NHL Picks Today: Best Bets & Predictions for Saturday, Oct. 3

• My NHL picks today focus on four matchups from Saturday’s slate
• I’m expecting offensive fireworks in the Kraken vs Oilers matchup
• See my NHL picks today, including the best bets and predictions for Saturday, Oct. 3, below

Saturday’s NHL slate is loaded with 13 games on the betting board. Instead of forcing action across each matchup, I am narrowing the card to four bets with the clearest combination of price, matchup and statistical support.

The early results are useful, but I am using established 2025-26 team statistics as the foundation. Rest, special teams and home ice also factor into my NHL predictions for Saturday.

Below are my NHL picks today, including the best bets and predictions for Saturday, Oct. 3. Compare the latest NHL Odds before placing your bets.

NHL Picks Today: Saturday’s Best Bets

Odds from bet365 as of Oct. 2. New users can claim the bet365 promo code to lock in these lines.

These are the four bets I am prioritizing tonight. The moneyline selections rely on the stronger home profiles, while the totals offer contrasting paths: an open offensive game in Edmonton and a more controlled matchup on Long Island.

St. Louis Blues vs Colorado Avalanche Prediction

• Colorado Avalanche Moneyline (-300 at bet365)

The price is expensive, but Colorado’s 2025-26 profile explains why the Avalanche are the clearest favorite among my four plays. They finished 55-16-11 and averaged 3.63 goals per game, giving them a substantial scoring foundation at home. That profile also matters in the broader Stanley Cup Odds picture.

The defensive numbers support the favorite as well. Colorado posted an 84.6% penalty kill and allowed 2.4 goals per game last season. That combination gives the Avalanche multiple ways to win: they can create separation with their attack, or protect a lead through structured special-teams play.

The schedule also favors Colorado. St. Louis is playing the second half of a road back-to-back after facing Dallas, while the Avalanche get the benefit of home ice. I do not need a runaway result at this price; I am backing Colorado to handle the spot and finish on top.

Chicago Blackhawks vs Buffalo Sabres Prediction

• Buffalo Sabres Moneyline (-230 at bet365)

Buffalo is another home favorite whose season-long scoring profile makes the moneyline playable. The Sabres went 50-23-9 in 2025-26 and averaged 3.45 goals per game. That is the kind of offensive baseline I want when laying a moderate favorite’s price.

Chicago’s early results add context without needing an exaggerated projection. The Blackhawks dropped their first two outings and allowed 11 goals across those two games. They are also beginning the season with a third consecutive road contest, a difficult travel sequence against a Buffalo team playing at home.

I am not projecting a specific margin, but Buffalo’s home setting, stronger recent record and superior 2025-26 scoring rate make the Sabres the side I prefer.

Seattle Kraken vs Edmonton Oilers Prediction

• Over 6.5 Goals (-110 at bet365)

This is my favorite total on the board. Edmonton averaged 3.44 goals per game in 2025-26 and led the NHL with a 30.6% power-play efficiency. Those numbers give the Oilers plenty of ways to contribute to an over, especially if Seattle takes penalties.

The matchup also carries a higher-scoring profile than the two moneyline plays above. Edmonton’s first two games of the current season produced 13.5 total goals per game, including a 6-5 overtime loss and a 9-7 win. Hart Trophy odds favorite Connor McDavid is on fire, with 7 points already. Those results are a small sample, but they clearly show why a 6.5 total is reachable in this matchup.

Seattle does not need to win for this bet to cash. The Kraken only need to add enough offense to complement Edmonton’s attack, and the current price gives me room to back a game that could feature sustained chances and special-teams scoring.

New Jersey Devils vs New York Islanders Prediction

• Under 5.5 Goals (+110 at bet365)

The final selection moves in the opposite direction. I am expecting a lower-event Metro Division matchup, with both teams offering season statistics that point toward a modest scoring environment.

The Islanders averaged 2.79 goals per game and allowed 2.88 in 2025-26. New Jersey scored 2.76 per game and surrendered 3.09. Added together, those profiles do not automatically guarantee an under, but they make 5.5 a manageable threshold if the game follows a measured pace.

The early-season results also point away from assuming an immediate shootout: the Islanders’ opener produced three total goals, while the Devils’ opener produced five. Those samples are limited, so I am treating them as supporting context rather than proof. At +110, the under is the cleanest way for me to play what should be a tight divisional game.