NHL Picks for October 7, 2026

The NHL schedule is light on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, but all three games offer an interesting betting angle. Pittsburgh visits Washington for another chapter in the Sidney Crosby-Alex Ovechkin rivalry, Colorado takes its explosive offense into Winnipeg, and Edmonton gets an early playoff rematch with Anaheim. With only three games on the board, bettors can focus on price and matchup rather than reaching for action across a crowded slate.

The most important theme Wednesday is avoiding expensive favorites. Washington and Colorado may be the more likely winners in their respective games, but both moneylines have moved beyond attractive territory. That creates value on Pittsburgh as an underdog and pushes the Colorado handicap toward the puck line. Edmonton, meanwhile, remains available at a manageable road price despite Anaheim's undefeated start.

Pittsburgh Penguins vs Washington Capitals

Pittsburgh enters Wednesday at 2-1 after losing 3-2 to Winnipeg on Monday. The Penguins opened the season with a 7-0 demolition of Philadelphia and followed it with a 6-5 overtime win against Montreal, so the early offense has not been an issue. Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin remain the centerpieces, while younger forwards have helped give Pittsburgh more speed around its veteran core.

Bryan Rust practiced fully ahead of the matchup and could give Pittsburgh another proven scoring option. The Penguins have also killed every opposing power play through their first three games. That will be important against a Washington team that can still create one-shot danger whenever Alex Ovechkin gets a clean look with the man advantage.

Washington is 1-1 after opening with a 5-2 victory at Carolina and losing 3-1 at Tampa Bay. The Capitals finally play their home opener Wednesday after several days off. Washington has built more depth around Ovechkin, with Tom Wilson, Dylan Strome, Pierre-Luc Dubois, Jordan Kyrou, Alex Tuch, Boone Jenner and Aliaksei Protas giving the lineup several different ways to attack.

The problem is the price. Washington was around -154 earlier Wednesday and has been pushed toward the -170 range at several books. Pittsburgh has consequently moved into the +140 neighborhood. That is a substantial favorite tax for a rivalry in which Pittsburgh has historically been comfortable playing in Washington. The Penguins have earned points in six of their last eight visits to Capital One Arena.

Washington deserves to be favored, especially with the rest advantage and home opener, but Pittsburgh does not need to be the better team to offer the better wager. At +140 or higher, the Penguins have enough offensive talent and enough recent success in this building to justify taking the underdog price.

Pick: Pittsburgh Penguins ML +140 or better

Colorado Avalanche vs Winnipeg Jets

Colorado has been the NHL's most explosive team through the opening week. The Avalanche are 2-0 and have scored 14 goals, tying a franchise record for goals through the first two games of a season. They opened with an 8-4 win and then crushed St. Louis 6-1, showing that their offense can win both a chaotic game and a more controlled one.

Nathan MacKinnon has five points through two games, while Artturi Lehkonen has already scored three times. Cale Makar continues to create offense from the blue line, and Colorado can spread dangerous forwards across multiple lines. Martin Necas, Gabriel Landeskog, Brock Nelson and Nazem Kadri give the Avalanche scoring threats beyond the obvious MacKinnon-led unit.

Winnipeg is 2-0-1 and has responded well to a major change in goal. Connor Hellebuyck did not report to training camp after requesting a trade and was suspended, leaving the Jets to restructure their crease. Stuart Skinner has handled two starts, while Clay Stevenson stopped 29 of 31 shots in Monday's 3-2 victory at Pittsburgh.

The Jets have defended well enough to make this a legitimate test for Colorado. Winnipeg has allowed only four goals across its two victories, while Kyle Connor and Cole Perfetti have supplied early offense. Home ice should also help the Jets get the matchups they want against MacKinnon and Colorado's other top forwards.

The betting problem is Colorado's moneyline. The Avalanche are trading roughly in the -175 to -180 range, which is too expensive to recommend here. The alternative is the puck line, where Colorado -1.5 can still be found at a plus-money price. That adds variance, but it also reflects the Avalanche's ability to create separation quickly. Colorado has already won both of its games by multiple goals.

Winnipeg can keep this competitive if its defensive structure holds, but Colorado's combination of transition speed, finishing and active defensemen creates relentless pressure. If the Jets are trailing late and pull the goalie, the Avalanche also gain another route to a two-goal margin.

Pick: Colorado Avalanche -1.5 +135 or better

Edmonton Oilers vs Anaheim Ducks

Edmonton begins a California road trip at 2-0-1 after taking five of six possible points from its opening three games. Connor McDavid has started the season in dominant form with nine points, including seven assists, while Evan Bouchard has already scored four goals from the blue line. The Oilers remain capable of changing a game in a few shifts when their top players find space.

Devon Levi is scheduled to start in goal for Edmonton. Goaltending has been the most obvious early weakness for the Oilers, so Levi does not need to steal the game as much as he needs to give the offense a stable platform. Edmonton had Sunday off before practicing Monday and Tuesday, providing a useful reset before beginning the trip.

Anaheim deserves respect after starting 2-0. The Ducks beat Vegas before defeating Florida 3-2 in overtime in their home opener. Leo Carlsson has five points through two games, Cutter Gauthier has scored twice and Mikael Granlund delivered the overtime winner against the Panthers. Anaheim's young core is increasingly capable of winning games rather than simply flashing potential.

There is also meaningful recent history between these teams. Anaheim eliminated Edmonton in six games last postseason, using its size and speed to make life difficult for the Oilers. That result should prevent anyone from treating Wednesday as an automatic Edmonton win, especially with the Ducks playing at home and carrying the more stable early goaltending results.

The price, however, remains reasonable. Edmonton was around -128 earlier Wednesday and continues to sit in the high -120s or low -130s at several books. That is far more attractive than the prices attached to Washington and Colorado. Anaheim's strong start is keeping the Oilers from becoming an inflated road favorite.

McDavid remains the best individual matchup breaker on the ice, and Edmonton has enough secondary scoring to survive if Anaheim limits his line for stretches. Rather than asking the Oilers to win by multiple goals against an undefeated opponent, the standard moneyline provides the cleaner approach.

Pick: Edmonton Oilers ML -135 or better

NHL Best Bets for October 7, 2026

Wednesday's three-game card starts with Pittsburgh at +140 or better in Washington. The Capitals are the more likely winner on paper, but their rising price creates a worthwhile opportunity to back a Penguins team with enough offense to steal the game.

Colorado -1.5 at +135 or better is the preferred approach against Winnipeg because the Avalanche moneyline has become too expensive. Colorado's 14 goals through two games demonstrate the kind of separation this lineup can create, even against a Jets team that has defended well.

Edmonton ML at -135 or better rounds out the card. Anaheim's 2-0 start and last spring's playoff result make the Ducks dangerous, but they also help keep the Oilers at a playable price. Edmonton's high-end offensive advantage is worth backing without adding puck-line risk.