NHL Picks for October 15, 2026

Thursday's NHL schedule features 11 games, with five matchups opening at 7:00 PM ET and the Calgary Flames visiting the Vegas Golden Knights in the late game. The New York Rangers head to New Jersey after an impressive win over Tampa Bay, Winnipeg looks to build on its victory over Minnesota, and Vancouver tries to end a five-game losing streak against Florida.

There's plenty to sort through on this board. Several teams are still trying to establish some consistency, while others have already shown enough to make their early records worth paying attention to. We'll take one wager from each game, concentrating on the matchup and the price rather than automatically backing every favorite. Check out our free NHL picks for more hockey predictions throughout the season.

Buffalo Sabres vs. Toronto Maple Leafs Best Bet

Buffalo visits Toronto after losing 4-3 in a shootout to Montreal on Tuesday. The Sabres have struggled to close out games, and their defensive play hasn't been dependable enough to compensate when the offense goes quiet. Toronto is coming off its own difficult matchup with Utah, but the Maple Leafs return home with an opportunity to take advantage of a Buffalo team that has been allowing opponents too many scoring chances.

The total is listed at 6.5 goals, which makes more sense to me than trying to sort through the unusually wide range of moneyline prices appearing in early markets. Toronto has enough offense to do much of the work, but Buffalo should also have opportunities against a Maple Leafs team that hasn't consistently kept opponents off the scoreboard.

Best Bet: Over 6.5 Goals (-110 or Better)

Toronto should be able to generate scoring chances against Buffalo's defense, and the Sabres have enough offensive ability to contribute rather than relying on the Maple Leafs to carry the entire total. Buffalo's 4-3 shootout loss Tuesday showed how competitive its games can become, even when the Sabres aren't playing particularly well. The danger is a strong goaltending performance that turns this into a tighter contest, but I prefer the over to paying a substantial price on either side.

NHL Best Bet: Sabres-Maple Leafs Over 6.5 (-110 or Better)

New York Islanders vs. Ottawa Senators Best Bet

Ottawa returns home after a rough 7-2 loss to St. Louis on Tuesday. The Senators had opened the season well, but that result exposed defensive problems they need to correct quickly. New York is coming off a victory over Vancouver and has been competitive despite an uneven start. The Islanders have enough defensive structure to make Ottawa work for its opportunities, particularly if the Senators continue making mistakes in their own zone.

The moneyline has varied considerably across published markets, although Ottawa is the home favorite in several comparisons. I wouldn't put too much weight on Tuesday's blowout alone. Ottawa's overall start has been stronger than that one performance suggests, and returning home gives the Senators a chance to settle things down.

Best Bet: Ottawa Senators Moneyline (+100 or Better)

Ottawa is the side I prefer, but only if the price is reasonable. The Senators have shown enough offensive ability to recover from a poor defensive performance, and the Islanders haven't been consistent enough to justify backing them as a substantial road favorite. New York could make this uncomfortable by slowing the pace and limiting chances. Still, if Ottawa is available at even money or better, the home team offers an attractive opportunity to bounce back.

NHL Best Bet: Ottawa Senators ML (+100 or Better)

Seattle Kraken vs. Tampa Bay Lightning Best Bet

Seattle heads to Tampa Bay after beating Philadelphia 3-2 in a shootout Tuesday. The Kraken have been finding ways to win close games, but they'll face a Lightning team looking to recover from a 4-1 loss to the Rangers. Tampa Bay had won four consecutive games before that defeat, and one disappointing road performance doesn't erase the strong hockey the Lightning played during that stretch.

Tampa Bay is favored around -155, with the total at 6.5 goals. Seattle has been competitive enough to make the underdog price tempting, but the Lightning have the offensive advantage and should benefit from returning home. The Kraken will need another disciplined defensive performance to keep this close.

Best Bet: Tampa Bay Lightning Moneyline (-155 or Better)

I'm willing to back Tampa Bay after the Rangers snapped its winning streak. The Lightning have shown more consistent offensive production than Seattle, and home ice should help them establish pressure rather than chasing the game. The Kraken's recent success is a legitimate concern, particularly if they can keep the score close into the third period. But Tampa Bay has the stronger overall profile, and -155 is a manageable price for a home favorite with this matchup.

NHL Best Bet: Tampa Bay Lightning ML (-155 or Better)

Vancouver Canucks vs. Florida Panthers Best Bet

Vancouver has lost five consecutive games and heads to Florida looking for answers. The Canucks have struggled to generate consistent offense, and their defensive problems have made those scoring difficulties even more costly. Florida enters at 3-2-2 after a demanding opening schedule, but the Panthers have been competitive enough to make this an appealing home matchup.

