Free NHL Betting Picks - Today's Best Bets, Expert Predictions, Odds (10/20/23)

We have a short two-game NHL schedule on tap but that certainly does not mean there isn't money to be made!

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In this article, I'll provide my favorite betting picks for the NHL games on Friday, October 20, 2023. We will focus on money line bets, totals, and team totals. With all of that said, let's break down some hockey games. Follow me on Twitter @BKemp17.

Today's NHL Betting Picks - Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Calgary Flames

O/U: 6.5 | Moneyline: CGY (-142)

The Calgary Flames and Columbus Blue Jackets get together for their first and only visit at Nationwide Arena in Columbus this evening.

The Flames are coming off of a hard-fought 4-3 win over the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday night and could be a little lackadaisical in this one. The victory improved their record to 2-1-1 in the early going while Dan Vladar was the winning netminder for the road side.

This, of course, means Jacob Markstrom will be back in the crease for the Flames tonight. Markstrom is coming off of a down 2022-23 campaign that saw him turn in a 2.92 goals-against average and an .892 save percentage across 59 starts while he sports similar numbers via a 2.96 GAA and .898 Sv% in three starts to kick off this season.

The Blue Jackets are in search of their second win in four tries as they look to shore up their back end. Only the Sharks and Canucks have allowed more high-danger scoring chances against per 60 minutes of five-on-five action this season, as per Natural Stat Trick, while they sit 24th with 3.67 goals against per game on the season.

At the same time, their offense needs to get going. They sit 28th with 2.33 goals per game on the season but also 31st in high-danger chances for/60 at 5v5 in a small sample so far this season.

Getting the nod in goal for the home team tonight is Elvis Merzlikins who has been stellar in two starts, allowing just three goals on 60 shots (.950 Sv%) against a paint of potent offenses in the Penguins and Rangers. Despite his team being heavily out-chanced so far this season, Merzlikins has been there to bail them out. He's well on his way to bouncing back from an ugly 4.23 GAA and .876 Sv% in 30 games a season ago.

It would certainly appear that the Blue Jackets have the hotter goalie going in this one while they look to take advantage of a Flames team in a back-to-back situation. Let's look for Columbus to snatch a victory here at a quality price.

Pick: Blue Jackets moneyline (+125, DraftKings sportsbook)

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Today's NHL Betting Picks - New Jersey Devils vs. New York Islanders

O/U: 6 | Moneyline: NJ (-120)

Few teams in the NHL received more pre-season hype than the New Jersey Devils. Needless to say, they have failed to live to the hype in the early going.

They nabbed a 4-3 opening-night win over the Detroit Red Wings to kick off their season before dropping back-to-back games to the Coyotes and Panthers, interestingly both by 4-3 final scores, as well. Head coach Lindy Ruff has been furious with his team's effort to begin the season and has since put the Devils through some grueling skates. Those can be seen on Twitter, if you're wondering.

At any rate, this is a nice bounce-back spot against one of their biggest rivals. The Islanders are a clean 2-0-0 on the young season despite scoring just four goals total to this point. As it turns out, this team is exactly who we thought they'd be: a low-octane offense with an elite goaltender that can help mitigate the lack of production up front.

Iyla Sorokin, a sexy Vezina Trophy pick, has turned in a stealth 1.00 GAA and .952 Sv% while earning wins over the Sabres and Coyotes, both at home where he is tonight. The Russian netminder turned in a 2.34 GAA and .924 Sv% in 62 appearances last season, finishing as the Vezina runner-up to Boston's Linus Ullmark. While not confirmed as tonight's starter, expect Sorokin to get the nod as the Islanders are on three days' rest.

The Devils have yet to announce a starter but don't be surprised to see rookie Akira Schmid between the pipes. The 23-year-old allowed three goals on 33 shots (.909 Sv%) in a loss to the Coyotes in his lone start this season but it's not hard to see him push Vitek Vanecek for the 1A spot this season. Vanecek isn't off to a stellar start while it was Schmid who posted a fantastic 2.35 GAA and .921 Sv% across nine games in playoffs last spring. He appears to be the future in goal for New Jersey.

It's never easy to bet against one of the very best goaltenders in the league but the Devils are the superior club and should be able to get back on the right track Friday night on Long Island.

Pick: Devils moneyline (-120, DraftKings sportsbook)

Good luck, Rotoballers! Let's cash some bets and make some money today!

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