Joining free NHL pools and contests is a fun way to put your hockey knowledge to the test while competing for real prizes. 2026-27 Pick’em pools and other NHL contests let you go head-to-head with hockey fans and bettors from around the world, with prizes up for grabs throughout the season.
Whether you’re making game-by-game picks or competing in larger season-long pools, these contests offer another way to stay engaged with the NHL. Some are completely free to enter, making them accessible even if you’re new to hockey pools.
Keep reading to discover the best NHL pick’em contests and pools available this season, plus some tips for getting the most out of each competition.
Free NHL Pools with Prizes for 2026-27
| NHL CONTEST | FEE | PRIZE POOL | JOIN |
|---|---|---|---|
| Power Play | FREE | $500 (Monthly) $1,750 (Season) | BetUS |
| First Goal Contest | FREE | Game Tickets, Team Swag, & More | First Goal |
| NHL Hockey Challenge | FREE | Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid, Gift Cards, Rewards Points | Tim Hortons |
1. BetUS NHL Power Play
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- Entry Fee: Free
- Prize Pool: $500 per month, plus $1,750 in season-long prizes
- Contest Type: Pick’em
The BetUS NHL Power Play contest gives hockey bettors a chance to earn free-play prizes throughout the 2026-27 NHL season simply by making winning NHL wagers.
The contest rewards the bettors who accumulate the most winning picks each month, while the bettors with the most total wins over the full regular season compete for additional season-long prizes.
The contest is free to enter, although participants must be BetUS.com.pa members who have registered for the contest and made at least one real-money deposit since August 1, 2026. Only U.S. addresses are eligible, and entries are limited to one per account and household.
How to Play
1. Sign up for an account at BetUS. You must make at least one real-money deposit to qualify for the contest.
2. Register for the free NHL Power Play contest by clicking the “Enter Contest” button.
3. Place qualifying NHL wagers using real deposit funds. Moneyline, point spread, and game/team total bets are eligible.
4. Earn one Power Play pick for every winning qualifying wager.
5. Only your first bet on a particular matchup counts toward the contest, and only one winning bet per game can count toward your total.
6. Parlays do not qualify, and wagers made with previously awarded free-play funds do not count.
7. Accumulate as many winning picks as possible throughout the month to compete for the $500 monthly prize.
8. Keep building your total throughout the regular season to compete for the season-ending prizes.
The contest leaderboard is updated once per week, typically by Wednesday, rather than in real time.
Prizes
The player with the most correct picks each month receives a $500 free play. If two or more contestants finish tied for the monthly prize, the free play is split equally among the winners.
At the end of the 2026-27 NHL regular season, the three players with the most overall winning bets receive:
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- 1st place: $1,000 Free Play
- 2nd place: $500 Free Play
- 3rd place: $250 Free Play
The season-long leaderboard is based on total winning NHL bets during the 2026-27 regular season. If there is a tie for a season-ending prize, the contestant who wagered the most money in USD is awarded the higher position. If a tie remains, BetUS management will determine the winner.
Important Rules
There are several rules bettors should know before entering the BetUS NHL Power Play contest:
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- Only one entry is allowed per account and household.
- Only qualifying winning NHL wagers made with real deposit funds count. Parlays and bets made with free-play funds are excluded.
- Only the first bet placed on a matchup counts, and only one winning bet per game can be credited.
- Betting both sides of the same line can result in disqualification.
- Monthly prize winners cannot receive another promotional prize for the following two calendar months.
- Prizes may take up to 72 hours to be credited and are subject to BetUS rollover and withdrawal requirements.
The BetUS Power Play contest is more than a monthly pick’em, as bettors also compete for prizes throughout the season while still building toward the $1,750 season-long prize pool and $1,000 Free Play grand prize.
2. First Goal Contest
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- Entry Fee: Free
- Prize Pool: Prizes announced before each contest period (merchandise, game tickets, and more)
- Contest Type: First-goal pick’em
The First Goal Contest gives Canadian hockey fans a free way to compete by predicting which player will score the first goal in NHL games featuring a Canadian team.
