Free NHL Expert and Computer Picks For Every Game Oct. 7, 2026
Predicted Score
Team |
Predicted Score |
ML |
Total |
Puck Line |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3.11 |
+139 
|
o6.5 -110 
|
+1.5 -173 
|
|
3.65 |
-150 
|
u6.5 -105
|
-1.5 +154 
|
Pittsburgh
Washington
Predicted Score
Team |
Predicted Score |
ML |
Total |
Puck Line |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3.80 |
-180
|
o6.5 -103
|
-1.5 +136
|
|
2.75 |
+163 
|
u6.5 -108 
|
+1.5 -150
|
Colorado
Winnipeg
Predicted Score
Team |
Predicted Score |
ML |
Total |
Puck Line |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3.70 |
-127
|
o6.5 -130
|
-1.5 +185
|
|
3.38 |
+114
|
u7.0 -135
|
+1.5 -210
|
Edmonton
Anaheim
Predicted Score
Team |
Predicted Score |
ML |
Total |
Puck Line |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2.86 |
+105 
|
o5.5 -120
|
+1.5 -238
|
|
2.99 |
-122
|
u5.5 +100
|
-1.5 +195
|
Philadelphia
Ottawa
Predicted Score
Team |
Predicted Score |
ML |
Total |
Puck Line |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2.82 |
+102
|
o5.5 -114
|
+1.5 -245
|
|
2.88 |
-120
|
u5.5 -105
|
-1.5 +200
|
San Jose
St. Louis
PIT
@
WAS
Wed, Oct 7 • 7:30 PM ET
Alex Ovechkin o0.5 Goals Scored (+180)
Alex Ovechkin is an appealing target for a goal to 38%.
Spencer Carbury is giving him absolute cupcake minutes, with his on-ice offensive zone faceoff rate approaching 90%.
It’s also worth noting Ovechkin scored in 42% of Washington’s victories last year, and they are heavy favorites tonight.
WAS (-155)
I like the Washington Capitals to 62%.
Despite playing road games against the defending Stanley Cup Champions, and a quality Lightning team the following night, the Capitals rank eighth in expected goals per 60 minutes of 5-on-5 play.
Their offense looks to have real teeth, and they should generate plenty of offense against a Pittsburgh Penguins team sitting fourth in 5-on-5 pace.
COL
@
WIN
Wed, Oct 7 • 7:30 PM ET
Artturi Lehkonen o0.5 Points (+100)
Artturi Lehkonen just played 19:30 in his last game and has points in both games to start the season, as the Colorado offense has put up 14 goals in two games. The winger is riding shotgun on the top line and playing PP2. This price should be closer to 60% than 50%. The Avs get to bury some goals against Stuart Skinner, and I’m not reading too much into the Jets’ back-to-back wins over the weekend. Lehkonen’s two-point prop is also in play at 17% after he hit it in both games to open the season. The Avs are playing some of the best offensive hockey in October, while the Jets have yet to play a serious team and have a 49% xGoal share despite taking five of six possible points through three games.
Josh Morrissey u0.5 Points (+100)
This prop is completely mispriced, and I’d recommend it to -135. Morrissey will spend the majority of his five-on-five ice time matched up against Colorado superstar Nathan MacKinnon, and the go-to scorer has a 65.8 goals for percentage at 5-on-5 since the beginning of the 2024-25 campaign.
EDM
@
ANA
Wed, Oct 7 • 10:00 PM ET
Leon Draisaitl o0.5 Goals Scored (+115)
As long as the Oilers are loading up Draisaitl and Connor McDavid on the same line, I’m in on No. 29 to score up to 55%. Draisaitl has already found the back of the net three times through three games with a solid underlying 1.99 individual expected goals and six high-danger scoring chances. Of course, Draisaitl and McDavid have also been on the ice for 7.76 goals and 6.62 expected goals per 60 minutes dating back to the beginning of the 2024-25 campaign.
Vasily Podkolzin o0.5 Assists (+145)
The Oilers are still scoring goals without Zach Hyman and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, and the reason for that has been the play of Vasily Podkolzin. The winger is on the top line with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl and has produced five points in three games, including two multi-point efforts. He has a helper in back-to-back games and has also chipped in three power-play points. The Ducks rank 31st in shot-attempt percentage after playing some good teams and have the second-highest PDO, which is a good indicator of luck. The Oilers can outscore their defensive issues, while Anaheim has been fortunate to start 2-0 SU despite its underlying metrics. It's tough to find value in the Edmonton offense, but Podkolzin is still offering it tonight.
UTAH
@
BOS
Thu, Oct 8 • 7:00 PM ET
UTAH (-105)
I'll happily grab the Mammoth at this price. While unsustainable, their 61.5% power-play percentage is too hard to ignore. They have scored multiple goals on the man advantage in all three of their wins, and now they take on a Bruins team with a PK that operates at just 72%. That special teams advantage has me backing Utah all day.
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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