NHL Picks Today: Best Bets & Predictions for Wednesday, Sept. 30

• The NHL season rolls on Wednesday with a three-game slate
• A pair of moneyline wagers and an under bet are showing up as big values
• Keep reading for my NHL picks today, including best bets and predictions for Wednesday, Sept. 30, below

I am approaching Wednesday’s NHL card with a narrow focus: price, matchup context, and the risks that can turn a reasonable wager into a poor one. These are the opening games of the 2026-27 season for five of the six teams in action, so we’re essentially starting with a blank slate.

Below, you’ll find my favorite NHL picks today, including the best bets and predictions for Wednesday, Sept. 30. If you are comparing numbers through NHL betting apps, I would shop for the best available price, as odds will change between the time of writing and puck drop.

NHL Picks Today

NHL Best Bets and Predictions for Wednesday Sept. 30

Pittsburgh Penguins at Philadelphia Flyers Betting Pick

• Pick: Flyers moneyline (-142 at bet365)

Philadelphia is my preferred side in the opener because it has home ice and a modest price rather than a steep favorite’s tax. The market has moved the Flyers’ consensus moneyline from -130 to -142 in the NHL odds, which suggests the current number is less forgiving than the opener, but it remains playable for bettors who make Philadelphia the better team in this matchup.

Philadelphia enters the opener with a 4-1 record in its last five games as a home favorite and five wins in its last seven meetings with Pittsburgh. The Penguins have lost four of their last five as road underdogs. Those are historical records entering the new season, but they offer support for the Flyers beyond home ice alone.

The case is primarily about avoiding unnecessary complications. A moneyline ticket does not require the Flyers to win by two goals, which is important in a game where opening-night line combinations, goaltending confirmation, and special-teams execution can create volatility. I would pass if the price climbs materially higher. Grab the bet365 bonus code to tail this pick.

Los Angeles Kings at Colorado Avalanche Betting Pick

• Pick: Kings moneyline (+160 at BetMGM)

I am taking the Kings as an underdog because the price gives me room for the uncertainty attached to Colorado’s season opener. The Avalanche are listed at -187, while Los Angeles is available at +160, creating a clear choice between laying a significant price with a Stanley Cup odds contender and accepting underdog variance.

Colorado enters the new season having lost its last four games overall and its last four as a betting favorite. That historical form gives me another reason to consider the Kings at plus money, although it does not tell us how the Avalanche will start this season.

It is a price-based position on a single game, with the Kings needing to win outright for the ticket to cash. The road setting is the main obstacle, but the plus-money return makes the matchup more attractive to me than backing the favorite at a short number. Grab the BetMGM promo code to lock in this line.

New York Islanders at Toronto Maple Leafs Betting Pick

• Pick: Islanders at Maple Leafs Under 5.5 (+110 at bet365)

The total is the cleanest way for me to approach this matchup. The market lists 5.5 goals at +110 to the under, which is a total Toronto failed to clear in its season opener last night.

Toronto scored twice on 28 shots and allowed three goals in its season-opening loss. That five-goal result fits the under angle, although one game is a small sample rather than an established scoring trend.

The risk is obvious with NHL totals: an early power-play goal, an unusual bounce, or empty-net scoring can ruin an otherwise controlled game. I am betting this number as I see value at its plus-money odds, but I would be less interested if the market moves the price closer to even money or shorter.