Its a brand new week in the NHL as we cruise into the end of October and into November and so much has already happened! It has also been a roller coaster on the best bets front thus far but things seem to leveling out as I get more of an idea on who these teams are and what trends there are to follow. There are 9 games slated around the NHL tonight so that means there's plenty of lines and odds to exploit and in today's article you will find a trio of selections from a Puck Line to a game total to a team total! Good luck out there everyone and enjoy the night of hockey!

  • Friday's Record 1-1
  • Season Record: 12-12-1
  • Bankroll: -0.62 units

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**all bets are one unit unless specifically mentioned.

NHL Best Bets for October 30

Anaheim Ducks at Pittsburgh Penguins

Like many NHL betting analysts I am a full on statistic nerd and one of the most glaring things I have seen this season is how unlucky the Penguins have been through the first few weeks of this season. The offense has been generating a tremendous amount of scoring chances but sits at just 2.88 goals per game right now, in the bottom half of the league. This doesn't make much sense as they rank 2nd in the NHL in expected goals per game and hold a 54.48 Corsi For percentage which is 6th best in the league. At some point the chickens come home to roost so to speak and that may happen tonight as the Ducks travel to Pittsburgh with their lackluster underlying stats in Corsi and expected goals against. Things are reaching a fever pitch in the Burgh and tonight I think things right themselves in a way but the Money Line is too chalky so give me the Puck Line instead at way more value. 

Pick: Pittsburgh Penguins Puck Line -1.5 (+105 on BetMGM)

 

Carolina Hurricanes at Philadelphia Flyers

Nothing like a solid matchup between two of the Metropolitan Division's best tonight as the Hurricanes travel to take on the Flyers! Philly has been one of the most interesting teams so far this season as they are playing well and have points in 5 of 8 games so far and have done so by playing top notch defense. The Flyers have the 5th best mark in the NHL when it comes to expected goals against at 2.38 and thus have gone under the game totals in 4 of 8 games. This number is significant because the Hurricanes are also one of the league's best defensive teams over the past couple seasons but have been getting gashed to start the year. They are rounding back into form though with their last 3 games going under the total and allowing just 5 total goals. This is no surprise as the Hurricanes rank 2nd in expected goals against but just have been unlucky with goaltending and penalties. This one seems like an under to me so let's back the deep stats. 

Pick: Hurricanes & Flyers Under 6 Goals (+100 at BetMGM)

Columbus Blue Jackets at Dallas Stars

I will start this by saying I like what the Blue Jackets are doing in their rebuild thus far with all the young talent but tonight is going to be tough sledding against one of the best teams in the NHL. The Stars are without a doubt a Stanley Cup contender at this point and that is on the back of their defensive prowess as they allow just 2.33 goals per game and in expected goals against its even lower at 2.27 which is the 4th best in the NHL. The Stars have also hit the under in 5 of 6 games this season but I will not be looking at the overall total instead the Blue Jackets total that sits at 2.5 goals. Its a low number but against Jake Oettinger and his 1.44 GAA I just can't see them scoring 3 goals tonight. Columbus has only scored 5 goals in their last 3 games as well in matchups against the Canadiens, Ducks and Islanders which are teams far worse than Dallas so give me the Stars to slam the door shut on these young Blue Jackets

Pick: Columbus Blue Jackets Under 2.5 Goals (-145 at BetMGM)