The NHL is back, and we're already getting hit by some exciting matchups on October 10.
With four games on our slate, including some smoking hot battles between teams coming off somewhat interesting offseasons, it’s time to make some predictions and see where the best bets might be.
From the Detroit Red Wings facing the Pittsburgh Penguins to the St. Louis Blues taking on the San Jose Sharks, there’s plenty to break down and we have some winners for your bet slip.
The Detroit Red Wings and Pittsburgh Penguins are set to face off at Little Caesars Arena. Unfortunately for the Pens, this game has a lot of factors working in Detroit’s favor.
While Detroit narrowly missed the playoffs last season, they’ve shown improvement in consistency and will be eager to kick things off with a win at home. Ville Husso, the starting goaltender for the home opener, is back healthy, which will undoubtedly give them some stability in the crease.
Offensively, Dylan Larkin is the key playmaker, coming off a strong 2023-2024 season. He’ll also have Patrick Kane back to help him find the back of the net.
On the flip side, the Penguins have already gotten off to a rocky start with a 6-0 loss to the New York Rangers. That was a rough game.
Playing in back-to-back games early in the season can be tough for any team, especially for Pittsburgh, who has a number of older players like Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. Those old bodies take time to recover.
To make matters worse, they are expected to start Joel Blomqvist in the net. The young Finnish goaltender has very little NHL experience, and his debut against a motivated Detroit team could be a rough one.
Prediction: Expect the Red Wings to win this one and we think they can clear the puck line at -1.5. They’ve shown they can bounce back in home openers, and Pittsburgh’s older core may struggle in a second consecutive game. Detroit's home-ice advantage and Pittsburgh's shaky goaltending make the Red Wings the easy pick.
Best Bet: Red Wings Moneyline (-125)
The Nashville Predators host the Dallas Stars in what should be a close and gritty matchup.
Both teams are eyeing deep playoff runs this season, but their approaches will differ slightly.
Nashville made waves in free agency, picking up a couple of wingers with Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault. With a strong defensive core, anchored by Roman Josi and Juuse Saros, the Predators are looking to make a statement early in the season. The Stars, though, are a tall order to make that statement.
The Stars have undergone some changes, with defensive stars Chris Tanev and Ryan Suter leaving. Goaltender Jake Oettinger is still one of the best in the league, but Dallas’s defense isn’t what it was a year ago. There are also injury concerns with Wyatt Johnston, which could hamper their offense.
The Predators' new-look offense, combined with their fairly reliable defense, should give them the upper hand, especially with home ice on their side. Stamkos and Marchessault will be hungry to prove their worth right away, and Saros in the net should keep the Stars’ offense in check.
Prediction: Nashville to win in a close game. Dallas will be solid, but Nashville’s offseason acquisitions and home advantage make them the safer pick.
Best Bet: Nashville Moneyline (+100)
The Minnesota Wild open their season at home against the Columbus Blue Jackets, and to us, this looks like a straightforward game on paper.
The Wild are strong favorites and it’s easy to see why.
Last season, they were solid on both ends of the ice, and with Kirill Kaprizov leading their offense, they have the firepower to overwhelm Columbus.
Columbus is coming off a dismal season and still doesn’t seem to have the pieces in place to be competitive. While they’ve got some offensive contributors in Zachary Werenski and Kirill Marchenko, their defense remains the biggest issue. Elvis Merzlikins had a rough year in the net, and if he doesn’t improve, the Blue Jackets will struggle to keep games close. We don’t see him magically getting better since last season.
Minnesota, with Filip Gustavsson in goal, has the defensive edge as well. He may not be one of the league’s best goalies, but he’s good enough to hold off a Columbus team that lacks elite offensive talent. The Wild’s depth and home-ice advantage make them heavy favorites heading into this Thursday night matchup.
Prediction: Minnesota should win this one comfortably. Columbus doesn’t have enough firepower to keep up, and their defense will likely struggle. We think the Wild will score early and never look back.
Best Bet: Wild -1.5 (+125)
The St. Louis Blues hit the road to take on the San Jose Sharks in a matchup that looks like a mismatch to us.
The Sharks had a brutal season last year, finishing near the bottom of the league in almost every major category. They allowed 4.0 goals per game (the most in the NHL), and their -146 goal differential was the worst in the league.
San Jose didn’t make many big moves in the offseason to fix their roster, so we expect them to have another tough year.
The Blues, while not elite, are a fairly decent team that should be able to handle the Sharks with ease.
Robert Thomas and Jordan Kyrou lead their offense, and Jordan Binnington is a solid, if not spectacular, goaltender. The Blues’ defense will have no problem holding down a San Jose offense that struggled to score goals last season.
San Jose will likely continue to be one of the NHL’s weakest teams throughout the NHL season, and though they’re at home, it’s hard to imagine them pulling off an upset here.
Prediction: St. Louis should win this game easily. The Sharks haven’t improved enough to be a serious threat, while the Blues are competent enough to get the job done on the road.
Best Bet: Blues Moneyline (-162)
These games offer a variety of betting angles, from straight-up winners to puck lines and totals.
Based on the analysis, Detroit should take advantage of a tired Penguins team, and Nashville's offseason moves make them a nice bet against the Stars. Minnesota should cruise past Columbus, and the Blues look set to outmatch a struggling Sharks squad.
Load up your bet slip with these gems and we’re confident you’ll walk away a winner.