Free NHL Expert and Computer Picks For Every Game Oct. 6, 2026
Predicted Score
Team |
Predicted Score |
ML |
Total |
Puck Line |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2.94 |
+135 
|
o5.5 -127 
|
+1.5 -190 
|
|
3.33 |
-150
|
u6.0 -110
|
-1.5 +165 
|
Nashville
Toronto
Predicted Score
Team |
Predicted Score |
ML |
Total |
Puck Line |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2.98 |
+115
|
o6.0 -115
|
+1.5 -225
|
|
3.13 |
-125
|
u6.5 -125 
|
-1.5 +198
|
Utah
New Jersey
Predicted Score
Team |
Predicted Score |
ML |
Total |
Puck Line |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3.34 |
-115
|
o6.0 -114 
|
-1.5 +210
|
|
3.28 |
+104
|
u6.5 -120
|
+1.5 -235
|
Carolina
Montreal
Predicted Score
Team |
Predicted Score |
ML |
Total |
Puck Line |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3.12 |
-110
|
o5.5 -129
|
+1.5 -270 
|
|
3.04 |
-105
|
u6.5 -135
|
-1.5 +220
|
Ottawa
Detroit
Predicted Score
Team |
Predicted Score |
ML |
Total |
Puck Line |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3.20 |
-106
|
o6.5 +106
|
+1.5 -260
|
|
3.31 |
-106
|
u6.5 -120
|
-1.5 +225
|
Minnesota
Buffalo
Predicted Score
Team |
Predicted Score |
ML |
Total |
Puck Line |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2.55 |
+132
|
o5.5 -112
|
+1.5 -190
|
|
3.04 |
-145
|
u5.5 +100
|
-1.5 +170
|
NY Islanders
NY Rangers
Predicted Score
Team |
Predicted Score |
ML |
Total |
Puck Line |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3.00 |
-135 
|
o5.5 -120
|
-1.5 +180
|
|
2.67 |
+125
|
u5.5 +105
|
+1.5 -205
|
St. Louis
Chicago
Predicted Score
Team |
Predicted Score |
ML |
Total |
Puck Line |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3.37 |
-160
|
o5.5 -137
|
-1.5 +150
|
|
2.77 |
+145
|
u6.5 -130
|
+1.5 -170
|
Vegas
Seattle
Predicted Score
Team |
Predicted Score |
ML |
Total |
Puck Line |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3.07 |
-120
|
o5.5 -125
|
-1.5 +210
|
|
2.91 |
+105
|
u6.0 -118
|
+1.5 -245
|
Florida
Los Angeles
Predicted Score
Team |
Predicted Score |
ML |
Total |
Puck Line |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2.93 |
+145
|
o6.5 +105
|
+1.5 -165
|
|
3.50 |
-165
|
u6.5 -105
|
-1.5 +148
|
Pittsburgh
Washington
NAS
@
TOR
Tue, Oct 6 • 7:00 PM ET
Steven Stamkos o0.5 Goals Scored (+200)
Steven Stamkos enters tonight tied with Joe Sakic and Jarome Iginla for 17th on the NHL’s all-time goals list with 625. One more moves him past both, and Toronto has been a favorable opponent throughout his career. Stamkos has scored 24 goals in 56 games against the Maple Leafs, and he’s already put five shots on net through Nashville’s first two games.
Auston Matthews o0.5 Goals Scored (+145)
I recommend Auston Matthews to score up to 46%.
He leads the Maple Leafs in shots on target, scoring chances, and expected goals through three games.
He has looked dangerous alongside Marchenko and Jack Roslovic. Of 79 forward lines who’ve spent 15+ minutes together, the Matthews line ranks fifth in expected goals share at 5-on-5.
UTAH
@
NJ
Tue, Oct 6 • 7:00 PM ET
NJ (-130)
I see value on the New Jersey Devils to 57%.
Their process has been strong out of the gate, as they lead the NHL with a +1.67 expected goal differential per 60 minutes of 5-on-5 play.
