NHL Daily Betting Odds Rundown (Oct. 28)
In this article, I’ll outline the most noteworthy odds, news, and betting notes from the marquee matchups from Tuesday’s 16-game NHL Frozen Frenzy, and I’ll also offer up my best bet.
Best Bet – Columbus Blue Jackets Moneyline: +100 (bet365):
The Buffalo Sabres have stabilized from a hideous start to the season with a strong 4-1-1 stretch of play and have outscored opponents 25 to 17 in that span.
Josh Doan has particularly been playing extremely well, and it looks possible that the Sabres’ offensive core could potentially be improved relative to last year despite the loss of J.J. Peterka.
Michael Kesselring will also make his season debut for the Sabres and was a highly underrated defender last season for Utah.
Given a different opponent, I easily may have ended up betting on the Sabres Tuesday evening. But the Blue Jackets seem to be flying a little under the radar right now, and there are several arguments that suggest they are quietly in great form.
While the Blue Jackets’ 4-4-0 record is quite modest, they have played a tough schedule. Six of their eight games have come versus teams that made the playoffs last season and that are heavily favoured to make it this year. One of their two matchups versus an expected non-playoff team was the Pittsburgh Penguins, who are 7-2-1 and burned me last night with another strong win.
Despite their tough schedule, the Blue Jackets rank sixth in the league with a 55.15% expected goal share in even-strength play.
The Blue Jackets power play has struggled to a 15.5% success rate, but it is an area that the team could find more success in moving forward. Kirill Marchenko offers a lethal shot from the left circle, Zach Werenski is one of the better quarterbacks in the NHL, and Sean Monahan is a strong option in the bumper role.
The Blue Jackets’ greatest problem last season was the shaky goaltending it received in goal from Elvis Merzlikins and Daniil Tarasov, who combined for a -12.6 GSAx rating.
Jet Greaves helped alleviate that concern later on in playing to a +14.5 GSAx, and he’s remained quietly excellent this season in playing to a +5.3 GSAx in four starts this season.
Calgary Flames vs Toronto Maple Leafs
| Flames moneyline odds | +150 |
| Maple Leafs moneyline odds | -180 |
| Game total | Over 5.5 goals (-120), Under 5.5 (+100) |
| Time | 6:07 p.m. ET |
- In Friday’s slate breakdown we discussed that it seemed wild to think the Maple Leafs were only -125 favorites in Friday’s matchup versus the Buffalo Sabres, but that it was perhaps warranted because of how shaky they have looked early on. Toronto didn’t exactly prove oddsmakers wrong, as it split its home-and-home with Buffalo and held a 48.02% expected goal share.
- William Nylander is a game-time decision with a lower-body injury.
- The Flames snapped an eight-game losing skid with a 5-1 win over the New York Rangers Sunday. They have scored just 2.00 goals per game this season.
Pittsburgh Penguins vs Philadelphia Flyers
| Penguins moneyline odds | +145 |
| Flyers moneyline odds | -170 |
| Game total | Over 6 goals (-115), Under 6 (-105) |
| Time | 6:07 p.m. ET |
- These two rivals split last season’s four head-to-head matchups.
- Penguins will be playing back-to-back after moving to 7-2-1 with a win over the St. Louis Blues Monday evening.
- Arturs Silovs is expected to start in goal for Pittsburgh. He holds a .914 save % and 2.56 GAA in five appearances this season, and has been one of several reasons the Penguins have been the greatest overachievers so far this season.
- With two more points on Monday, Evgeni Malkin tied Nick Schmaltz for the league lead.
- Trevor Zegras was exceptional in Saturday’s win over the Flyers. Zegras recorded a goal and two assists, and wasted very few touches. He is expected to skate alongside Christian Dvorak and Matvei Michkov on the third line in tonight’s matchup.
Vegas Golden Knights vs Carolina Hurricanes
| Golden Knights moneyline odds | +125 |
| Hurricanes moneyline odds | -150 |
| Game total | Over 6 goals (-115), Under 6 (-105) |
| Time | 6:37 p.m. ET |
- These two sides met last Monday in Vegas, and the Knights handed the Hurricanes their first loss of the season.
- The Knights are dealing with three significant injuries, as Mark Stone, Noah Hanifin, and number-one goaltender Adin Hill are all on the IR.
- The Hurricanes will also be without several key skaters, headlined by elite shutdown defender Jaccob Slavin. K’Andre Miller, Eric Robinson, and William Carrier will also miss this matchup.
- Shayne Gostisbehere is eligible to return to action and is considered probable after attending Monday’s practice.
Anaheim Ducks vs Florida Panthers
| Ducks moneyline odds | +155 |
| Panthers moneyline odds | -185 |
| Game total | Over 6 goals (-120), Under 6 (+100) |
| Time | 7:07 p.m. ET |
- Interesting contrasts between these two sides right now. The Ducks have shown much more offensive upside under head coach Joel Quenneville this season and arguably hold an edge in that aspect of the game with Matthew Tkachuk and Aleksander Barkov sidelined, but are obviously drastically less proven in terms of playing a fundamentally strong defensive game.
