Free NHL Expert and Computer Picks For Every Game Oct. 3, 2026
Predicted Score
Team |
Predicted Score |
ML |
Total |
Puck Line |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3.27 |
+105 
|
o5.5 -143 
|
+1.5 -250
|
|
3.27 |
-114 
|
u6.5 -125
|
-1.5 +210 
|
Ottawa
Toronto
Predicted Score
Team |
Predicted Score |
ML |
Total |
Puck Line |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2.89 |
+155 
|
o6.0 -110
|
+1.5 -160 
|
|
3.51 |
-160
|
u6.5 -118
|
-1.5 +150
|
Washington
Tampa Bay
Predicted Score
Team |
Predicted Score |
ML |
Total |
Puck Line |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3.46 |
-124
|
o6.5 +105
|
-1.5 +200
|
|
3.22 |
+110
|
u6.5 -110
|
+1.5 -230
|
Montreal
Pittsburgh
Predicted Score
Team |
Predicted Score |
ML |
Total |
Puck Line |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3.13 |
-109
|
o5.5 -135
|
+1.5 -278
|
|
3.11 |
-102
|
u6.5 -130 
|
-1.5 +200 
|
Utah
Columbus
Predicted Score
Team |
Predicted Score |
ML |
Total |
Puck Line |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3.11 |
-125 
|
o5.5 -127
|
-1.5 +195
|
|
2.93 |
+110
|
u6.5 -132
|
+1.5 -220
|
Carolina
Philadelphia
Predicted Score
Team |
Predicted Score |
ML |
Total |
Puck Line |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2.87 |
+176
|
o6.5 -105
|
+1.5 -135
|
|
3.80 |
-200
|
u6.5 -110
|
-1.5 +128
|
Seattle
Edmonton
Predicted Score
Team |
Predicted Score |
ML |
Total |
Puck Line |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2.52 |
+195
|
o6.5 +105
|
+1.5 -120
|
|
3.85 |
-215
|
u6.5 -115
|
-1.5 +114
|
Chicago
Buffalo
Predicted Score
Team |
Predicted Score |
ML |
Total |
Puck Line |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3.00 |
-130
|
o5.5 -130
|
-1.5 +200
|
|
2.75 |
+120
|
u6.5 -139
|
+1.5 -215
|
New Jersey
NY Islanders
Predicted Score
Team |
Predicted Score |
ML |
Total |
Puck Line |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2.82 |
+180
|
o5.5 -141
|
+1.5 -140
|
|
3.62 |
-195
|
u6.5 -125
|
-1.5 +125
|
Boston
Minnesota
Predicted Score
Team |
Predicted Score |
ML |
Total |
Puck Line |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3.27 |
-128
|
o5.5 -130
|
-1.5 +195
|
|
2.93 |
+115
|
u6.5 -135
|
+1.5 -210
|
Dallas
Nashville
Predicted Score
Team |
Predicted Score |
ML |
Total |
Puck Line |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2.37 |
+240
|
o6.5 +110
|
+1.5 +100
|
|
3.93 |
-280
|
u6.5 -120
|
-1.5 -109
|
St. Louis
Colorado
Predicted Score
Team |
Predicted Score |
ML |
Total |
Puck Line |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3.04 |
+102
|
o6.0 -118
|
+1.5 -235
|
|
3.35 |
-114
|
u6.5 -125
|
-1.5 +220
|
Los Angeles
San Jose
Predicted Score
Team |
Predicted Score |
ML |
Total |
Puck Line |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3.26 |
-104
|
o6.0 -118
|
+1.5 -235
|
|
3.15 |
-109
|
u6.5 -125
|
-1.5 +225
|
Calgary
Vancouver
Predicted Score
Team |
Predicted Score |
ML |
Total |
Puck Line |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3.64 |
-120
|
o6.5 -124
|
-1.5 +191
|
|
3.43 |
+110
|
u6.5 +110
|
+1.5 -225
|
Florida
Anaheim
OTT
@
TOR
Sat, Oct 3 • 7:00 PM ET
William Nylander o0.5 Goals Scored (+195)
William Nylander is fifth in the NHL in goals above expected and already has two to his name through a pair of games this season. Coming off another 30-goal campaign and currently sitting 14th in the NHL in shot attempts per 60, I'm expecting Nylander to get his looks tonight.
Auston Matthews o3.5 Shots On Goal (+108)
Getting Matthews at 48% feels like a treat. He hasn't necessarily been firing the puck, but there are multiple avenues for us to cash this one either at 5-on-5 or on the man advantage. Playing alongside Marchenko will free him up and get him the open looks he needs this season. Let's watch that line bear fruit tonight.
WAS
@
TB
Sat, Oct 3 • 7:00 PM ET
Dylan Strome o0.5 Points (-105)
Strome is set to play career game No. 600 tonight, and there’s a betting angle to go with the milestone. He picked up two assists Friday against Carolina and immediately gets another opportunity on Saturday. At nearly even money, I’ll back Strome to celebrate his 600th NHL appearance by finding the scoresheet against Tampa Bay.
MON
@
PIT
Sat, Oct 3 • 7:00 PM ET
Sidney Crosby o0.5 Assists (-118)
Play up to 58%. Sidney Crosby recorded 45 assists last season and immediately picked up another in Pittsburgh’s opener. The Penguins generated 29.84 scoring chances and 3.10 expected goals per 60 minutes at 5-on-5 with Crosby on the ice last year. Add in his PP1 role, and there are multiple avenues for him to set up a goal.
UTAH
@
CLB
Sat, Oct 3 • 7:00 PM ET
Clayton Keller o2.5 Shots On Goal (-114)
Play up to 60%. Clayton Keller opened the season with four shots and remains one of Utah’s most reliable volume shooters. He averaged 2.74 SOG per game last season and ranked second on the Mammoth with 234 unblocked shot attempts at 5-on-5. With a major even-strength role and PP1 exposure, three shots is a reachable number.
SEA
@
EDM
Sat, Oct 3 • 7:00 PM ET
Leon Draisaitl o0.5 Goals Scored (+110)
Play up to 55%. Leon Draisaitl started the season in dominant fashion, scoring twice and firing five shots against Vancouver. He also found the net twice in three meetings with Seattle last season and led Edmonton in shooting percentage. With his finishing ability and already-heavy shot volume, Draisaitl is firmly in position to score again tonight.
STL
@
COL
Sat, Oct 3 • 9:00 PM ET
Gabriel Landeskog o0.5 Points (-120)
Landeskog will play career game No. 800 tonight, and Colorado’s offense already looks ready to make it a party. The Avs erupted for eight goals in their opener, with Landeskog scoring while logging nearly 18 minutes. After 607 points through his first 799 games, I’ll back the Colorado captain to mark No. 800 with another point.
CAL
@
VAN
Sat, Oct 3 • 10:00 PM ET
Matt Coronato o0.5 Assists (+165)
Matt Coronato recorded three assists in three meetings with Vancouver last season and gets another appealing matchup against a Canucks team that surrendered nine goals last time out. He was heavily involved in Calgary’s 5-on-5 offense last season, and his playmaking role gives him a realistic path to another helper tonight.
Brock Boeser o0.5 Goals Scored (+190)
Play up to 42%. Brock Boeser has scored 16 goals in 39 career meetings with Calgary and averaged three SOG per game against the Flames last season. His early underlying numbers are encouraging as well, with five scoring chances and 0.54 expected goals at 5-on-5 through two games. Calgary’s shaky defense creates another favorable scoring opportunity.
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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