NHL Picks Today: NHL Best Bets, Predictions and Props for Tuesday, October 6

Today’s Top NHL Picks at a Glance

• Rangers Moneyline (-146)
• Wild-Sabres Over 6.5 (+100)
• Golden Knights Moneyline (-172)

The 2026-27 NHL season is still in its opening stages, but Tuesday gives us a busy nine-game slate with plenty of betting options.

The New York Rangers will try to extend their winning streak against the rival Islanders, the undefeated Minnesota Wild head to Buffalo, and Jack Eichel and the Vegas Golden Knights visit the Seattle Kraken later in the evening.

Which bets stand out across tonight's NHL action? Let's dig in.

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

NHL Predictions Today: Player Props, Best Bets

Wild-Sabres Over 6.5 (+100)

Wild vs. Sabres, 7:10 p.m. ET

I'm willing to take a shot on the over at plus money in Buffalo.

The Minnesota Wild have opened 2-0-0 while scoring seven goals, and Kirill Kaprizov has immediately picked up where he left off. Kaprizov has three goals through his first two games while the Wild have converted 42.9% of their early power-play chances.

The Buffalo Sabres‘ defensive results have been much shakier.

The Sabres surrendered six goals to Columbus in their opener and another three to Chicago, giving them nine goals allowed in only two games. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen has stopped just 29 of 37 shots for a .784 save percentage and 4.03 goals-against average.

Buffalo can contribute offensively, too. The Sabres have scored seven times through two games, with Tage Thompson recording a goal and an assist while Owen Power already has three helpers.

Minnesota goalie Jesper Wallstedt has been excellent to begin the year, posting a .957 save percentage, so Buffalo will need to do its part. Still, Buffalo's shaky goaltending gives a dangerous Wild offense a chance to put four or five on the board by itself.

I'm willing to back the offenses in this one.

Rangers Moneyline (-146)

Islanders vs. Rangers, 7:40 p.m. ET

The New York Rangers have quickly shaken off their Opening Night loss.

New York has won three straight games to move to 3-1-0, outscoring its opponents 11-6 through four contests. The Rangers are also 2-0-0 at Madison Square Garden, where they've scored nine goals while surrendering only three.

A major reason for the strong start has been Igor Shesterkin.

Shesterkin was named the NHL's First Star for the opening week after going 2-1-0 with a 1.67 goals-against average and .934 save percentage across his first three appearances. He stopped 71 of the 76 shots he faced over that span.

The New York Islanders deserve some respect after hammering the New Jersey Devils, 6-0, on Saturday, but this is a tougher assignment. The Rangers have not allowed a first-period goal while scoring four of their own.

With Shesterkin playing at a high level and the Rangers undefeated at home, I'll back the Rangers to get the win.

Golden Knights Moneyline (-172)

Golden Knights vs. Kraken, 9:50 p.m. ET

The Vegas Golden Knights have started 2-1-0, and Jack Eichel has come out firing. Eichel recorded five points -- one goal and four assists -- over his first two games before Vegas' matchup with Vancouver on Sunday.

The Seattle Kraken have also opened 2-1-0, so this isn't a spot where I want to lay the -1.5 puck line. The moneyline is a better way to back the stronger roster without needing Vegas to create multi-goal separation.

Vegas entered the season among the Stanley Cup favorites, and Eichel's strong start gives the Golden Knights' offense a high-end centerpiece against Seattle.

The underlying projection also likes the Golden Knights. numberFire’s model gives Vegas a 63.6% win probability tonight, which comes out to a -175 ML.

At -172, there's admittedly not a huge amount of value baked into the price, but Vegas is my favorite straight-up winner on tonight's slate.

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.