Free NHL Expert and Computer Picks For Every Game Sept. 29, 2026
Predicted Score
Team |
Predicted Score |
ML |
Total |
Puck Line |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3.13 |
+110 
|
o6.0 -118 
|
+1.5 -225
|
|
3.53 |
-125 
|
u6.5 -120
|
-1.5 +194 
|
Florida
Carolina
Predicted Score
Team |
Predicted Score |
ML |
Total |
Puck Line |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3.44 |
-102
|
o6.5 +106 
|
+1.5 -250
|
|
3.23 |
-105
|
u6.5 -118
|
-1.5 +225 
|
Montreal
Toronto
Predicted Score
Team |
Predicted Score |
ML |
Total |
Puck Line |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2.88 |
-104
|
o5.5 -125 
|
+1.5 -250
|
|
3.05 |
-110
|
u6.5 -123
|
-1.5 +220
|
NY Rangers
Boston
Predicted Score
Team |
Predicted Score |
ML |
Total |
Puck Line |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2.58 |
+250 
|
o6.5 -114
|
+1.5 +105
|
|
4.17 |
-290
|
u6.5 -105
|
-1.5 -118
|
Vancouver
Edmonton
Predicted Score
Team |
Predicted Score |
ML |
Total |
Puck Line |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2.37 |
+220
|
o5.5 -130
|
+1.5 -115
|
|
3.56 |
-258
|
u6.5 -120
|
-1.5 +105
|
Chicago
Vegas
Predicted Score
Team |
Predicted Score |
ML |
Total |
Puck Line |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2.98 |
+118
|
o5.5 -125
|
+1.5 -210
|
|
3.29 |
-134
|
u6.5 -135
|
-1.5 +180
|
Pittsburgh
Philadelphia
Predicted Score
Team |
Predicted Score |
ML |
Total |
Puck Line |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2.43 |
+155
|
o5.5 -125
|
+1.5 -155
|
|
3.42 |
-175
|
u6.5 -116
|
-1.5 +140 
|
Los Angeles
Colorado
FLA
@
CAR
Tue, Sep 29 • 5:00 PM ET
Sam Reinhart o0.5 Goals Scored (+190)
Play up to 40%. Sam Reinhart remains one of Florida’s biggest scoring threats after netting 29 goals in just 64 games last season. He also produced 54 individual scoring chances and 27 high-danger opportunities at five-on-five on the road, giving him a strong scoring profile alongside Aleksander Barkov and Brady Tkachuk.
Jordan Martinook o0.5 Points (+180)
Play up to 40%. Jordan Martinook was much more productive at home last season, recording 18 of his 29 points in Raleigh. He also generated 86 individual scoring chances and 43 high-danger opportunities at five-on-five there, while skating alongside Jordan Staal and Nikolaj Ehlers gives him additional offensive upside.
MON
@
TOR
Tue, Sep 29 • 7:00 PM ET
William Nylander o0.5 Assists (+120)
I like William Nylander to pick up a helper, and would play his assist up to 55%.
The Toronto Maple Leafs went through a year from hell in 2025-26 and Nylander still managed to record an assist in 59% of his games when excluding Top-10 defenses.
That number soared to 83% in games the Maple Leafs were favored, which is the case opening night against the Montreal Canadiens.
TOR (-105)
Montreal is better than the rebuilding label it carried a year ago, but Kaiden Guhle’s absence matters against Toronto’s revamped depth. The Leafs can follow Auston Matthews with a second line featuring William Nylander, John Tavares, and Gavin McKenna. That is a lot for a thinner Canadiens blue line to handle. Give me Toronto ML.
NYR
@
BOS
Tue, Sep 29 • 8:00 PM ET
NYR (-111)
The Rangers filled out their top six nicely with the additions of sharpshooter Pavel Dorofeyev and Oliver Bjorkstrand. Doro will also boost a power-play unit that finished in the Top 5 last season. I expect that power play to get home at least once tonight against a Bruins' penalty kill that finished 24th in 2025-26. That is unlikely to improve tonight, with Charlie McAvoy — who averaged 2:48 of shorthanded ice time per game — serving a six-game suspension.
Pavel Dorofeyev o0.5 Points (-110)
I'm backing Pavel Dorofeyev to hit the scoresheet up to 54%.
The Boston Bruins were a highly mediocre defensive team last season and didn’t make any needle moving additions on the back end.
Pavel Dorofeyev faced the Bruins twice and combined for seven shots, 13 attempts, and three points while hitting the scoresheet both meetings.
