NHL Picks Today: 3 NHL Predictions and Player Props for Thursday, October 22

Thursday’s Top NHL Picks at a Glance

• Golden Knights Moneyline (-126)
• Wild Moneyline (-195)
• Matt Boldy 4+ Shots on Goal (-125)

Thursday brings a loaded NHL betting slate with 12 games on the schedule, giving us plenty of options to sift through at FanDuel Sportsbook. There are a few sizable favorites on the board, but some of tonight's better betting opportunities come from teams whose early-season performance backs up their current odds.

Let's dive into the best bets for tonight.

For additional NHL insights, check out FanDuel Research's daily NHL player prop projections, which are powered by numberFire.

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

NHL Predictions Today: Player Props, Best Bets

Golden Knights Moneyline (-126)

Golden Knights vs. Blues, 8:10 p.m. ET

The Vegas Golden Knights have been one of the league's strongest teams out of the gate, carrying an 8-3-0 record into tonight's road matchup with the St. Louis Blues.

Vegas has paired that record with excellent play on both ends. The Golden Knights are scoring roughly 4.1 goals per game while surrendering around 2.4, and their power play has converted at a 25.0% clip. Their offense also offers plenty of depth behind Jack Eichel and Mitch Marner, making it difficult for opponents to simply shut down one line.

St. Louis is coming off a 2-1 win over Winnipeg, but the Blues have been much less consistent overall. At -126, Vegas' moneyline catches my eye tonight.

Wild Moneyline (-195)

Wild vs. Flames, 9:10 p.m. ET

These odds are steep, but the matchup makes the Minnesota Wild difficult to fade against the Calgary Flames.

Calgary enters this matchup averaging only 2.13 goals per game while allowing 4.63, the latter ranking at the very bottom of the league. Minnesota, meanwhile, has been much sturdier defensively, allowing only 2.33 goals per game, and its power play has been a major weapon at a 32.1% conversion rate.

That special-teams edge could loom particularly large against a Flames team that has struggled to keep the puck out of its own net.

Minnesota has the offensive firepower to separate if Calgary's defensive problems continue while the Wild's stronger defensive numbers give them multiple paths to control the game.

Although the Wild are large favorites, I think the market is undervaluing them a bit at -195.

Matt Boldy 4+ Shots on Goal (-125)

Wild vs. Flames, 9:10 p.m. ET

Matt Boldy's shot volume makes him my favorite player prop on Thursday's slate.

Through 10 games, Boldy has averaged 4.4 shots on goal per contest, and he's recorded at least three shots in 9 of those 10 outings. His workload remains substantial, too, as he's averaging nearly 22 minutes of ice time while maintaining a major role on Minnesota's power play.

The matchup helps. Calgary has been allowing 29.6 shots per game, and Boldy projects as one of the slate's highest-volume shooters against the Flames.

With his combination of ice time, shooting mentality, and a favorable opponent, four shots is a manageable hurdle for Boldy tonight.

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.

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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.