered to be questionable for Friday’s games.
Let’s look at my NHL picks for Friday.
3 Best Ways to Bet on Tonight’s NHL Games
1. Surprising Names In Search Of Goal No. 1
It’s a little early to start freaking out at slow starts by players accustomed to finding the back of the net. However, when it comes to the NHL player props, there are some noteworthy players expected to be in action on Friday night still looking for their first goals of the 2024-25 season.
Carolina’s Andrei Svechnikov has scored at least 20 goals in each of the four seasons when he plays at least 60 games. Not only has Svechnikov not scored this season, he doesn’t have a shot on goal in the first two games of the season.
Rookie Will Smith has no points in his first three games and he is just ninth among the San Jose forwards in average time on ice.
Winnipeg’s Nino Niederreiter, Nikolaj Ehlers, Gabriel Vilardi and Cole Perfetti are all looking for goal No. 1.
Anaheim’s Frank Vatrano was one of the pleasant surprises during the 2023-24 season with 37 goals, 13 more than his previous career high. He has no goals through the first three games. Mason McTavish, Ryan Strome and rookie Cutter Gauthier are other players for the Anaheim Ducks yet to score.
When considering Oct. 18 player prop options, keep in mind that Svechnikov and Vatrano are both priced +200 to score a goal on Friday.
Bet This Pick: Andrei Svechnikov to Score a Goal (+200)
Bet Now! $450 NHL Bonus Available for $200 Bets on your first time deposit!
2. Is This The Night That The Avalanche Get Defensive?
This just in, if you allow five goals, it might be hard to win.
Colorado has surrendered at least five goals in each of the first four games and that is a major reason why the perennial Stanley Cup contenders are heading into the matchup with the Anaheim Ducks saddled with an 0-4-0 record.
Just how we drew it up 🖍️#GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/uAk8FcsEwg
— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) October 17, 2024
Some of the plus/minus numbers for the Colorado players are pretty frightening. Rookie Calum Ritchie is -7 with Cale Makar, Nathan MacKinnon, and Casey Mittelstadt all -6.
Makar, MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen have combined for six goals and 16 assists in the first four games but between the three of them, they have a -17 plus/minus rating. They have all been on the ice for at least eight even-strength goals scored against the Avalanche.
Goalies Alexandar Georgiev has a 5.79 goals-against average with backup Justus Annunen only slightly better at 4.69.
The Avalanche should be happy to see the Ducks coming to town considering that Colorado has won 11 of the last 13 games against Anaheim. That is one of the reasons why the BetUS sportsbook odds favor the Avalanche to pick up that elusive first win.
Bet on Colorado Avalanche To Win (-245)
3.NHL Parlay Bet for Friday
An overtime win by Vancouver on Thursday cost us the chance to deliver on a three-legged NHL parlay. We are going back to a player-driven parlay for Friday.
Defenseman Kris Letang leads the Pittsburgh Penguins in time on ice and he had points in three consecutive games before being held off the scoresheet in Wednesday’s win against the Buffalo Sabres. There is some pretty good value with Letang priced by the sports betting odds at +120 to have at least one point.
Letang on playing in his hometown: “It’s always special to play in this building… but to get a goal is always pretty cool.” pic.twitter.com/TtQJR80x66
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) October 15, 2024
Tyler Toffoli is off to an impressive start for the San Jose Sharks, his seventh team in the last six seasons with three goals and an assist. The -106 odds for Toffoli to have a point are too good to pass up. Let’s complete the NHL parlay with Colorado defenseman Cale Makar at +104 to have at least two points.
Put these three NHL bet predictions together in a parlay bet for a potentially big win.
Bet on Kris Letang (PIT), Tyler Toffoli (SJS), Cale Makar (COL) to score points: +775
Odds and information are accurate at the time of writing. Please check with official sources for the latest updates before placing any bets.
Questions of the Day
How many road teams are favored on Friday, October 18?
The Carolina Hurricanes are the only road favorite on Friday.
Which of the teams playing on Friday have the best championship odds?
The Colorado Avalanche are priced at +1200 in the Stanley Cup odds followed by the Carolina Hurricanes at +1400.
