Free NHL Expert and Computer Picks For Every Game Oct. 8, 2026
Predicted Score
Team |
Predicted Score |
ML |
Total |
Puck Line |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2.90 |
+140 
|
o6.0 -121 
|
+1.5 -175 
|
|
3.62 |
-155 
|
u6.5 -120
|
-1.5 +152
|
Nashville
Montreal
Predicted Score
Team |
Predicted Score |
ML |
Total |
Puck Line |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3.10 |
-117 
|
o5.5 -135 
|
+1.5 -280 
|
|
3.06 |
+104
|
u6.5 -130
|
-1.5 +200
|
Dallas
Buffalo
Predicted Score
Team |
Predicted Score |
ML |
Total |
Puck Line |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2.53 |
+150
|
o5.5 -111
|
+1.5 -170
|
|
3.20 |
-170 
|
u5.5 -104 
|
-1.5 +154
|
Philadelphia
Ottawa
Predicted Score
Team |
Predicted Score |
ML |
Total |
Puck Line |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3.17 |
-125
|
o5.5 -135
|
-1.5 +200
|
|
3.03 |
+114
|
u6.5 -135
|
+1.5 -225
|
Utah
Boston
Predicted Score
Team |
Predicted Score |
ML |
Total |
Puck Line |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2.37 |
+295
|
o6.5 +100
|
+1.5 +115
|
|
4.26 |
-334
|
u6.5 -117
|
-1.5 -129
|
Vancouver
Carolina
Predicted Score
Team |
Predicted Score |
ML |
Total |
Puck Line |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2.92 |
+130
|
o6.0 -116
|
+1.5 -200
|
|
3.31 |
-140
|
u6.5 -125
|
-1.5 +175
|
Minnesota
Tampa Bay
Predicted Score
Team |
Predicted Score |
ML |
Total |
Puck Line |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2.46 |
+156
|
o5.5 -120
|
+1.5 -160
|
|
3.23 |
-180
|
u6.0 -118
|
-1.5 +140
|
Chicago
NY Islanders
Predicted Score
Team |
Predicted Score |
ML |
Total |
Puck Line |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2.76 |
+135
|
o5.5 -125
|
+1.5 -180
|
|
3.19 |
-150
|
u6.0 -115
|
-1.5 +170
|
San Jose
St. Louis
Predicted Score
Team |
Predicted Score |
ML |
Total |
Puck Line |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3.76 |
-235
|
o6.0 -120
|
-1.5 +105
|
|
2.43 |
+215
|
u6.5 -125
|
+1.5 -117
|
Colorado
Calgary
Predicted Score
Team |
Predicted Score |
ML |
Total |
Puck Line |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3.03 |
+155
|
o6.5 -112
|
+1.5 -165
|
|
3.74 |
-165
|
u6.5 -104
|
-1.5 +150
|
Toronto
Vegas
Predicted Score
Team |
Predicted Score |
ML |
Total |
Puck Line |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2.72 |
+118
|
o5.5 -125
|
+1.5 -205
|
|
3.09 |
-134
|
u6.0 -118
|
-1.5 +195
|
NY Rangers
Washington
Predicted Score
Team |
Predicted Score |
ML |
Total |
Puck Line |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3.29 |
+103
|
o6.5 -105
|
+1.5 -235
|
|
3.31 |
-120
|
u6.5 -106
|
-1.5 +205
|
Pittsburgh
Columbus
Predicted Score
Team |
Predicted Score |
ML |
Total |
Puck Line |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2.89 |
+120
|
o5.5 -137
|
+1.5 -200
|
|
3.24 |
-134
|
u6.5 -130
|
-1.5 +185
|
Seattle
Detroit
Predicted Score
Team |
Predicted Score |
ML |
Total |
Puck Line |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3.28 |
+102
|
o6.0 -130
|
+1.5 -235
|
|
3.34 |
-114
|
u6.5 -115
|
-1.5 +220
|
Anaheim
Winnipeg
NAS
@
MON
Thu, Oct 8 • 7:00 PM ET
NAS (+150)
This game should be much closer to a pick’em, so I’m happy to side with the Predators up to 44%. The Canadiens are 29th in expected goals percentage at five-on-five, and it’s particularly concerning that the Habs are eighth in goals per 60 minutes at 5-on-5 despite ranking 27th in xGF/60 because of a 14.6 team shooting percentage. Montreal isn’t going to maintain that shooting efficiency, and Nashville starter Juuse Saros has been solid to start the season with a .907 save percentage and 2.0 goals saved above expected through three starts.
Matthew Wood o0.5 Goals Scored (+350)
Matthew Wood has been incredibly dangerous to start the year with 1.17 expected goals and seven individual high-danger scoring chances. So, with Montreal allowing the second-most expected goals per 60 minutes and five goals to opposing centers through three games, I recommend Wood to score down to +300.
DAL
@
BUF
Thu, Oct 8 • 7:00 PM ET
Wyatt Johnston o0.5 Power Play Points (+215)
Calling this the steal of the day. Johnston has recorded a PPP in 16 of 34 games (47.4%) since mid-February (playoffs included) -- the same rate as Jason Robertson and less than one percentage point lower than Miro Heiskanen. The 2021 first-rounder led the NHL in power-play goals with 27 last season, notching seven more than number-two Pavel Dorofeyev.
