NHL Friday best bets: Panthers to show their claws vs. Islanders

We split our best bets Thursday night, pushing our record to 6-2 for the week.

Let's dive into a couple of sides that stand out on a busy Friday night.

Panthers (-115) @ Islanders (-105)

The Panthers have been a big disappointment through the first chunk of the season. Projected to be one of the better teams in the Eastern Conference, Florida has won just 15 of 34 games and currently sits outside of the playoffs. Injuries have played a big part, but even the team's biggest detractors wouldn't have expected this.

Although I don't think the Panthers are Stanley Cup contenders, they are - and have been - better than the results suggest.

Florida has done a lot of good things, particularly at five-on-five. Its share of the high-danger chances over the last 10 games sits above 56%, sandwiching the club between the Hurricanes and Devils. However, the Panthers' reward for their strong process was just four wins.

I think this is a nice get-right spot for them as they get set to head into the holiday break. And this Islanders team is quite flawed.

New York's power play isn't good. The club gives up a lot of opportunities at five-on-five. And tonight, the Islanders are playing in the latter half of a back-to-back.

That could mean a night off for Ilya Sorokin, who owns a ridiculous .924 save percentage and ranks third among goaltenders in goals saved above expected.

If Sorokin isn't playing, it'll improve the Panthers' already solid win probability by a few percent.

Look for the Fancy Cats to get a well-deserved two points and head into the break on a positive note.

Bet: Panthers (-115)

Canucks (+180) @ Oilers (-210)

The Oilers have won only five of their last 10 games, but they're quietly playing some strong hockey.

They've controlled better than 54% of the expected goal share and high-danger chances at five-on-five during this stretch. Both outputs rank them inside the top 10 in the NHL.

Edmonton is a very scary team when it's clicking at full strength because it always has a lethal power play in its back pocket. Normally, the Oilers' power play is used to make up for any shortcomings at five-on-five. But now, it can be used to build on what the club is accomplishing rather than just getting it back to square one.

I expect Edmonton to flex its five-on-five muscles in this game. The Canucks rank 23rd in expected goal share over their last 10 contests and have been anything but consistent all season. A get-out-of-town game in the latter half of a back-to-back is probably not where they'll find their footing.

Beyond having more high-end talent, a better five-on-five profile, and arguably the league's most terrifying power play, the Oilers should also benefit from a goaltending edge.

Stuart Skinner owns a .913 save percentage this season, well above the league average of .900. He's also a net positive in goals saved above expected.

Collin Delia, Skinner's expected counterpart, has managed a .888 save percentage through nine AHL starts this campaign. He conceded nearly five goals more than expected over eight starts with the Blackhawks last season.

Look for Edmonton's big guns to cause Delia real problems en route to a regulation victory.

Bet: Oilers in regulation (-140)

Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. Be sure to follow him on Twitter @ToddCordell.