The biggest question is how much Vancouver can improve defensively. The Canucks have allowed opponents to dictate too much of the action during their losing streak, and Florida has enough offensive depth to take advantage of those mistakes. The Panthers aren't without concerns of their own, but this is a favorable opportunity against a struggling opponent.

Best Bet: Florida Panthers Moneyline (-150 or Better)

Florida is my preferred side because Vancouver hasn't demonstrated enough consistency to justify backing it on the road. The Panthers have the stronger defensive foundation and should be able to create opportunities against a Canucks team that has struggled to protect its own zone. Vancouver could finally produce a better performance, and that possibility keeps me from laying an excessive price. At -150 or better, though, Florida is worth backing.

NHL Best Bet: Florida Panthers ML (-150 or Better)

New York Rangers vs. New Jersey Devils Best Bet

The Rangers head to Newark after beating Tampa Bay 4-1 on Tuesday. New York has been one of the more impressive teams during the opening stretch, combining timely scoring with dependable defensive play. New Jersey comes into the matchup after a 5-4 overtime victory over Detroit, a result that demonstrated the Devils' offensive ability but also exposed some defensive concerns.

New Jersey is favored around -129, with the Rangers available near +108. That's an interesting price considering how New York handled Tampa Bay. The Devils have enough offense to make this competitive, but their defensive performance against Detroit leaves some questions about whether they can contain a Rangers team playing with confidence.

Best Bet: New York Rangers Moneyline (+105 or Better)

The Rangers are worth backing at plus money. Their 4-1 victory over Tampa Bay was the sort of performance that suggests New York can compete with quality opponents, and New Jersey just surrendered four goals against Detroit. The Devils could certainly win through their offensive talent, especially at home, but the Rangers have shown enough defensive reliability to justify taking the underdog price.

NHL Best Bet: New York Rangers ML (+105 or Better)

Philadelphia Flyers vs. Detroit Red Wings Best Bet

Philadelphia is still looking for consistency after losing 3-2 in a shootout to Seattle on Tuesday. The Flyers have been competitive in stretches but haven't been able to finish enough games. Detroit also suffered a disappointing result Tuesday, losing 5-4 in overtime to New Jersey. The Red Wings generated offense, although their defensive mistakes prevented them from collecting the victory.

Both clubs have struggled defensively, and that makes the 6.5-goal total interesting. Detroit just participated in a nine-goal game, while Philadelphia has shown enough offensive ability to contribute when opponents leave opportunities available. Neither defense has been particularly dependable through the opening weeks.

Best Bet: Over 6.5 Goals (-110 or Better)

Detroit's defensive problems against New Jersey are difficult to overlook. Philadelphia has struggled to win, but the Flyers should have scoring opportunities against a Red Wings team that hasn't consistently protected its own zone. Detroit also demonstrated Tuesday that it can generate offense when needed. The risk is that Philadelphia's offensive inconsistency leaves the total short, but the defensive issues on both sides make the over attractive at a reasonable price.

NHL Best Bet: Flyers-Red Wings Over 6.5 (-110 or Better)

Winnipeg Jets vs. Chicago Blackhawks Best Bet

Winnipeg visits Chicago after beating Minnesota 5-2 on Tuesday. The Jets enter at 4-1-1 and have shown they can combine reliable defensive play with enough scoring to create separation. Chicago picked up a 5-3 victory over Pittsburgh, but the Blackhawks remain 2-5 and have struggled to prevent opponents from generating quality opportunities.

Winnipeg is favored around -124, a relatively modest number considering the difference in early-season records. Chicago deserves credit for its victory over Pittsburgh, but one good performance doesn't erase the defensive problems that contributed to its poor start. The Jets have been more dependable, particularly when games become tight.

Best Bet: Winnipeg Jets Moneyline (-130 or Better)

Winnipeg is the straightforward choice at this price. The Jets have been more reliable defensively and are coming off a convincing victory over Minnesota, while Chicago has allowed too many scoring opportunities during its opening seven games. The Blackhawks' win over Pittsburgh shows they can be dangerous when their offense gets going, but I don't see enough reason to make Chicago the preferred side. Winnipeg doesn't need a blowout to justify laying approximately -125.

NHL Best Bet: Winnipeg Jets ML (-130 or Better)

St. Louis Blues vs. Minnesota Wild Best Bet

St. Louis heads to Minnesota after beating Ottawa 7-2 on Tuesday. The Blues produced one of their strongest offensive performances of the season, taking advantage of defensive mistakes and finishing their opportunities. Minnesota wasn't nearly as impressive in a 5-2 loss to Winnipeg, and the Wild need a better defensive effort to avoid another disappointing result.

