With a strong four-game slate of playoff hockey on Friday evening, there’s an abundance of NHL odds to choose from.
I’ve compiled my best two parlays for today’s action. As always, make sure you shop around and look for the best prices as these are rapidly changing markets that see a lot of action prior to puck drop.
Here are my free NHL picks for Friday, April 26.
NHL playoffs parlay picks April 26
- NYR/WSH Under 5.5 + Predators moneyline + Filip Forsberg to score (+479 at FanDuel)
- Avalanche moneyline + EDM/COL Over 6.5 + Leon Draisaitl to score (+531 at FanDuel)
Best NHL parlay picks for Friday
NHL parlay pick 1
NYR/WSH Under 5.5
Predators moneyline
Filip Forsberg to score
Kicking off Friday’s NHL slate is Game 3 between the New York Rangers and Washington Capitals. Game 1 went south of the total with five total goals scored while Game 2 saw a big uptick in scoring production as the Over cashed with seven total goals scored.
I believe Game 3 will go more similarly to Game 1 than Game 2, the latter of which was in large part due to a sloppy yet tightly officiated game that saw 11 power plays (!) and four power-play goals. Each team finished with a power play percentage north of 33%.
Every single one of those numbers is due for regression. There won’t be 11 power plays again, and each team won’t be scoring on a third of the ones that are called.
Take away even half of those power-play goals, and the Under is 2-0 to start this series. That shouldn’t be shocking, given how well goaltenders Igor Shesterkin and Charlie Lindgren played this season.
The other early-window game features the Nashville Predators hosting the Vancouver Canucks in Game 3. This series got flipped on its head with the news that goaltender Thatcher Demko is out indefinitely with a knee injury, and Nashville took full advantage in Game 2 against backup Casey DeSmith, who struggled in Demko’s place.
DeSmith surrendered three goals on just 15 shots for a .800 SV%, including a short-side snipe by forward Filip Forsberg. The gap between Demko and DeSmith is a wide one, and if we are backing Nashville to win once again, then I would also wager that Forsberg is also a part of the equation (again).
NHL parlay pick 2
Avalanche moneyline
EDM/COL Over 6.5
Leon Draisaitl to score
The Colorado Avalanche kick off the late window on Friday in Game 3 against the Winnipeg Jets. Colorado re-gained control of this series with a win in Game 2, which puts this round at 1-1 with three of the next five games played in Colorado, including Game 3.
The Avs playing at home was a serious problem for opposing teams as they went 31-9-1 at Ball Arena. By comparison, Winnipeg went 25-13-3 on the road this year, and while that is a good mark, it doesn’t quite stack up to Colorado’s home dominance.
Our only question mark for the Avalanche in this series is the goaltending disparity between Connor Hellebuyck and Alexandar Georgiev. With that said, Georgiev out-dueled Hellebuyck in Game 2, and a raucous home crowd could make that achievable once again on Friday.
The last matchup of the slate features Game 3 between the Edmonton Oilers and Los Angeles Kings, and we have seen nine or more total goals scored in each of those first two meetings. Both goaltenders in this series are struggling with the product in front of them, and there is no reason to expect anything different in Game 3.
If we are backing goals to be scored, then we obviously need goal scorers. Enter Leon Draisaitl.
Draisaitl has torched Los Angeles over the past couple of seasons, scoring 11 goals over the past 13 meetings. He scored in Game 1 and led all Edmonton skaters in expected goals in Game 2.
Goaltender Cam Talbot is certainly beatable, given that he has allowed three or more goals in eight of his past 10 starts while posting a .883 SV% over that stretch.
Best NHL bonuses
All Users
Instant payout for NHL moneylines
If your team goes up by 3+! Claim Now
New Users
Get a no-sweat first bet
Up to $1,500! Claim Now
Eligible USA locations only. Also, see our full list of best sportsbook promotions for 2024.
21+. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER
Today's NHL same-game parlay picks
Our betting experts have scoured through today's NHL odds to find your best SGP bets for each of the three games on Friday's playoff slate:
Rangers vs Capitals same-game parlay (SGP)
Rangers in regulation
Adam Fox 1+ assists
Capitals team total Under 1.5
Adam Fox ranks fourth with 2.37 points per 60 minutes among regular defensemen over the past three seasons, and he racked up an impressive 26 assists across 27 postseason games the last two years. Additionally, the go-to blueliner and power-play quarterback paces the Blueshirts in ice time (44:30) and has been on the ice for the second-most expected goals (3.0) through the first two games of the series.
Washington has struggled to score and Shesterkin is ripe for a rebound showing after allowing three goals on 25 shots in Game 2. The Russian netminder was elite down the stretch with a .929 SV% and 2.20 GAA since the All-Star break, and he posted equally strong .930 and 2.42 marks across 27 postseason appearances the past two years.
Read Neil Parker's full Rangers vs Capitals predictions.
Canucks vs Predators same-game parlay (SGP)
Under 5.5
Filip Forsberg anytime goal
Elias Pettersson anytime goal
Filip Forsberg is picking up right where he left off from a dynamite regular season. In a virtual must-have in Game 2, Forsberg picked up his first of the playoffs to give Nashville some breathing room, a tally that would eventually count as the game winner. That gives him goals in four of his last five games overall, and he’s been especially lethal at Bridgestone Arena.
Forsberg closed with 11 goals in his last 10 home games of the regular season. Look for the sixth-leading goal scorer in the NHL this year to make an impact on Friday night.
I'll go from red-hot Forsberg to ice-cold Elias Pettersson, the most scrutinized Canuck through two games, as I think he will come out focused for Game 3.
The Swede was among the most consistent scorers in the NHL. This is only the second time all season Pettersson has been held pointless in three straight games, and only once did that reach four.
The juice is worth it here: adding Pettersson to this SGP pushes the odds to a solid +2,000.
Read Eric Rosales' full Canucks vs Predators predictions.
Jets vs Avalanche same-game parlay (SGP)
Both teams to score 3+ goals
Both teams Over 0.5 1P goals
Kyle Connor anytime goal
Winnipeg has had no issues playing in Colorado this year, taking both games by a combined score of 11-2. My opinion of Georgiev hasn't changed following an OK performance in Game 2. He is still a league-average goalie who has struggled vs. Winnipeg this season.
Both teams can score early and often as Game 1 proved, while Kyle Connor has four points in the series (two goals) and is shooting more than any other Jet. Any game script works for two-way scoring tonight.
Read Josh Inglis' full Jets vs Avalanche predictions.
Oilers vs Kings same-game parlay (SGP)
Adrian Kempe anytime goal
Zach Hyman anytime goal
Over 6.5 goals
Along with a Kempe goal, I’ll also take Zach Hyman to score at any time in Game 3. Hyman had a hat trick in Game 1 and added one more goal in Game 2. He leads all players in the series with 10 scoring chances and 10 high-danger chances at 5-on-5 per Natural Stat Trick.
The clubs have combined for at least nine goals in both games so far, which is why I’ll round out my same-game parlay by taking the Over on 6.5 goals.
Read Chris Faria's full Oilers vs Kings predictions.
Learn how to bet a same-game parlay with these helpful tips and strategies.
Not intended for use in MA.
Affiliate Disclosure: Covers may receive advertising commissions for visits to a sportsbook or betting site.
