Free NHL Betting Picks - Today's Best Bets, Expert Predictions, Odds (10/27/23)

It's a solid six-game NHL schedule on tap this Friday evening which means it's time to get our weekend started on the right note!

Attention, fellow sports bettors! We have some exciting news to share as we are now officially partnered with various sportsbooks and have some sweet sports betting promo offers! Get your deposit bonus, as well as a year of free RotoBaller Premium access, when you sign up with a new account today! After you're signed up, use our picks in this article for spreads, totals, and props to win big.

In this article, I'll provide my favorite betting picks for the NHL games on Friday, October 27, 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 - Buffalo Sabres vs. New Jersey Devils

O/U: 7 | Moneyline: NJ (-192)

It's an Eastern Conference tilt tonight between the Sabres and Devils as both clubs aim to correct inconsistent starts to their respective seasons.

The Sabres, entering the season with wildly optimistic expectations, are tied for last in the Atlantic Division with a 3-4-0 record on the campaign. Head coach Don Granato has already thrown his forward lines into the blender in order to shake up what was a promising offense entering the season.

That offense currently sits 21st with just 2.71 goals per game. They also rank 21st in high-danger chances for per 60 minutes of five-on-five action. Their 26th-ranked 47.37% expected goals for percentage at five-on-five, as per Natural Stat Trick, is no good either.

While the Devils are just 3-2-1 themselves, they've been better of late, they have won two of their last three. Their 55.29% expected goals for% sits sixth in the NHL while they sit fifth in high-danger changes for/60 at 5v5. Clearly, offense has not been an issue as they also rank third in the NHL with an even four goals per game on the season. The issue at been their 27th-ranked 3.67 goals against per game on the campaign.

The Devils were viewed by many as a sexy Stanley Cup-winning team this season. Of course, they have not looked anywhere close to that caliber in this young season. However, this is a nice opportunity for them to get right on home ice against an opponent that has also struggled to begin their season.

We'll look for the New Jersey team we all envisioned in this one tonight.

Pick: Devils -1.5 puck line (+130, DraftKings sportsbook)

Sports Betting Promo Offers

Today's NHL Betting Picks - St. Louis Blues vs. Vancouver Canucks

O/U: 6.5 | Moneyline: VAN (-180)

The Canucks have been one of the bigger surprises as a team so far this season as they have come out of the gate 4-2-0 on the campaign as they look to take care of a Blues team on the tail end of a back-to-back following a win over the Calgary Flames on Thursday night.

While the record is solid, the underlying numbers are not. The Canucks sit 31st in terms of high-danger chances against/60 at 5v5 while their expected goals for percentage at 5v5 sit 31st, as well. They rank eighth in both overall offense and overall defense but those numbers are not going to last given what the data is telling us.

The Blues haven't been a whole lot better. They sit fifth in overall defense but also 19th in high-danger chances against/60 at 5v5. They have also struggled to score as their 2.17 goals per game on the season sit 28th in the league and their expected goals for/60 at 5v5 on the season sit 31st. However, the Canucks sit 30th in that exact same department.

In short, it appears we have a couple of teams that have over-performed to this point in the young campaign. While the Canucks sat and watched the Blues beat their division rival Flames on Thursday, there is no value to be had in their -180 odds to win this one outright.

Despite the back-to-back scenario, the Blues are worth a look against a Canucks team that has greatly outplayed their deserved results to this point in the season.

Pick: Blues moneyline (+150, DraftKings sportsbook)

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

More Fantasy Baseball Analysis