NHL Picks Today: Thursday Predictions & Best Bets (Nov. 5)

• My NHL picks today zero in on three Thursday matchups, priced on Kalshi
• One Metropolitan Division leader brings a long run of strong results into Long Island
• Read below for my NHL predictions, latest odds, and best bets for November 5th.

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Thursday’s NHL card has plenty of options, but I’m keeping my Kalshi positions tight with three trades I like for Nov. 5.

Two of my plays need a favorite to win by multiple goals, while the third only needs a road team to win. Each one comes down to which side is playing better hockey right now, not which side has the bigger name.

You can shop the full board in the latest NHL odds. Keep reading for my NHL picks today and the reasoning behind each position.

NHL Picks Today

Prices/Odds are Kalshi Buy Yes contracts as of 11:54 AM ET on November. 5. Compare prices on the best NHL betting apps and sites.

Carolina’s puck line is the long shot of the group at a 40% implied chance. Tampa Bay carries the highest number at 60%, while Boston sits near a coin flip at 50%.

1. Hurricanes vs Islanders: Carolina -1.5

I’m starting with Carolina to win by two or more goals for my Hurricanes vs Islanders pick. A 39¢ contract implies a 39% chance, and the Canes have done plenty to make that number look low.

Carolina is 12-3-2 and sits first in the Metropolitan Division. The Hurricanes have also gone 12-2-1 over their last 15 games, so this isn’t one hot week propping up the record.

Jackson Blake is driving a lot of it. He has 17 points in 17 games and has pushed his point streak to a career-best seven games, with three goals and six assists along the way.

The Islanders have scored just 39 goals in 14 games, and they haven’t played since Saturday. If Carolina grabs an early lead, I don’t trust New York to chase it down. Taylor Hall could also return, though that isn’t confirmed yet.

2. Blackhawks vs Lightning: Tampa Bay -1.5

Tampa Bay is my pick for Blackhawks vs Lightning, but I want the puck line instead of paying up for the moneyline. A 59¢ contract on the Bolts -1.5 translates to about a 59% chance.

The Lightning are 9-3-2 and beat Detroit 4-2 on Tuesday. Brayden Point scored twice, with Nikita Kucherov assisting on both.

When Point and Kucherov connect like that, Tampa Bay can quickly put games out of reach. A scoring punch you need to win by two or more on home ice.

The -1.5 price also gives me a better return while still backing the stronger team. I’d rather pay 59¢ for a two-goal win than overpay for a simple Tampa Bay win.

3. Bruins vs Penguins: Boston Moneyline

Wrapping up my NHL picks today, I’m taking Boston to win outright in Bruins vs Penguins. A 51¢ contract makes this close to a coin flip, and I think that undersells the gap between these two teams.

The Bruins are 11-4-1 with 23 points in 16 games, good for a .719 points percentage. They also come in off a 3-2 shootout win over Vegas on Monday.

Pittsburgh is heading the other way. The Penguins are 5-8-2 with 12 points in 15 games, a .400 points percentage, and they dropped a 3-2 decision Tuesday to fall to 0-2-1 over their last three.

That’s a wide gap in the standings for a market priced near even. I’ll take the better team at a coin-flip price.