NHL Picks Today: Best Bets & Predictions for Saturday, Oct. 17
By Michael Schwartz in NHL Hockey
Published:
- Saturday brings a 14-game NHL slate, headlined by Carolina’s trip to Winnipeg and Edmonton’s visit to Utah
- Philadelphia is still winless at 0-6-3, while Carolina has opened 6-1-1 behind a 93.3% penalty kill
- Read below for our NHL picks today, best bets and predictions for every game on the board
Saturday’s NHL schedule is loaded with 14 games, giving bettors plenty to work with from the afternoon matinee in Washington to the late games out West. The card mixes divisional matchups with a few road underdogs worth a look.
Carolina takes its stingy defense to Winnipeg, while Edmonton visits Utah in one of the night’s most interesting Western Conference spots. A handful of teams are also dealing with quick turnarounds after playing Friday.
We’re breaking down the slate from a betting perspective, leaning on team stats, special teams and scheduling to find value on Kalshi. Here are our NHL picks today, followed by three best bets.
NHL Picks Today
New to prediction markets? Claim the Kalshi promo code before trading Saturday’s NHL slate.
Our NHL predictions back nine favorites and five underdogs today. San Jose, the Rangers, Boston and Edmonton are all priced between 44¢ and 46¢.
The boldest call belongs to Seattle. The Kraken sit at 37¢ in Florida, the longest price on our card and roughly a 37% implied chance.
Top NHL Best Bets & Predictions for Tonight’s Slate
1. Carolina Hurricanes Moneyline
- Hurricanes ML (62¢ on Kalshi)
Carolina is rolling at 6-1-1. The Hurricanes are outshooting opponents 32.3 to 21.5 per game while allowing just 2.38 goals against.
Their 93.3% penalty kill gives Winnipeg’s power play very little to work with. The Jets are also playing for the second straight night after a game Friday.
Carolina at 62¢ is the top play among our NHL best bets today. A road win like this would keep the Canes climbing the Stanley Cup odds board.
2. Ottawa Senators Moneyline
- Senators ML (58¢ on Kalshi)
My Senators vs Flyers prediction starts with Philadelphia still searching for its first win at 0-6-3. The Flyers score a league-low 1.22 goals per game while allowing 33.7 shots and 3.56 goals against per night.
Ottawa comes in at 6-2-0 and gets a defense that gives up plenty of volume. Backing the Senators at 58¢, roughly a 58% implied chance, against a team struggling at both ends is one of the better spots on the board.
3. Devils vs Capitals Under 6.5
- Under 6.5 Goals (55¢ on Kalshi)
The Devils vs Capitals total offers a different angle from the moneyline. Neither power play has done much damage. New Jersey is converting at 20.0%, while Washington sits at 15.8% (3-for-19).
Washington’s penalty kill has allowed four goals on 24 chances (83.3%), taking away one of the Devils’ easier routes to scoring. New Jersey piles up shots, with 249 through seven games, but has turned that volume into 23 goals.
We still like Washington to win at 53¢, but we’re expecting a tighter game than a shootout. The Under 6.5 is the play at 55¢.
More NHL Predictions & Quick Picks
Here’s a quick look at our NHL predictions for the rest of Saturday’s slate.
- Lightning ML (77¢ on Kalshi): Vancouver ranks last in scoring defense at 4.56 goals against per game and allows 32.4 shots per night.
- Kraken ML (37¢ on Kalshi): Seattle is the biggest underdog we’re backing today. That price carries about a 37% implied chance, which is enough upside to take a shot on the road.
- Canadiens ML (57¢ on Kalshi): Both squads rank in the bottom tier defensively, which sets up a potential high-scoring game with Montreal at home.
- Maple Leafs ML (56¢ on Kalshi): Toronto owns a 96.2% penalty kill and a 29.6% power play, giving it the special teams edge over the Islanders.
- Sharks ML (45¢ on Kalshi): Detroit has lost 3 of their last 4 games with the one victory coming against the winless Flyers. Macklin Celebrini has 8 points in just 5 games played for the Sharks this season.
- Rangers ML (46¢ on Kalshi): New York’s 92.9% penalty kill should limit Columbus on the power play.
- Stars ML (65¢ on Kalshi): Dallas allows just 1.71 goals against per game, and Chicago gives up 4.00 goals per game.
- Blues ML (51¢ on Kalshi): This 8 p.m. ET puck drop is close to a coin flip, but Nashville’s 2-2-3 start shows some vulnerability.
- Bruins ML (45¢ on Kalshi): Los Angeles is allowing 4.20 goals per game, giving Boston value as the road underdog.
- Golden Knights ML (67¢ on Kalshi): Vegas averages 3.89 goals per game and runs a 25.7% power play.
- Oilers ML (44¢ on Kalshi): Edmonton brings a 4.43 goals-for average into Utah, and we’ll take the road side at plus value.
