Fire up the Goal Horns: Friday Expert Picks in the NHL
Written by: TonesTakes
Last Update: Fri Oct 23, 2026, 12:57 pm ET
Read Time: 6 minutes
nhl
Back for another weekend of NHL picks after going 4-1 last week for a profit of 3.45 Units. YTD sits at 12-3 +11.29 Units. It's been a fantastic start to the season for the Betting News team and I am thrilled to be able to provide my insight on the best sport in the world. It's "Freaky" Friday on the ice tonight and we have a small, 2 game slate but don't worry, we'll have action on both. First we have the Montreal Canadiens visiting the Chicago Blackhawks, then we have a heavyweight tilt as the Tampa Bay Lightning visiting the Colorado Avalanche.
Before we get started, bookmark Our NHL picks page where you'll see more picks from the team. For more information on how to bet on the NHL, take a look at our NHL Betting Guide.
As far as my NHL picks, I look at shot on goal props, but only plus money looks, as the market is very volatile with stat corrections (sometimes days after the game has ended). Also, I'm a totals bettor (team and game). I am never afraid at looking at plus money underdogs. I love providing my insight as to the "Why" and I hope to provide some guidance to novice bettors of this great sport. "Spot" betting is huge on the ice, and this depends on teams travel schedules, goaltending matchups and splits following a win/loss, among may others.
Montreal Canadiens vs Chicago Blackhawks Predictions
Chicago Blackhawks center Connor Bedard looks to pass the puck while entering the offensive zone.
Montreal Canadiens vs Chicago Blackhawks Goaltending Matchup
- Montreal Canadiens (4-3-2) Jakub Dobes (projected) 1-2-2, 4.47 GAA/.847 Sv%
- Chicago Blackhawks (3-6-0) Spencer Knight (projected) 3-4, 3.60 GAA/.888 Sv%
Canadiens vs Blackhawks Betting Odds
Odds courtesy of our friends at LuckyRebel:
Money-Line
- Montreal Canadiens (-170)
- Chicago Blackhawks (+142)
Pick-Line
- Montreal Canadiens -1.5 (+150)
- Chicago Blackhakws +1.5 (-180)
Total
- Over 6.5 (+102)
- Under 6.5 (-122)
Last 5 Games
MTL
Result
ATS
Total
@ CHI
W4 - 1
W-2.5
6.5
vs SJS
L4 - 3
L-1.5
6.5
vs BUF
W3 - 4
W0
-
@ WSH
L4 - 5
W+1.5
6
vs BUF
W3 - 4
L-1.5
6
CHI
Result
ATS
Total
vs MTL
L4 - 1
L+2.5
6.5
vs DAL
L4 - 0
L+1.5
6
vs WPG
W3 - 4
L-1.5
P7
vs PIT
W3 - 5
W+1.5
6
vs CAR
L5 - 2
L+1.5
5
Betting Records
MTL
CHI
7 - 1 - 4(11th)
3 - 1 - 1
Wins
Away/Home
(26th)5 - 6 - 3
5 - 1 - 2
6 - 6 - 0(12th)
4 - 1 - 0
ATS
Away/Home
(16th)7 - 7 - 0
3 - 5 - 0
8 - 4 - 0(4th)
2 - 3 - 0
Ov / Un
Away/Home
(25th)6 - 4 - 4
4 - 2 - 2
Best Bet: Chicago Blackhawks +145 Lucky Rebel
The injury riddled Montreal Canadiens begin a 4 game road trip tonight as the visit the Chicago Blackhawks. The Habs were dealt an injiry blow a couple days ago as it was announced Captain, and top line center, Nick Suzuki would be out 2-4 weeks with an upper body injury. Montreal is already missing forward Ivan Demidov and top defensive defenseman Mike Matheson. After making the Eastern Conference Final last season, the Habs have had a tough time finding a consistent game to start the season and the Suzuki injury is a major blow down the middle of the ice. Montreal is also in a potential look a head spot here as the will battle the Winnipeg Jet Sunday night in the heritage classic, which is an outdoor game in Winnipeg.
