Free NHL Expert and Computer Picks For Every Game Oct. 1, 2026
Predicted Score
Team |
Predicted Score |
ML |
Total |
Puck Line |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2.62 |
+152 
|
o5.5 -120 
|
+1.5 -175 
|
|
3.12 |
-170
|
u6.0 -130
|
-1.5 +150
|
Philadelphia
New Jersey
Predicted Score
Team |
Predicted Score |
ML |
Total |
Puck Line |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3.19 |
-110 
|
o6.0 -114
|
+1.5 -270 
|
|
3.02 |
-104 
|
u6.5 -130 
|
-1.5 +200
|
Buffalo
Columbus
Predicted Score
Team |
Predicted Score |
ML |
Total |
Puck Line |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3.16 |
-145
|
o5.5 -120
|
-1.5 +175
|
|
2.62 |
+125
|
u6.0 -120
|
+1.5 -200
|
Tampa Bay
NY Rangers
Predicted Score
Team |
Predicted Score |
ML |
Total |
Puck Line |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3.35 |
-145
|
o5.5 -130 
|
-1.5 +172
|
|
2.83 |
+126
|
u6.5 -125
|
+1.5 -200
|
Minnesota
Nashville
Predicted Score
Team |
Predicted Score |
ML |
Total |
Puck Line |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2.89 |
-108
|
o5.5 -125
|
+1.5 -270
|
|
2.83 |
-105
|
u6.0 -120
|
-1.5 +225
|
Seattle
Calgary
Predicted Score
Team |
Predicted Score |
ML |
Total |
Puck Line |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2.52 |
+185
|
o6.0 -110
|
+1.5 -130
|
|
3.57 |
-215
|
u6.5 -125
|
-1.5 +115
|
Chicago
Utah
Predicted Score
Team |
Predicted Score |
ML |
Total |
Puck Line |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3.55 |
-148
|
o6.5 +100
|
-1.5 +165
|
|
3.23 |
+130
|
u6.5 -115
|
+1.5 -190
|
Florida
San Jose
Predicted Score
Team |
Predicted Score |
ML |
Total |
Puck Line |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3.99 |
-205
|
o6.5 -112
|
-1.5 +120
|
|
2.83 |
+180
|
u6.5 +100
|
+1.5 -130
|
Edmonton
Vancouver
Predicted Score
Team |
Predicted Score |
ML |
Total |
Puck Line |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3.04 |
+125
|
o6.0 -122
|
+1.5 -190
|
|
3.45 |
-140
|
u6.5 -120
|
-1.5 +175
|
Washington
Carolina
Predicted Score
Team |
Predicted Score |
ML |
Total |
Puck Line |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3.04 |
+102
|
o5.5 -125
|
+1.5 -235
|
|
2.91 |
-110
|
u6.0 -118
|
-1.5 +220
|
Boston
Winnipeg
Predicted Score
Team |
Predicted Score |
ML |
Total |
Puck Line |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2.52 |
+170
|
o5.5 -121
|
+1.5 -140
|
|
3.50 |
-190
|
u6.0 -110
|
-1.5 +140
|
St. Louis
Dallas
Predicted Score
Team |
Predicted Score |
ML |
Total |
Puck Line |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2.98 |
+154
|
o6.5 -105
|
+1.5 -150
|
|
3.73 |
-162
|
u6.5 -105
|
-1.5 +155
|
Anaheim
Vegas
PHI
@
NJ
Thu, Oct 1 • 7:00 PM ET
Nico Hischier o0.5 Goals Scored (+210)
Coming off a 28-goal campaign, here's another Devil who plays in all situations and centers the first power-play unit. Hischier was 23rd in all of the NHL last year in high-danger xGoals, giving me plenty of confidence that he'll be one of the first to score for New Jersey this season.
Jack Hughes o1.5 Points (+180)
Not only was Hughes 15th in the NHL in shot attempts per 60 last year, he also had a 37% share of possible ice time. Expect to see him on the ice in all situations, and with him anchoring the first power-play unit, the volume will be there for us to cash this play against a poor defensive team.
