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 -220
|
|
3.53 |
-124 
|
u6.5 -120
|
-1.5 +200
|
Florida
Carolina
Predicted Score
Team |
Predicted Score |
ML |
Total |
Puck Line |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3.44 |
-110
|
o6.5 +106 
|
+1.5 -255 
|
|
3.23 |
-105
|
u6.5 -115 
|
-1.5 +225
|
Montreal
Toronto
Predicted Score
Team |
Predicted Score |
ML |
Total |
Puck Line |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2.88 |
-104
|
o5.5 -130
|
+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 +110 
|
|
4.17 |
-295
|
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
Auston Matthews o0.5 Goals Scored (+150)
You better believe Matthews will be the most motivated Leaf on the ice tonight after failing to score 30 for the first time in his career last season. He spent all offseason hearing about how he's not the same player without his buddy, Mitch Marner. Well, tonight is a good night to put those whispers to bed. And against a team that allowed the fifth-most high-danger shots in the league last season, expect Matthews to be buzzing.
TOR (-105)
The Toronto Maple Leafs have absolutely dominated the Montreal Canadiens in this spot, owning a 16-2-3 record against them at Scotiabank Arena since 2016 while currently riding a 10-game winning streak in home openers. The moves Toronto made in the offseason - adding Darren Raddysh, Sergei Bobrovsky, Kirill Marchenko, Jack Roslovic, while drafting Gavin McKenna - were fine pieces of business and elevated an already strong roster. The Leafs’ top six is elite, and while the Canadiens are a talented team entering the season with high expectations of their own, the trends say this is a difficult spot for Montreal. After a shockingly disappointing campaign, Toronto will be motivated to set the tone immediately in front of its home crowd. With last year likely an outlier for Toronto, I'll take the Leafs at this price.
NYR
@
BOS
Tue, Sep 29 • 8:00 PM ET
David Pastrnak o0.5 Goals Scored (+134)
Pastrnak led all B's forwards in time on ice last year, and there's no reason to expect anything less. His high usage put him at the top of the team in shots on goal and in the Top 3 in both even-strength and PP goals. He'll show off that shiny new "C" tonight.
Pavel Dorofeyev o2.5 Shots (-146)
VAN
@
EDM
Tue, Sep 29 • 10:00 PM ET
Leon Draisaitl o0.5 Goals Scored (+125)
Draisaitl to score is in play to +100 because he's scored the third-most goals in the NHL over the past three years, and the Canucks allowed the most goals per 60 minutes and sixth-most expected goals per 60 last year. Additionally, I particularly value No. 29 projecting to jump the board with superstar Connor McDavid at five-on-five in the season opener because the duo have been on the ice for a monster 7.69 goals per 60 minutes over the past two years.
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.
CHI
@
VEG
Tue, Sep 29 • 10:30 PM ET
Jack Eichel o0.5 Goals Scored (+160)
Play up to 42%. Jack Eichel remains one of Vegas’ premier scoring threats after netting 27 goals last season. At home, he generated 72 individual scoring chances and 25 high-danger opportunities at five-on-five. Against a Chicago defense that struggled to suppress offense, Eichel should get several quality looks.
Patrick Kane o0.5 Points (-120)
Play up to 58%. Patrick Kane should have a major offensive role with Connor Bedard sidelined. He produced 57 points in 67 games last season and is expected to skate on Chicago’s top line while also working on PP1. That usage gives the veteran multiple paths to record a point in the opener.
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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