They are peppering opposing goaltenders but have been held back by an unsustainably low 3.7 SH%. That number is going to jump to the 9-10% range, if not higher, sooner than later.
Clayton Keller o0.5 Assists (-104)
Play up to 56%. Clayton Keller has assisted in all three games, already collecting five helpers while driving Utah’s offense. The Mammoth are generating 2.91 xGF/60 with Keller on the ice, and his PP1 role gives him multiple paths to another assist against New Jersey.
CAR
@
MON
Tue, Oct 6 • 7:00 PM ET
Andrei Svechnikov o2.5 Shots On Goal (-115)
I recommend Svechnikov to record three or more shots to -140 because he's been a force to start the season and impressed against the Canadiens during the Eastern Conference Final last spring. The Russian winger has an eye-popping 70.4 Corsi For percentage at five-on-five while leading Carolina with 25 shot attempts to start the year, and he recorded a team-high 17 shots and 31 attempts against Montreal in the playoffs during their five-game series.
Andrei Svechnikov o0.5 Goals Scored (+210)
Svechnikov has been dangerous to start the season without finding the back of the net, so I recommend this prop down to +180. The Russian winger has an eye-popping recorded 2.31 individual expected goals and eight high-danger scoring chances through three games, after all.
MIN
@
BUF
Tue, Oct 6 • 7:00 PM ET
Jack Quinn o2.5 Shots On Goal (-110)
I like Jack Quinn to record 3+ shots up to 56%.
Quinn ranked 42nd among all forwards in shots on goal per 60 minutes last season.
The Buffalo Sabres gave him at least 19 minutes in each of the first two games, a mark he reached only eight times all of last year.
He took full advantage, recording 9+ shot attempts in both contests while combining for 21 in total.
Kirill Kaprizov o0.5 Goals Scored (+135)
Play up to 46%. Kirill Kaprizov has opened the season with three goals in two games and continues to generate quality looks. He ranks second on Minnesota with 7.56 individual high-danger chances per 60 and averaged 4.5 shots in two meetings with Buffalo last season.
NYI
@
NYR
Tue, Oct 6 • 7:30 PM ET
Eeli Tolvanen o0.5 Goals Scored (+380)
Eeli Tolvanen has already scored three times through four games, and there’s legitimate chance generation behind the hot start. He’s averaging 1.69 ixG and 3.34 individual high-danger chances per 60, making him an appealing longshot at this price despite two goals coming into empty nets.
Matthew Schaefer o0.5 Assists (+135)
Play up to 52%. Matthew Schaefer already has two assists through two games, and the underlying numbers support his offensive involvement. The Islanders are generating 4.39 xGF and 43.46 scoring chances per 60 with him on the ice, giving him plenty of opportunities to add another helper.
STL
@
CHI
Tue, Oct 6 • 8:00 PM ET
Bowen Byram o0.5 Points (+120)
Bowen Byram is a target for a point to 48%.
He leads Chicago Blackhawkss blueline in offensive zone faceoff percentage, with more than 70% of his on-ice draws coming in the opposing end.
He’s playing a ton at 5-on-5 and he’s quarterbacking the top power play. That should be especially beneficial against a St. Louis Blues team spending more than eight minutes per night shorthanded.
FLA
@
LA
Tue, Oct 6 • 10:00 PM ET
Sam Reinhart o0.5 Goals Scored (+185)
Sam Reinhart is the most likely Florida Panthers player to find the back of the net, and I like him to do so to 41%.
Nobody on the Panthers has generated more shot attempts, scoring chances, or expected goals than Reinhart.
He just hasn’t put them away, which is generally not an issue for the career 16% finisher.
Seth Jones o0.5 Points (+100)
I see value in Seth Jones to record a point and would play it to 52%. The Florida Panthers have generated 90 shot attempts, 36 shots on target, and 4.54 expected goals with Jones on the ice through three games. Those outputs have translated into zero Florida goals. Zero! That's going to change sooner than later, and LA's 32nd-ranked team save percentage could help the cause.
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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