Players earn points based on their picks and climb the weekly, cup, and season leaderboards, with prizes awarded to the top performers during designated contest periods.
There is no purchase, wager, deposit, or sportsbook account required. The contest is open to Canadian residents who have reached the age of majority in their province or territory.
How to Play
1. Create a free account at First Goal Contest.
2. Before each eligible NHL game, choose one player to score the first goal.
3. Your pick can be changed as many times as you want before puck drop.
4. Once the puck drops, your selection is locked and cannot be changed.
5. Earn points based on what happens after your selected player takes the ice.
6. Keep accumulating points to climb the weekly, cup, and season leaderboards.
You can select any skater from either team, but goalies are not eligible. Only NHL games featuring at least one Canadian team count toward the regular-season contest.
Prizes
Prizes vary by contest period and are announced before each cup begins. The 2026-27 season includes the Fall Cup, Holiday Cup, Winter Cup, Spring Cup, and a season-long title based on points accumulated during the four regular-season cups. Prizes can include items such as team merchandise and game tickets.
Weekly leaderboards are primarily for bragging rights unless a weekly prize is specifically announced. Preseason has its own leaderboard, and preseason points do not carry over to the regular season.
Important Rules
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- One pick is allowed per game per account.
- Picks can be changed until puck drop, when they lock.
- Only skaters can be selected; goalies are not eligible.
- If your selected player does not play, you receive zero points with no deduction.
- Correct first-goal scorer: 1,000 points.
- Assist on the first goal: 250 points.
- Correct team to score first: 100 points.
- Selected player takes the ice but is not involved in the first goal: 50 points.
- Backing your designated favourite team earns a 25% bonus, while an all-Canadian game earns a 50% bonus. Both bonuses can apply to the same pick.
- There is no penalty for an incorrect pick.
- One account per person is permitted. Automated entries, collusion, and other attempts to manipulate the contest can result in disqualification.
- Prizes are non-transferable and cannot be redeemed for cash. Winners are notified by email after each contest period.
3. Tim Hortons NHL Hockey Challenge
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- Entry Fee: Free
- Prize Pool: Daily, monthly, and season-long prizes
- Contest Type: Pick’em
The Tim Hortons NHL Hockey Challenge gives hockey fans a free way to test their NHL knowledge throughout the season. Players make three daily picks by selecting one player from each of three groups. If one or more of their selections scores a goal, they can win a daily prize while also earning points toward the monthly and regular season leaderboards.
There is no purchase required to participate. You simply need a Tim Hortons account and the Tim Hortons app to make your picks.
How to Play
1. Download the Tim Hortons app and sign in or create a free account.
2. Select the Tims NHL Challenge tile on the app’s homepage.
3. Complete the skill-testing question and choose your display name for the leaderboard.
4. Select one player from each of the three player groups.
5. Submit your three picks before they lock.
6. If one or more of your selected players scores a goal, you can win a daily prize.
7. Keep playing throughout the season to accumulate points and compete for monthly and season-long prizes.
You can make your picks once per scheduled NHL game day, and selections are locked after submission, so they cannot be changed.
Prizes
The NHL Hockey Challenge offers prizes at several levels, including daily, monthly, and season-long rewards.
The regular season grand prize is a Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid, while additional prizes are awarded to other top finishers on the regular season leaderboard. Monthly challenges also offer gift-card prizes to the top performers.
Tim Hortons also runs a separate Stanley Cup Playoffs Challenge with its own prize structure.
Important Rules
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- You can play once per scheduled NHL game day.
- Select one player from each of the three groups for three total picks.
- Picks are locked after submission and cannot be changed.
- Correct picks earn points toward the applicable leaderboard.
- If one or more of your picks scores a goal, you can win a daily prize.
- No purchase is necessary to participate.
- You need a Tim Hortons account and the Tim Hortons app to play.
- Monthly leaderboards reset at the beginning of each month, while the regular season leaderboard tracks performance throughout the NHL regular season.
- Prizes are subject to the official contest rules and eligibility requirements.
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