VAN
@
EDM
Tue, Sep 29 • 10:00 PM ET
Vasily Podkolzin o0.5 Points (+115)
Podkolzin is set up to succeed with a top-line gig jumping the boards with superstars Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, and the Canucks allowed the most goals per 60 minutes and sixth-most expected goals per 60 last year, too. So, with the McDavid-Draisaitl duo being on the ice for 7.69 goals per 60 minutes over the past two years, I like the Russian winger to find the scoresheet against his former team in the season opener down to -115.
u6.5 (+100)
This Under 6.5 is in play to -110 because the Oilers are commited to improved defense and allowed just 0.91 goals per 60 minutes while surrendering the eighth-fewest high-danger scoring chances per 60 at five-on-five during the preseason. Edmonton was already a possession monster with a fifth-ranked Corsi For percentage at five-on-five across the past three years, and Vancouver scored the fewest goals per 60 minutes while generating the fifth-fewest expected goals per 60 at 5-on-5 last season.
CHI
@
VEG
Tue, Sep 29 • 10:30 PM ET
o2.5 Team Total (+115)
Connor Bedard is out, but there is still plenty of young scoring in this Chicago lineup against a Vegas team that is likely not strong in net with Carter Hart and may not be as motivated after a long Stanley Cup Final run that ended in the middle of June. The Hawks have legit scoring rookies on both of their top lines in Anton Frondell and Roman Kantserov. Frondell has a terrifying shot after seeing it at the World Juniors and World Hockey Championships, where he scored six goals in 11 games. He is 4.3x to score and is a look for sure. The exciting one, and one that might be flying under the radar, is Kantserov, who is playing on the top line and PP1. He scored 36 goals in 63 games in the KHL last year at age 21 and has shorter odds to win the Calder than Frondell, who already has 12 NHL games under his belt at 19 years old. The value on opening night is with the dogs.
Our experts and prediction models are hard at work analyzing the data. Check back shortly for today's picks, or explore our Computer Picks for inspiration.
We've combined statistical analysis and machine learning to make these computer picks. The table above shows you how the computer has done in its last 100 picks against the moneyline, spread (puck line), and total with $100 units.
Seeing where the computer has had success, or has failed, can give you some insight into where the betting value might lie going forward.
Use our computer picks as the starting point in your handicapping journey. Our computer analyzes every stat in our database and chooses the bet that has the most likely outcome. Now, use our other tools to do your own research and see if that research agrees or disagrees with the computer.
An NHL moneyline bet is simple: all you need to do is pick a winner. Whether that's in regulation or overtime, they don't ask how, but how many, right?
| Team | Moneyline Odds |
|---|---|
| Edmonton Oilers | -130 |
| Florida Panthers | +110 |
As with all moneyline odds, the team with the minus sign (-) is the favorite, while the side with the plus sign (+) is the underdog.
Betting $100 on Edmonton at -130 would net you $176 in winnings if they win the game, $76 of profit plus your initial $100 wager. Conversely, if you bet on Florida and they win, you get $210: $110 in profit plus your initial $100 bet.
The puck line is the NHL's version of the spread, where each team is given a certain number of goals to either win or lose by. Unlike the NFL or the NBA, the NHL spread doesn't typically change from 1.5 for each side. The spread is designed to make betting on the favorite more enticing.
| Team | Moneyline Odds | Puck line Odds |
|---|---|---|
| Edmonton Oilers | -130 | -1.5 (-110) |
| Florida Panthers | +110 | +1.5 (-180) |
The favorite, Edmonton at -1.5, would need to win by at least two goals for the bet to cash. If Edmonton wins by two or more goals, in other words, "covers the bet," you'd get $191 in winnings instead of $176 by taking them on the moneyline.
There are two ways for the underdog, Florida at +1.5, to "cover" a +1.5 puck line bet. They can lose by a single goal or win outright to cash. The odds are shorter, but you have options on this bet.
With a total bet, you're wagering on the total number of goals scored by both teams. You aren't backing any single side to win.
| Team | Total Odds |
|---|---|
| Edmonton Oilers | O5.5 (-115) |
| Florida Panthers | U5.5 (-105) |
Sportsbooks will set a line for the game. In this case, it's 5.5 goals. Your job is to figure out if Edmonton and Florida will score more or fewer than 5.5 goals, not counting the shootout.
If you see a line that's an even number, like 6.0, those bets can end in a push where your wager is refunded if the game ends at exactly six goals.
You know what the moneyline, spread (puck line), and total bets are, so you're ready to start betting on NHL hockey. But before you start placing bets with your gut, make sure to check out our betting tools and betting guides.
They can guide you with more than just moneyline, spread, and total bets. They can also help you find value in the futures and player props markets.
If you're ready to bet on NHL picks, you first need to find the right sportsbook. Our NHL betting sites guide offers secure banking, the best odds, bonuses, and reliable customer service options for you.
Covers’ NHL picks typically release on game day. Some significant matchups like playoff games release in the days leading up to the game.
Covers provides free NHL picks covering many markets, including puck lines, totals, moneylines, player props, and more.
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