The Chicago Blackhawks are off an unusual early season layoff. The Hawks have not played since Saturday night when they suffered a 4-0 home loss to the Dallas Stars. Young Superstar Conner Bedard returned from a shoulder injury on October 13th and they have gone 2-1 in that span. The Hawks are 3-2 at home this season and always offer good value on hime ice. The offseason additions of Bowen Byram and the returning Patrick Kane have been nice additions to this young roster. I like this price on the home team here as the Montreal is too inflated tonight.
Best Bet: Lane Hutson Over 2.5 SOG +245 Lucky Rebel
Hutson has been rolling on the top power play unit
Montreal defenseman Lane Hutson has been shooting the puck more than usual to start the season. Hutson has cleared 3 shots on goal in 4 of his last 8 games. He is averaging 5.6 attempts per game and has registered 7 attempts in each of his last 2 road games. The Blackhawks are allowing the 11th most shots on goal to defenseman at home this season. With Montreal missing key pieces on offense I will look an an alternate line here for Lane to get 3+ shots on goal at a fantastic price.
Tampa Bay Lighting vs Colorado Avalanche Predictions
Tampa Bay Lightning vs Colorado Avalanche Goaltending Matchup
- Tampa Bay Lightning (7-2) Andrei Vasilevskiy (projected) 5-2, 2.46 GAA/.898 Sv%
- Colorado Avalanche (5-4-1) Mackenzie Blackwood (projected) 4-3, 2.90 GAA/.889 Sv%
Lightning vs Avalanche Betting Odds
Odds courtesy of our friends at LuckyRebel:
Money-Line
- Tampa Bay Lightning (+105)
- Colorado Avalanche (-125)
Pick-Line
- Tampa Bay Lightning +1.5 (-238)
- Colorado Avalanche -1.5 (+195)
Total
- Over 6 (-130)
- Under 6 (+100)
Last 5 Games
TBL
Result
ATS
Total
@ VGK
W6 - 2
W+1.5
6.5
vs VAN
W2 - 4
W-1.5
P6
vs SEA
W3 - 4
W0
-
@ NYR
L1 - 4
L-1.5
6
@ NYI
W5 - 3
W-1.5
-
COL
Result
ATS
Total
@ NJD
L3 - 4
W+1.5
6.5
@ PHI
L2 - 3
L-1.5
6
vs PIT
W2 - 5
W+1.5
P7
vs DAL
L3 - 2
L-1.5
P5
@ DAL
W3 - 2
L-1.5
6
Betting Records
TBL
COL
9 - 2 - 2(3rd)
3 - 2 - 1
Wins
Away/Home
(15th)6 - 4 - 2
4 - 0 - 2
7 - 6 - 0(9th)
3 - 3 - 0
ATS
Away/Home
(14th)6 - 6 - 0
4 - 2 - 0
5 - 6 - 2(28th)
3 - 3 - 0
Ov / Un
Away/Home
(20th)6 - 4 - 2
4 - 0 - 2
Best Bet: Tampa Bay Lightning vs Colorado Avalanche Over 6 -130 Lucky Rebel
Friday night's main even on the NHL slate features a battle between 2 heavyweights as the Tampa Bay Lighting visit the Colorado Avalanche. Tampa is off a 6-2 win in Vegas on Tuesday night while the Avalanche are back from from a disappointing 2 game road trip where they dropped back to back game to the Flyers and Devils. Both of the teams have no problem lighting the lamp as Tampa Bay averages 3.4 goals per game (3.3 on the road) while Colorado averages 4.1 goals per game (4.8 at home.
I expect the Avs to especially push the pace as they are not happy after back to back loses and this team produces more offensively on home ice. Recent series history points to the over as 4 of the last 5 meetings has seen at least 6 goals with an average of 7.4 goals. I am paying some juice to get a flat total of 6 here and -130 is my benchmark for doing so. Regardless, I can definitely see a 3-3 type game tonight, at Ball Arena.
Be sure to check out other NHL plays from the great staff here at Betting News, as well as additional social media content.
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