Last updated: January 16, 2026 2:00 pm
While this page is updated daily, there is one thing to keep in mind about our free NHL picks: they are just a small taste of the hockey best bets that our experts have to offer.
While the free plays are still expected to win, they are not the strongest expert NHL predictions. Their best bets of the day are for their premium clients.
If you are serious about profiting on the NHL this season, sign up for a premium package or long-term subscription. Click a handicapper's name to go to his personal page for more information. You can also view a full list of all the NHL premium packages for today's card.
Last updated: August 20, 2025 1:52 pm
Best Free NHL Hockey Bets for Today
Ray Monohan
Ducks +131
Anaheim is worth a free move on Friday. At plus money, they have good value after taking down the Stars last time out. Meanwhile, the Kings continue to scuffle as they’ve dropped 4 of their last 5 and they’re struggling to produce scoring chances. They’ve scored 2 goals or less in 3 of those losses and things won’t get any easier against a Ducks defense that doesn’t allow many 2nd or 3rd chances. Back Anaheim. Ray’s daily FREE plays are meant to be cheap bankroll plays. Money management is everything in this game, and these freebies are designed to keep you moving in the right direction. Tonight’s FREE selection is a strong lean on the DUCKS ML. The number makes sense, the spot is right, and it’s a play worth taking. You know what to do. Good luck — Razor Ray
FRIDAY .75% FREE NHL ML Play
4-1 THURS, 2-1 WED, 3-0 TUES EN FUEGO! TOP 5 L30 DAYS! The wins keep stacking. The board is live and today’s card is posted. A BIG 3× Play Card is up for TGIF, and today’s DISCOUNTED Day Pass gets you full access. Razor is a Top-ranked handicapper across every network where his plays are sold, and he's locked in right now. Clients are cashing, the consistency is showing, and he's climbing the leaderboards. As always… “Pad that bankroll one day at a time.
Mike Williams
1* on Ducks +124
R&R Totals
R&R Totals FREE NHL Over-Under Friday 1-16-26
OVER 6 Anaheim/Los Angeles
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Dustin Hawkins
1 Dimer on Sharks +157
Sean Murphy
Friday NHL Free play. My selection is on Colorado -1.5 goals over Nashville at 9:05 pm et on Friday.
The Predators enter this game playing some of their best hockey, fresh off a 3-1 homestand that culminated with an 'upset' win over the Oilers. I think they're in the wrong place at the wrong time on Friday, however, as they travel to Denver to take on the Avalanche. Colorado is sure to be in a foul mood after suffering a loss at home against Toronto on Monday. The Avs have had three full days to stew over that defeat and we'll confidently back them to rebound here, noting that they've outscored the opposition by an average margin of 2.6 goals at home this season. Colorado is 2-1 against Nashville this season with both wins coming by at least two goals. Take Colorado -1.5 goals.
Cole Faxon
FREE PLAY on Kings -130
Brody Vaughn
1* Free Play on Hurricanes -160
How to Bet on NHL Games
Before we start, we want to address those who are new to betting. If you are looking for some help understanding the odds and the different types of bets you can make, you are in luck. Our hockey betting guide gives an in-depth breakdown of everything you need to know to get up to speed, but here is a general overview to get you started.
Moneylines in NHL Betting
The simplest way to bet on hockey is the moneyline, which is just picking which team will win the game outright. Each side is assigned odds based on its likelihood of winning.
A favorite might be listed at -150, meaning you would risk $150 to win $100.
An underdog could be +130, meaning a $100 bet would return $130 if they pull off the upset.
Moneyline betting is popular in hockey because NHL games are often close, and underdogs win frequently compared to sports like football or basketball.
Puck Line Bets
The hockey equivalent of a point spread is the puck line. Because NHL games are typically low-scoring and competitive, the standard puck line is almost always set at -1.5 goals for the favorite and +1.5 goals for the underdog.
For example, if the Bruins are -1.5 on the puck line, they must win by 2 or more goals to cover. If the underdog loses by just 1 goal, puck line bettors on that side still cash their ticket.
Puck lines can create bigger payouts for favorites and provide protection when backing underdogs.
Over/Under Totals
Another common wager in hockey is the over/under, also called the total.
Here, the sportsbook sets a projected combined score for both teams, often around 5.5 or 6.5 goals. Bettors then decide whether the final score will go over or under that number.
For instance, if the over/under is 6 and the game ends 4–3, the over wins.
Totals are influenced by factors like goaltender matchups, team offensive/defensive form, and power play efficiency.
Why Trust Our Free NHL Picks?
This page gives you easy access to today’s best sports bets for hockey. The NHL might not quite be as popular as other sports, but that doesn’t mean our cappers spend any less time studying the numbers, trying to find their clients an edge.
Our roster at Boyd’s Bets features over 90 of the top handicappers in the world. Many of our experts specialize in providing profitable hockey picks. Several give out their advice free on one of the games listed.
All our free picks show the exact time of release, where the expert placed the play, and the odds the expert received. We do this to show you that our handicappers are using the same hockey betting lines that are available to you.
We have been in business for over twenty years and have a reputation for full transparency. We built a system that tracks all of the handicappers, so you can trust that all records on our site are 100% accurate.
We also make sure each pick is released publicly shortly after the game has started, and you’ll be able to see all of the previous day’s plays a handicapper had on the premium side. Our guys have nothing to hide.
Tools for Researching Our NHL Experts
Most of the plays in the NHL are on the money line or totals, but we also have experts who put out NHL picks on the puck line. Some of our experts have a selective approach that targets a favorite with a high probability of winning. Others like to look for value with the big underdogs.
With a little bit of research, you can find an expert who not only profits but also fits your NHL betting style. If you just want our opinion on who to follow in hockey, here’s a list of our recommended NHL handicappers.
We also cater to those who want to decide on their own. We provide several tools to help you make a smart decision when it comes to purchasing an NHL package.
Who doesn’t want an expert with a proven track record? Check the long-term results section for a list of experts who win over an extended period. Are you more interested in who is hot right now? Visit our current season leaderboard that tracks records for the season in progress.
Don’t hesitate to shoot us an email at jimmy@boydsbets.com. We would be happy to answer any questions you may have.
