NHL Friday Betting Schedule

The National Hockey League gets back to business on Friday night with nine games on the schedule, including a chance to do some NHL betting on two of the league’s best.

The Philadelphia Flyers will travel to Chicago for Friday night to take on a Blackhawks team that is 8-1-1 in its past 10 games. Led by sensational sophomore Patrick Kane (16-23-39 in 31 games), the Hawks entered the league’s holiday break just seven points back of the Detroit Red Wings for first place in the Central Division. The Hawks were also on pace to get back into the playoffs this year, as they sit fourth in the conference.

The Flyers began the season in a slump, but at 7-1-2 over their past 10 games they’re also sitting in fourth place in their conference standings (two points back of the New Jersey Devils for top spot in the Atlantic Division). Philadelphia starting goaltender Martin Biron missed the last week with the flu, but he’s expected to be back for Friday.

The Devils also hit the ice on Friday, as they’ll get a visit from the Pittsburgh Penguins. As well, it’ll be Toronto at the Islanders, Buffalo at Washington, Carolina at Atlanta, Detroit at Nashville, Edmonton at Vancouver, Phoenix at Los Angeles, and Tampa Bay at Florida; Panthers netminder Tomas Vokoun has recorded two consecutive shutouts.

The Panthers and Lightning will finish off a home-and-home series on Saturday night in Tampa Bay in one of 11 games on the league’s schedule. The Boston Bruins, who are 9-1-0 in their last 10 games, will try to keep up their winning ways on the road against the Carolina Hurricanes. Bruins forward Phil Kessel (21-16-37) had his 18-game points streak stopped by the Devils in the team’s last game; he’ll look to start up a new streak.

The West’s top two teams will skate into action on Saturday, with San Jose at St. Louis and Detroit at Colorado. The Avalanche, already missing Joe Sakic from their lineup, will also have to do without Paul Stastny (broken arm) as they try to break into the conference’s Top 8. Colorado is 5-4-1 in their last 10 games, and are 10th in the West.

Other games on Saturday: the Islanders at Buffalo, Montreal at Pittsburgh, Philadelphia at Columbus, New Jersey at the Rangers, Anaheim at Dallas, and Los Angeles at Phoenix, with the Senators travelling out to Calgary to close out the evening’s schedule.

Sunday has Boston in action again, as they’ll be on the road in Atlanta. The league’s Sunday slate of a half-dozen games also includes Anaheim at St. Louis, Chicago at Minnesota, Toronto at Washington, and Nashville at Edmonton. As well, the struggling Senators (4-5-1 in their last 10 games) will continue their western swing in Vancouver.

Check the BetUS NHL odds section for all the lines and totals for the weekend games