NHL Picks Today: 3 NHL Best Bets, Predictions and Props for Thursday, October 15

Top NHL Picks at a Glance

• Auston Matthews Over 3.5 Shots on Goal (-102)
• Senators Moneyline (-164)
• Oilers Moneyline (-118)

Thursday gives us one of the busiest NHL slates of the young season, with 11 games on tap.

There are several intriguing spots across the board, including the New York Islanders visiting the Ottawa Senators, the Buffalo Sabres taking on the Toronto Maple Leafs, and the Edmonton Oilers hosting the Utah Mammoth. Edmonton enters Thursday without a regulation loss while several of the league's biggest stars have gotten off to scorching starts.

With that in mind, let's dive into three NHL bets I like for tonight.

NHL odds come from FanDuel Sportsbook and may change after this article is published.

NHL Predictions Today: Player Props, Best Bets

Auston Matthews Over 3.5 Shots on Goal (-102)

Sabres vs. Maple Leafs, 7:08 p.m. ET

Matthews has been firing away lately. Over his last five games, he's recorded 6, 4, 2, 5, and 4 shots on goal, giving him at least four shots in four of those five outings. That's 21 total shots over that five-game span, or 4.2 per game.

He's also producing at an elite level offensively. Matthews has 5 goals and 12 points through seven games while averaging nearly 22 minutes of ice time per night.

The Buffalo Sabres should provide enough resistance to keep Matthews heavily involved rather than allowing the Toronto Maple Leafs to coast, and the Leafs continue to deploy him in every high-leverage offensive situation.

With Matthews clearing this number in four of his past five and getting massive usage, I'll back him to put at least four pucks on net.

Senators Moneyline (-164)

Islanders vs. Senators, 7:09 p.m. ET

I'll start by backing the Ottawa Senators at home against the New York Islanders.

The Senators enter Thursday at 5-2 while New York sits at 3-3.

Tim Stützle has been at the center of Ottawa's strong start. He's already produced 5 goals and 6 assists for 11 points while averaging 21:48 of ice time per night. That's exactly the kind of early-season production Ottawa needs from its top offensive player.

There's also a meaningful home-ice component here. Ottawa gets the matchup at Canadian Tire Centre and enters with the superior early-season record.

I prefer taking the Sens on the moneyline rather than asking Ottawa to win by multiple goals.

Oilers Moneyline (-118)

Mammoth vs. Oilers, 9:10 p.m. ET

Edmonton's start has been difficult to ignore.

The Oilers enter Thursday's home matchup with Utah at 5-0-1, and FanDuel Sportsbook has Edmonton priced at only -126 despite that unbeaten-in-regulation opening. Utah is 5-2 and certainly isn't a pushover, but the Oilers at home at this number are appealing.

Unsurprisingly, Connor McDavid is already doing Connor McDavid things. NHL.com's current stats page credits him with 3 goals and 10 assists for 13 points through his first five games, giving him an absurd 2.60 points per game. He's also averaging nearly 24 minutes of ice time.

Edmonton's early results haven't been built exclusively on offense, either. The Oilers' recent five-game stretch includes victories of 4-1 over Los Angeles, 3-1 over San Jose, 5-2 over Anaheim, and 3-1 over Seattle.

Utah has started well in its own right, but laying -126 with an Edmonton team playing this well at Rogers Place is a price I'm willing to take.

NHL Betting -- Frequently Asked Questions

What Is the Puck Line in NHL Betting?

The puck line is hockey's version of a point spread. The standard puck line is usually set at 1.5 goals, meaning a team listed at -1.5 must win by at least two goals for the bet to cash. A team at +1.5 can either win outright or lose by one goal.

What Does the Moneyline Mean in NHL Betting?

A moneyline bet is a wager on which team will win the game. Favorites have negative odds, while underdogs have positive odds. Unlike the puck line, the margin of victory does not matter.

What Are NHL Player Props?

NHL player props allow bettors to wager on an individual player's performance rather than the final result of the game. Common markets include goals, assists, points, shots on goal, and goalie saves.

What Should You Consider When Betting on NHL Games?

Several factors can influence NHL betting decisions, including starting goaltenders, injuries, recent team performance, special-teams play, expected line combinations, and whether a team is playing on consecutive nights. Because goalie confirmations can significantly impact a matchup, it can be useful to check the latest lineup news before placing a bet.

Which NHL bets stand out to you today? Check out FanDuel Sportsbook's NHL odds to see the full menu of options.

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The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author's advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.