It’s Friday again, so that means it’s time for some free NHL betting picks on the best of tonight’s action.
On the ice tonight are two of the hottest sides in the Western Conference, the Colorado Avalanche and Calgary Flames.
The two are running away with their respective divisions, and also makeup two of the top four in the betting odds to win the 2022 Stanley Cup.
The betting favorites are currently the Colorado Avalanche. They are a massive 15 points ahead of the Minnesota Wild at the top of the Central Division. Yes, the Wild has two games in hand, but even if they win those games, they will still be in arrears of at least 11 points.
Jared Bednar’s team has won an astonishing 45 matches from 64 played. This is why they have topped the Stanley Cup betting market all season, and why Colorado is still the favorite at just +450 to win their third Stanley Cup this year.
In the Pacific Division, it isn’t as clear-cut. Calgary Flames has a 5 points lead at the top of the table, but they do have three games in hand on second-placed Los Angeles Kings.
| Latest Odds To Win 2022 Stanley Cup |  |  |
|---|---|---|
| Colorado Avalanche | +450 | +450 |
| Florida Panthers | +550 | +550 |
| Tampa Bay Lightning | +800 | +850 |
| Calgary Flames | +1000 | +1000 |
| Toronto Maple Leafs | +1100 | +1100 |
| Carolina Hurricanes | +1000 | 1100 |
| Vegas Golden Knights | +1400 | +1400 |
Unlike the Avalanche, the Calgary Flames have been a slow burner this season. While Colorado has been favorites all along, the Flames have gradually worked their way up the division, along with the betting markets.
And as a result of this progress, BetUS now make the Flames fourth favorite at +1000.
For the record, the same bookmakers have Florida Panthers as second-favorites at +550, and Tampa Bay Lightning at +850.
There are plenty of Futures markets to bet on in the NHL. Popular markets are Stanley Cup winners, conference winners, and division winners.
If you prefer the individual match markets, there are three main bets that you can place. They are:-
Here at Vegas Betting, we have put together a great page with all you need to know about Las Vegas NHL Odds, and Ice Hockey betting in general. This will help you out in more detail.
Now it’s time for our picks, and we’re off to Canada for the first match, with Calgary looking to extend their lead at the top of the Pacific Division.
The Flames lost their last match 4-3 at home to the Sharks earlier this week and will see this match as the ideal opportunity to get back to winning ways.
Calgary has been a bit inconsistent over the past couple of weeks, but even following that pattern of form, they are due a win tonight.
They are up against an Arizona side that sits bottom of the Central Division and has lost their last three.
On the Moneyline, the Flames are -450 and offer no value (Arizona is +350). So looking at the handicap, I can see that Calgary is -160, starting from -1.5 points. I do see them winning by more than two, but I’m not sure that’s of great value.
In the Coyotes’ last nine matches there has been a minimum of five goals scored, usually far more. Therefore I think at -110, Over 5.5 Goals has to be the pick.
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The Avalanche also suffered a shock defeat last time out, going down 3-1 at home to the Vancouver Canucks, of all teams!
The Canucks might not be the worst team, but they certainly wouldn’t be expected to give the Avalanche a beating like that.
Anyway, like with the Flames, this match represents a great chance to get back to winning ways. And before the shock defeat, Colorado had won four in a row, so they’re not in bad form overall.
As for Philadelphia, they sit second bottom of the Metropolitan Division with a rotten record. They have just 21 wins from 64 matches played. They have improved of late in fairness, and in their last 10 matches, their record reads 5-4-1.
The betting on this match is also very similar to that of the Flames’ match.
Colorado is just -450 on the Moneyline, with the Flyers at +325. While on the handicap, Colorado is -155, and the Flyers are +135. I also don’t see either of them as great value.
Therefore I’m again looking at the over/under market, and this is where I see the best value.
Over 6 goals are -110, and with both these teams’ matches generally high scoring, I think Over 6 Goals is the best value bet and is my final pick.