BUF
@
CLB
Thu, Oct 1 • 7:00 PM ET
Kent Johnson o0.5 Points (+135)
Kent Johnson plays on Columbus' top line and top power-play unit. This should be priced at 55% at worst. The top line might not play as much out of the gate in the first game for the Blue Jackets, but Johnson is at home, and the matchup is better than it looks. The Sabres are dealing with injuries on defense, and goalie Alex Lyon is also out. Buffalo is without Connor Timmins and Mattias Samuelsson on the blue line, while Olen Zellweger is a game-time decision. That's a cluster of injuries that will be more exposed in the opening game. Johnson is safe to pair with newcomer Matthew Knies at 3.3x if you're looking for more.
TB
@
NYR
Thu, Oct 1 • 7:00 PM ET
u2.5 Team Total (+110)
The Rangers were blanked in their opener by the Bruins, 3-0, to nobody's surprise. This is a worse version of last year's team that got shut out in three straight home games to open the season and lost its first seven games at Madison Square Garden. There just isn't a lot of talent on this roster when you have Gabe Perreault, Alexis Lafrenière, Oliver Bjorkstrand and Pavel Dorofeyev in the top six. The Rangers have to win tight games, while Tampa will come out prepared as a well-coached veteran team, and Andrei Vasilevskiy is still an elite goaltender. It's sloppy hockey to begin with because of the lack of preseason, and I have the Rangers as one of the worst offenses in hockey.
Brayden Point o0.5 Goals Scored (+235)
Point is set to play with superstar Nikita Kucherov in all situations, so he's a go-to target in this market down to +200. The veteran scored 139 goals with a 21.4 shooting percentage across 240 games from 2022-23 through 2024-25 before dipping to just 18 tallies and a 14.0 SH% while battling injuries last year. Point also spent the offseason aiming to “increase the scoring zone” for himself and is fully healthy to start 2026-27.
CHI
@
UTAH
Thu, Oct 1 • 9:30 PM ET
Anders Lee o1.5 Shots On Goal (-160)
I’m on Anders Lee to record 2+ shots, and would back him to 67%.
He averaged 2.4 shots on goal per game a season ago while clearing this line 72% of the time against Bottom-12 shot suppression teams, which the Chicago Blackhawks are a safe bet to be.
More importantly, he is all around the net and being spoon-fed shots and rebound opportunities playing alongside an elite young duo in Dylan Guenther and Logan Cooley.
Dylan Guenther o0.5 Goals Scored (+150)
Play up to 45%. Dylan Guenther is coming off a career-high 40-goal campaign, including 23 tallies at home. His underlying profile was just as impressive, with 73 high-danger chances and 17.11 individual expected goals at five-on-five. Add his PP1 role, and Guenther has several paths to scoring tonight.
EDM
@
VAN
Thu, Oct 1 • 10:00 PM ET
Leon Draisaitl o0.5 Goals Scored (+105)
Draisaitl recorded 0.67 expected goals on eight scoring chances and two individual high-danger chances without finding the back of the net during the season opener, so I’m anticipating his go-to role resulting in a goal tonight. Considering his 1.78 goals per 60 minutes rank second in the league over the past two years, I'd recommend this prop to -110.
Alex Formenton o0.5 Points (+135)
With Formenton set to skate alongside Connor McDavid and Zach Hyman, I recommend this Over to +110. The trio clicked for a 72.7 CF% and 85.3 xGF% at five-on-five in the season opener, and Forementon’s size and speed are a nice addition to the line. Of course, McDavid and Hyman have been on the ice for 4.18 goals per 60 minutes at five-on-five while dominating possession with a 59.1 CF% across the past three seasons, too.
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.
Established in 1995,
All Picks
NFL
NCAAF
MLB
NBA
NCAAB
NHL
CFL
WNBA
Golf
World Cup
