NHL Picks Today: NHL Best Bets, Predictions and Props for Thursday, October 8

Top NHL Picks at a Glance

• Hurricanes -1.5 (-122)
• Nathan MacKinnon to Record 4+ Shots on Goal (-170)
• Golden Knights Moneyline (-162)

Thursday brings us a loaded 10-game NHL slate, giving bettors plenty of options across moneylines, puck lines, totals, and player props.

The Carolina Hurricanes are the biggest favorite on the board against the Vancouver Canucks while the Vegas Golden Knights host the Toronto Maple Leafs in one of the night’s marquee games. Later, Nathan MacKinnon and the Colorado Avalanche get a favorable matchup with a Calgary Flames team that has struggled badly out of the gate.

For additional NHL insights, check out FanDuel Research's daily NHL player prop projections, which are powered by numberFire.

Let's dive into the best bets for tonight.

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

NHL Predictions Today: Picks, Player Props, Best Bets

Hurricanes -1.5 (-122)

Canucks vs. Hurricanes, 7:12 p.m. ET

The Carolina Hurricanes are understandably carrying a massive -344 moneyline tonight, so I’d rather attack the puck line.

The matchup certainly supports it. Carolina enters at 2-1-1, and numberFire’s model gives the Hurricanes an 82.1% chance to win this game.

The Vancouver Canucks‘ underlying play has also been shaky. The Canucks have generated only 2.49 expected goals per game while allowing 3.27, and their five-on-five expected-goal share sits at just 44.3%. Carolina has generated 3.47 expected goals per game through its early schedule.

There’s some uncertainty in net for Carolina, with Brandon Bussi listed as an unconfirmed starter early Thursday, so that is worth monitoring. Still, Carolina’s ability to dictate possession and create offense gives it a large enough edge for me to back them to win by multiple goals.

Nathan MacKinnon to Record 4+ Shots on Goal (-170)

Avalanche vs. Flames, 9:10 p.m. ET

I’m going back to Nathan MacKinnon in the shots market despite a quiet performance last night.

MacKinnon was held to only one shot on goal against the Winnipeg Jets on Wednesday, but he entered that contest with 12 shots through the Colorado Avalanche‘s first two games. He had eight shots in the opener and another four against the St. Louis Blues, and he piled up 350 shots in 80 games last regular season — an average of 4.37 per game.

The matchup is a good bounce-back spot. The Calgary Flames are 0-3 and have been outscored 16-3 through its first three games. The Flames surrendered six goals in two of those three contests and four in the other.

Colorado is a -230 road favorite, and numberFire’s model gives the Avalanche a 65.5% win probability. That should put MacKinnon in a game environment where Colorado spends plenty of time attacking.

His one-shot outing Wednesday does not scare me away from a player who consistently ranks among the NHL’s most aggressive shooters. I like MacKinnon to get back to at least four shots tonight.

Golden Knights Moneyline (-162)

Maple Leafs vs. Golden Knights, 10:10 p.m. ET

The Vegas Golden Knights have opened the season 3-1 and get the Toronto Maple Leafs at T-Mobile Arena tonight.

numberFire gives Vegas a 66.0% win probability, which comes out to a -194 moneyline.

Jack Eichel has been the engine of the Vegas offense early. He enters Thursday with 10 points through four games, including a goal and three assists in his most recent outing. That kind of start makes Vegas particularly difficult to deal with when its top unit gets favorable matchups.

Toronto certainly has enough offensive talent to make this interesting, but the Golden Knights have the home-ice edge and are getting the stronger projection.

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.