Friday's NHL Picks: Three Hot Underdog Bets

Puck Luck

Anaheim Ducks at Chicago Blackhawks (-185, 5.5)

If you’re looking for the best underdog bet on the board for Friday night, look no further. The Blackhawks are coming off consecutive losses, including a 4-3 setback at Minnesota on Thursday. Now, after flying back to Chicago, they face an Anaheim club that hasn’t played since Tuesday. The Ducks are on roll too. The have picked up at least a point in six of their last seven games and have beaten Chicago four straight times. With the way Anaheim pushes the puck deep and grinds on opposing defencemen, this is the last club Chicago wants to see on the second half of a back-to-back. This line seems at least 50 cents too high.

Pick: Anaheim Ducks

Detroit Red Wings at New Jersey Devils (-125, 5)

The Red Wings were in great position to knock off the surging Philadelphia Flyers Wednesday night despite missing their entire top line. They took a 3-2 lead into the third period before the wheels fell off in a 6-3 defeat. Tonight they get back a third of that line as Todd Bertuzzi returns, but Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg remain out. Still, this is a great price for a Detroit club that usually bounces back very well after bad losses. The Wings should improve on their stellar 9-3-0-1 road record tonight in New Jersey.

Pick: Detroit Red Wings

Phoenix Coyotes at Vancouver Canucks (-150, 5.5)

The Vancouver Canucks are coming off a 3-1 road trip and now play six straight games at home. However, they’re just 5-5-2-1 at home this season and had just one regulation win in their last six-game homestand. Meanwhile, Phoenix will head into this one frustrated after dropping a 4-1 decision at Calgary on Wednesday. The Coyotes don’t play again until Tuesday, so expect a big effort here.

Pick: Phoenix Coyotes