The market has shown conflicting prices, with some listings favoring St. Louis and others making Minnesota the stronger side. That makes the total a more interesting option. St. Louis just scored seven goals, while Minnesota surrendered five against Winnipeg. Both teams have enough offensive ability to exploit defensive mistakes if those problems continue.

Best Bet: Over 6.5 Goals (-110 or Better)

The Blues have momentum after scoring seven against Ottawa, and Minnesota's defense needs to improve after allowing five to Winnipeg. The Wild also have enough offensive talent to contribute to a higher-scoring game, particularly at home. The concern is that both teams could tighten up defensively after Tuesday's results, but the recent scoring patterns suggest the over is worth considering at 6.5.

NHL Best Bet: Blues-Wild Over 6.5 (-110 or Better)

San Jose Sharks vs. Nashville Predators Best Bet

San Jose travels to Nashville after losing to Boston on Tuesday. The Sharks have shown some improvement during the opening weeks, but defensive consistency remains an issue. Nashville is coming off a competitive matchup against Vegas and has been difficult to separate from opponents despite an uneven record.

The Predators have home ice against a San Jose team that has struggled to keep opponents from creating scoring opportunities. Nashville hasn't been reliable enough offensively to justify laying a large price, but the Sharks' defensive weaknesses provide an opportunity for the Predators to generate more pressure than they have in some recent games.

Best Bet: Nashville Predators Moneyline (+100 or Better)

Nashville is the preferred side at an underdog price. The Predators have been competitive enough to justify backing them at home, and San Jose's defensive inconsistencies create opportunities for Nashville to control stretches of the game. The Sharks can score when they get chances, which makes this a dangerous matchup if Nashville falls behind early. Still, at even money or better, the Predators offer the more attractive betting position.

NHL Best Bet: Nashville Predators ML (+100 or Better)

Utah Mammoth vs. Edmonton Oilers Best Bet

Utah heads to Edmonton after facing Toronto on Tuesday, while the Oilers are coming off their matchup with Los Angeles. Both teams have demonstrated offensive ability during the opening weeks, although Edmonton has been the more consistent club in avoiding regulation losses. Utah has enough scoring talent to make this competitive, especially if the Oilers continue allowing opponents quality chances.

The total is listed at 6.5 goals, which offers an alternative to a moneyline market showing unusually wide differences between published sources. Edmonton can generate offense quickly, while Utah has demonstrated enough attacking ability to keep pace rather than simply trying to slow the game down.

Best Bet: Over 6.5 Goals (-110 or Better)

Both teams have the offensive upside to produce a game that reaches seven goals. Edmonton has been capable of scoring in bunches, and Utah has enough offensive talent to capitalize if the Oilers give away chances. The biggest concern is that a strong goaltending performance could turn this into a lower-scoring contest. Still, with both teams comfortable attacking, the over is the preferred wager.

NHL Best Bet: Mammoth-Oilers Over 6.5 (-110 or Better)

Calgary Flames vs. Vegas Golden Knights Best Bet

Calgary visits Vegas after opening the season with five consecutive losses. The Flames have struggled offensively, and their defensive problems have made it difficult to stay competitive when opponents establish an early advantage. Vegas has been one of the stronger teams through the opening weeks, combining consistent scoring with enough defensive structure to protect leads.

The Golden Knights are coming off a difficult road matchup against Nashville, but returning home should help them against a Calgary team that has struggled to generate momentum. The Flames need a much better offensive performance to make this competitive, particularly if Vegas controls the opening period.

Best Bet: Vegas Golden Knights Moneyline (-160 or Better)

Vegas is the team I want in this matchup, provided the price remains reasonable. Calgary hasn't demonstrated enough offensive consistency to justify backing the Flames against a stronger opponent on the road. The Golden Knights have been more reliable and should have opportunities to take advantage of Calgary's defensive mistakes. The risk is that Vegas comes out flat after its recent travel, but the matchup favors the home team.

NHL Best Bet: Vegas Golden Knights ML (-160 or Better)

NHL Best Bet of the Day

Of Thursday's 11 selections, Winnipeg Jets Moneyline at -130 or better against Chicago earns our NHL Best Bet of the Day. Winnipeg enters at 4-1-1 after beating Minnesota 5-2, while Chicago is 2-5 despite its recent victory over Pittsburgh. The Jets have been more dependable defensively and have shown enough offensive balance to win without needing an exceptional performance.

Chicago's victory over Pittsburgh deserves respect, but the Blackhawks haven't consistently defended well enough to make them the preferred side against Winnipeg. At a price around -125, the Jets offer one of the better combinations of matchup strength and reasonable cost on Thursday's board.

NHL Best Bet of the Day: Winnipeg Jets Moneyline (-130 or Better)

Betting lines, starting goaltenders and player availability may change before puck drop. Always verify the current numbers and confirmed lineups before placing a wager.