Despite this, he's priced at +215 while his aforementioned teammates sit around +150. The Stars won't be mired in an offensive slump for long, and Buffalo sports the 26th-ranked penalty kill in this early season.
Noah Ostlund o0.5 Points (+145)
Noah Ostlund is playing top-six minutes and PP1 and should be priced closer to 55% for a point. He has points in two of three games and played more than 20 minutes in Buffalo's overtime win on Tuesday. The Tage Thompson line is also scoring, with the big forward coming off multi-point games in back-to-back contests. That could make it difficult for the Stars to defend Buffalo's second line on the road with the last change. Dallas scored just one goal in its first two losses before beating a Celebrini-less Sharks team 5-0 on Monday. The Sabres have scored three-plus goals in every game, and should be the favorites on the ML.
PHI
@
OTT
Thu, Oct 8 • 7:00 PM ET
Joseph Woll o24.5 Total Saves (-115)
Woll has faced 84 shots on goal through two starts as a Flyer, putting up a .929 save percentage.
He's cleared this glaringly low line in 11 of his last 13 games and evidently in both his starts this season. His 30.41 saves per game since February 1 lead all NHL goaltenders by a mile.
The 0-2-2 Flyers rank 26th and 32nd in goals and shots allowed, respectively. Expect Woll to be a busy man yet again tonight.
UTAH
@
BOS
Thu, Oct 8 • 7:00 PM ET
Clayton Keller o2.5 Shots On Goal (-114)
Play up to 63%. Dylan Guenther is averaging 4.25 SOG through four games and has cleared 2.5 shots in three of them. He also leads Utah with 23 unblocked shot attempts, while Boston is allowing nearly five SOG per game to right wingers.
Clayton Keller o0.5 Assists (-105)
Play up to 56%. Clayton Keller has recorded at least one assist in all four games, totaling six helpers with a 70% IPP. Skating on Utah’s top line and PP1 alongside elite finishers gives him multiple paths to another assist against Boston tonight.
MIN
@
TB
Thu, Oct 8 • 7:00 PM ET
Brandon Hagel o2.5 Shots On Goal (-145)
Hagel has fired 17 shots on goal through three games this season.
He's cleared this line in 14 of his last 16 games (including playoffs), averaging four shots per game. He's also surpassed this mark in 11 of his last 12 home games.
The Saskatoon native averaged a career-best 3.01 shots per game in 2025-26 and has only ramped up his shooting volume this season.
Ilya Mikheyev o0.5 Goals Scored (+500)
Ilya Mikheyev is one goal away from reaching 100 for his NHL career as Tampa Bay hosts Minnesota. He scored his first goal with the Lightning against Philadelphia on Monday, putting the milestone within reach. Mikheyev isn't a high-volume shooter, but his speed creates opportunities off the rush. At this price, he's worth a flier.
SJ
@
STL
Thu, Oct 8 • 8:00 PM ET
Connor McMichael o0.5 Goals Scored (+350)
Connor McMichael has been a power-play threat with one goal as well as a team-high four shots and 0.77 individual expected goals on the man advantage.
The Sharks penalty kill is operating at just 75%, with nearly seven minutes of PK time per game.
Connor McMichael o1.5 Shots On Goal (-115)
Connor McMichael has logged 2+ shots in each of his last two games, including five shots last time out.
The Sharks are allowing the fifth-most shot attempts (45.68) and fourth-most scoring chances (33.77) per game this season.
COL
@
CAL
Thu, Oct 8 • 9:00 PM ET
Artturi Lehkonen o0.5 Points (+105)
I loved Artturi Lehkonen for a point last night at even money, but the Avalanche got Skinnered in Winnipeg. Today should bring a very motivated Colorado team against the worst team in hockey, the Flames. Calgary has scored just one goal in each of its three games this season and should lose this one by multiple goals. There were some line juggles for Colorado last night, but Lehkonen stayed alongside Nathan MacKinnon. If there are any power-play changes coming today after two games of nothing, Lehkonen could get a shot with the man advantage. The winger is still playing 17-plus minutes and should be priced at 58-60% for a point. I missed it yesterday, but I'm getting it today.
Nathan MacKinnon o0.5 Goals Scored (+100)
Play up to 55%. Nathan MacKinnon has scored twice through three games while averaging 4.33 SOG. He leads Colorado with 1.42 individual expected goals and 13 scoring chances, and his excellent history against Calgary makes him a strong candidate to score again.
TOR
@
VEG
Thu, Oct 8 • 10:00 PM ET
Darren Raddysh o2.5 Shots On Goal (+114)
I cannot believe this prop is plus-money.
Raddysh has recorded 11 shots on goal on 28 shot attempts through his first four games as a Leaf and has cleared this line in 13 of his last 15 road games (!), averaging four shots per game over that span.
No defenseman has averaged more SOG per game than Raddysh's 3.55 since January 1. He's cleared this line in 77.4% of games since then -- a mark that also leads all defensemen.
Auston Matthews o0.5 Goals Scored (+170)
Here we have yet another opportunity to ride the hot hand. Coming off a four-point night, Auston Matthews is 22nd in the NHL in expected goals and 21st in high-danger shots on the power play. These numbers just scream another goal to me, especially when you consider the Knights are middle-of-the-pack for expected goals against.
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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