You know the NHL regular season is officially back when there's a 10-game slate on deck. That's what we've got in store for Thursday night. And while the season is in its infancy, which makes deciphering big-picture events like Stanley Cup hopefuls difficult, we already have enough information to cannonball deep into some single-game NHL picks.
Here are the latest NHL odds, courtesy of the fine folks over at BetOnline:
| Favorite |  | | Underdog |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toronto Maple Leafs | -170 | +153 | Ottawa Senators |
| Montreal Canadiens | -138 | +125 | Buffalo Sabres |
| Florida Panthers | -175 | +158 | Pittsburgh Penguins |
| Carolina Hurricanes | -120 | +109 | New York Islanders |
| New York Rangers | -115 | +104 | Dallas Stars |
| Columbus Blue Jackets | -140 | +127 | Arizona Coyotes |
| Tampa Bay Lightning | -245 | +218 | Detroit Red Wings |
| Nashville Predators | -119 | +108 | Seattle Kraken |
| Vegas Golden Knights | -153 | +138 | Los Angeles Kings |
Though single-game NHL betting odds aren't as likely to move before opening faceoff, you should still confirm these lines at BetOnline and other top online sportsbooks before settling on any NHL picks. Breaking news and sudden lineup changes can always have an impact on NHL regular season betting odds.
NHL Betting Picks for October 14, 2021
Since we want to aim for the highest accuracy rate possible on these NHL regular season picks, we won't be zeroing in on all 10 games. Instead, we'll deliver our best five NHL bets, with the sole purpose of trying to ensure you can leave your preferred sportsbook with a profit!
Toronto Maple Leafs (-170) vs. Ottawa Senators (+153)
Single-game upsets are always on the table in the NHL. But this might be the closest thing we have to a lock on Thursday's slate.
The Senators are bad. Like, really bad. Not only are they fairly far away from full strength, but their offense figures to be among the worst in the league. Many expect them to finish dead last in the Atlantic Division.
The Maple Leafs, meanwhile, are a borderline powerhouse. Led by Auston Matthews, a true MVP candidate, they have one of the most dominant forward rotations in the NHL. They should win this one with ease.
OSB Prediction: Toronto Maple Leafs (-170)
Carolina Hurricanes (-120) vs. New York Islanders (+109)
We get the hype behind the Hurricanes. We really do. They have one of the most tantalizing defensive tandems in the league with MacKenzi Weegar and Aaron Ekblad, and the entire team will forever fly under the radar because they play in a non-glamour market.
Still, let's not forget how far the Islanders have come. Their deep playoff run last season was no fluke. They might have the most balanced defense in existence, and their offensive development seems like it's genuine.
OSB Prediction: New York Islanders (+109)
New York Rangers (-115) vs. Dallas Stars (+105)
So much for people sleeping on the Rangers. The NHL season isn't even a week old and the secret already appears to be out.
New York's rebuild looks like it's nearing completion. The defense is physical and effective, and they finally have a viable offensive structure behind winger Artemi Panarin.
It helps, of course, that the Stars have taken a step back since making the 2020 Stanley Cup Finals. Their young core, headlined by Jason Robertson, might be ready for a return to the playoffs this year, but they remain a tier or two below the Rangers.
OSB Prediction: New York Rangers (-115)
Tampa Bay Lightning (-245) vs. Detroit Red Wings (+218)
Everyone is asking the same question as this regular season gets underway: Can anybody stop the Lightning? Anybody at all?
Tampa Bay is working off their second straight Stanley Cup Final victory. Three-peats, as many of you know, are fairly unprecedented and wildly uncommon. The NHL hasn't seen one for three decades, since the Islanders completed the trifecta in the early 1980s.
Many expect the Lightning to get off to a slow star this season. They've made two deep playoff runs, they aren't especially young, and they lost some key guys over the summer. But we're not counting them out.
Scant few squads have as many stars on defense, offense and between the posts. Couple that with the Red Wings entering the season as one of the five worst teams by most predictive metrics, and this decision isn't hard to make.
OSB Prediction: Tampa Bay Lightning (-245)
Nashville Predators (-119) vs. Seattle Kraken (+108)
The Kraken lost the first game in franchise history. Big whoop. We actually came away impressed.
Plenty of analysts were concerned about whether Seattle had enough offensive oomph to hang on a nightly basis. They put that notion to bed from the jump, scoring three goals in their first game ever.
Better goalie play is mandatory. That doesn't scare us. Philipp Grubauer is one of the best in the business on most nights. He will be better. Even if he isn't, the Predators once again profile as one of the weakest offensive squads around.
OSB Prediction: Seattle Kraken (+108)
Check out this list of the top online sportsbooks so you can decide which one to use for all of your regular season NHL betting:
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