NHL Picks Today: NHL Best Bets, Predictions and Props for Thursday, October 1

Thursday’s Best NHL Picks at a Glance

• Lightning Moneyline (-142)
• Sabres-Blue Jackets Under 6.5 (-130)
• Connor McDavid Anytime Goal Scorer (+105)

Thursday brings a busy eight-game NHL slate, giving bettors plenty of options across moneylines, puck lines, totals and player props.

With several teams making their season debuts and others already playing their second game, there are opportunities to lean on both last season's underlying numbers and the limited early-season results we have so far. Here are three NHL bets to consider for tonight.

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

NHL Predictions Today: Player Props, Best Bets

Lightning Moneyline (-142)

Lightning at Rangers, 7 p.m. ET

The Tampa Bay Lightning went 50-26-6 last season and finished fourth in the NHL in scoring at 3.49 goals per game. They were strong defensively, too, allowing only 2.79 goals per contest, the third-lowest mark in the league.

That balance gives Tampa Bay a nice floor against a New York Rangers team that already opened its season with a loss to Boston.

Nikita Kucherov remains the centerpiece of the Tampa offense after producing 130 points in only 76 games last season, including 44 goals and 86 assists. His 1.71 points per game actually exceeded Connor McDavid's 1.68 mark.

I considered writing up Tampa Bay on the puck line, but I'd rather take the more straightforward moneyline route in an early-season road matchup. I'll back Tampa Bay to leave Madison Square Garden with a win.

Sabres-Blue Jackets Under 6.5 (-130)

Sabres vs. Blue Jackets, 7 p.m. ET

This total sits at 6.5 goals, and I prefer the under despite both teams having some legitimate offensive talent.

The Buffalo Sabres were one of the NHL's better teams last season, finishing 50-23-9 while averaging 3.45 goals per game. The Sabres were also fairly strong defensively, allowing 2.93 goals per game and killing 81.9% of opposing power plays.

The Columbus Blue Jackets was much closer to league average offensively. They scored 3.00 goals per game and allowed 3.06, and their power play converted only 18.9% of its opportunities.

That gives us a combined 2025-26 scoring average of 6.45 goals per game between these offenses, but Buffalo's defensive profile makes me lean toward the lower-scoring side of the distribution.

Season openers can also be a little less predictable offensively, especially for teams still trying to establish chemistry and special-teams rhythm.

Connor McDavid Anytime Goal Scorer (+105)

Oilers vs. Canucks, 10 p.m. ET

McDavid didn't score in the Edmonton Oilers opener against the Vancouver Canucks, but he still recorded two assists in the 6-5 overtime loss and played 22:51.

That follows a 2025-26 season in which McDavid led the NHL with 138 points, piling up 90 assists in 82 games. He averaged 1.68 points per game and produced 54 power-play points.

The matchup remains highly appealing.

Vancouver allowed an NHL-worst 314 goals last season, which works out to 3.83 per game, and the Canucks' penalty kill finished at just 71.5%. Edmonton, meanwhile, converted a league-best 30.6% of its power-play opportunities.

Those numbers make this a superb matchup for McDavid. This is a quick rematch after Tuesday's 11-goal shootout, and while expecting another game that wild would be aggressive, the matchup still offers McDavid plenty of opportunities to create offense.

NHL Betting -- Frequently Asked Questions

What is the moneyline in NHL betting?

The moneyline is a straight-up bet on which team will win the game — no spread involved. Favorites are listed with a negative number (e.g., -160), meaning you'd need to wager $160 to win $100. Underdogs carry a positive number (e.g., +140), meaning a $100 bet returns $140 in profit.

What is the puck line?

The puck line is hockey's version of a point spread. It is almost always set at 1.5 goals. The favorite must win by two or more goals to cover, while the underdog can lose by one goal and still cover.

How does the over/under (total) work in hockey?

FanDuel sets a total number of goals for the game (including overtime and shootout goals). You bet whether the actual combined score will go Over or Under that number. NHL totals typically range from 5.5 to 6.5 goals. The shootout winner will have a goal added to their total. For example, if the score is 2-2 after regulation, and one team wins the shootout, the final score for settlement purposes is 3-2. However, some prop bets are settled on regulation time only — always check the specific rules for each bet at your sportsbook.

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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.