The National Hockey League (NHL) has a full slate of games Saturday, Oct. 18, including three matinee games, and 10 games starting at 7 p.m. ET or later. We’ll focus on the West Coast evening games and later, giving you time to get your picks in. Let’s get started.
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NHL Saturday Night: Expert Betting Picks & Parlay Tips for Two Games
For the latest NHL Odds, including NHL Futures and NHL player props, visit RotoWire’s NHL Betting page. For up-to-date NHL player news and NHL Injury Report info, head to RotoWire’s NHL Lineups page. You can find more picks at Bookies.com/picks. Here are our NHL Best Bets today, featuring expert NHL picks for an action-packed slate of games.
Expert NHL Betting Picks and Parlay Tips for Saturday Night
Carolina Hurricanes at Los Angeles Kings 
The Hurricanes (4-0-0) and the Kings (1-3-1) meet at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles at 10 p.m. ET, and the game can be viewed or streamed on ESPN+.
Carolina is the last unbeaten team in the NHL, but it will certainly be put to the test against the Kings, who have won each of the past three meetings, including a regular-season series sweep in 2024-25. In fact, the Kings won 7-2 in Los Angeles as slight home ‘dogs (-105) on March 22 as the Over (5.5) cashed, and the Kings doubled up the Canes 4-2 in Raleigh on Feb. 1, also as underdogs (+130) while the Over (5.5) hit.
Prior to the three-game win streak by L.A., Carolina had won seven in a row against the Kings. The Over is on a 5-0 roll in this series, too, while going 7-0-1 in the past eight installments dating back to Nov. 20, 2021.
So far, Carolina has posted 19 total goals, or 4.8 goals per game (GPG), while allowing 2.0 GPG. The Over cashed in each of the first two games, both at home, while the Under has cashed in the past two games, both on the road. Carolina has been favored in all four outings.
L.A. was dropped 4-2 by the Pittsburgh Penguins at home on Thursday night, and its only victory is a 6-5 SOW against the Vegas Golden Knights on the road on Oct. 8. The Over-Under is 2-2-1 so far, although the Under is 1-0-1 at home, as the Kings have been outscored 8-3 in a pair of losses in two previous home games.
It’s tempting to think outside of the box and be a contrarian, backing the Kings as home ‘dogs. But, the smart play is taking the Canes as light favorites until they cool off. L.A. would be more attractive if C Anze Kopitar was healthy, too, but he is considered week-to-week due to a foot injury, so that’s a big chunk of offense on the shelf. In addition, G Darcy Kuemper is nursing a lower-body injury, and his status for Saturday is up in the air.
In addition, let’s go low on the total, as Carolina has cashed low in both previous road games, while L.A. has gone low at a 1-0-1 clip in two home contests.
- Hurricanes ML -137 (at FanDuel Sportsbook)
- Under 6 Goals (-102 at BetMGM)
Don’t make any bets on your favorite sports betting apps without first consulting the latest NHL odds.
Calgary Flames 
at Vegas Golden Knights 
The Flames (1-4-0) and Golden Knights (3-0-2) meet at T-Mobile Arena at 10 p.m. ET, also on ESPN+.
These teams have already met this season, with VGK going to Scotiabank Saddledome, doubling up the Flames 4-2 as moderate favorites (-170) as the total pushed (6) at most shops.
In that start, Adin Hill allowed two goals on 10 shots, but he exited early due to a lower-body injury. Akira Schmid finished up the final two periods, turning aside all 19 of the shots he faced.
Calgary’s Mikael Backlund and Blake Coleman notched goals in the first period against Hill, building a 2-0 lead for the home side. But, Jack Eichel scored in the second period, and Kaedan Korczak leveled things at 4:11 of the third period. Eichel had the go-ahead goal at 6:38 of the second period, and Tomas Hertl had an empty-net goal, turning the tables on the Flames.
For VGK, Noah Hanifin (undisclosed) missed a fourth straight game due to an undisclosed injury, and all indications are that he’ll miss this one, too. Brett Howden is also likely to miss a third straight game with a lower-body issue. More importantly, Hill, with his LBI, is also likely to be out. Schmid should do a good job against Calgary, though, if called upon, and he has plenty of offense backing him up.
Once again, we’ll back the Golden Knights on the puck line, and let’s go with the Under, especially if you can get U6.5, rather than a flat 6.
- Golden Knights -1.5 Goals (+110 at Bet365 Sportsbook)
- Under 6.5 Goals (-130 at DraftKings Sportsbook)
Best NHL Parlay Opportunities for Saturday Night
4-Leg NHL Super Parlay (+725 at FanDuel Sportsbook)
- Golden Knights ML (-255)* vs. Flames
- Under 6.5 (-134) – Golden Knights-Flames
- Under 5.5 (+110) – Hurricanes at Kings
- Hurricanes ML (-137) at Kings
2-Leg NHL Same-Game Parlay (+180 at BetMGM)
- Hurricanes ML and Under 6.5 Goals
2-Leg NHL Same-Game Parlay (+150 at BetMGM)
- Golden Knights and Under 6.5 Goals