- It seemed possible that the Panthers could underperform oddsmakers’ high expectations during this regular season, and so far that has been the case at betting them in each of their 10 games would mean a -19.7% ROI.
- Daniil Tarasov has been confirmed as the Panthers’ starting goaltender. He’s played to an 0-2-0 record and holds an .887 save percentage in his first two starts this season, but the Panthers were heavily outplayed in both of those games, and a further review of those outings would suggest he played respectably.
Tampa Bay Lightning vs Nashville Predators
| Lightning moneyline odds | -155 |
| Predators moneyline odds | +130 |
| Game total | Over 6 goals (-105), Under 6 (-115) |
| Time | 7:52 p.m. ET |
- Third meeting between these sides since the Lightning decided not to re-sign Steven Stamkos. The Lightning won both of last season’s head-to-head matchups.
- It’s unfortunate to note, but the decision to let Stamkos walk has worked out very well for the Lightning and horribly for the Predators. Stamkos has recorded just two points in 10 games this season, and he continues to offer drastically worse defensive play than we saw earlier on in his career.
- Roman Josi is week-to-week with an upper-body injury.
- It appears as though head coach Jon Cooper will be going with a top line of Nikita Kucherov, Jake Guentzel, and Brayden Point in this matchup, a combination he has strayed away from recently.
Winnipeg Jets vs Minnesota Wild
| Jets moneyline odds | -115 |
| Wild moneyline odds | -105 |
| Game total | Over 6 goals (+100), Under 6 (-120) |
| Time | 8:07 p.m. ET |
- Given that the Jets won the Presidents’ Trophy last season and are 6-3-0, there is an argument to be made that they aren’t getting much respect from oddsmakers in this matchup.
- Winnipeg ranks 24th with an expected goal share of 47.19%. Its concerning underlying results are certainly part of the reason this price is so close, but simply closing your eyes and blindly backing Connor Hellebuyck has been an extremely profitable betting strategy over the previous two seasons.
- Dylan Samberg remains sidelined for the Jets, and his absence has been noteworthy as the Jets have allowed 3.95 xGA/60 (sixth worst).
Ottawa Senators vs Chicago Blackhawks
| Senators moneyline odds | -140 |
| Blackhawks moneyline odds | +120 |
| Game total | Over 6 goals (-105), Under 6 (-115) |
| Time | 8:52 p.m. ET |
- The Senators will be playing the second leg of a back-to-back after beating the Boston Bruins 7-2 on Monday evening. Linus Ullmark rested on Monday, and will presumably start this matchup as a result.
- As his side was up several goals for the majority of Monday’s matchup, head coach Travis Green was able to spread the ice time around to help set up for this matchup.
- Ryan Greene is expected to play on Chicago’s top line alongside Connor Bedard and Andre Burakovsky. Greene has recorded just one point in nine games played this season.
- Spencer Knight is expected to start in goal for the Blackhawks. Knight has had a fantastic start to the season with a .937 save percentage and 1.97 GAA after offering quietly strong results in 2024-25.
Utah Mammoth vs Edmonton Oilers
| Mammoth moneyline odds | +125 |
| Oilers moneyline odds | -150 |
| Game total | Over 6 goals (-115), Under 6 (-105) |
| Time | 9:37 p.m. ET |
- Interesting matchup from a betting perspective, as one of this season’s most notable risers (Utah) faces off against one of the more notable underperformers being the Edmonton Oilers.
- Connor McDavid has scored just one goal in the first 10 games of the season, though his total of 12 points is certainly nothing to scoff at.
- Both of Utah’s top two offensive lines have been highly productive this season. Nick Schmaltz and Clayton Keller have once again formed an excellent tandem on the top line, while Dylan Guenther, Logan Cooley, and Peterka form a very potent second unit.
New York Rangers vs Vancouver Canucks
| Rangers moneyline odds | -120 |
| Canucks moneyline odds | +100 |
| Game total | Over 5.5 goals (-120), Under 5.5 (+100) |
| Time | 10:07 p.m. ET |
- Gigantic game for the Rangers, who will look to respond following a pathetic 5-1 loss in Calgary on Sunday evening in captain J.T. Miller’s return to Vancouver.
- After a poor start to the season, Elias Pettersson’s play has trended up considerably of late. He’s tallied six points over the last five games, and has been highly effective in tough defensive assignments.
- Quinn Hughes is listed as day-to-day, and it is unclear whether or not he will return to the lineup in this matchup.
Montreal Canadiens vs Seattle Kraken
| Canadiens moneyline odds | -125 |
| Kraken moneyline odds | +105 |
| Game total | Over 5.5 goals (-125), Under 5.5 (+105) |
| Time | 10:37 p.m. ET |
- These teams faced off on October 14th in Montreal, and the Canadiens stole a 5-4 overtime win thanks to a late equalizer from Ivan Demidov.
- Demidov was promoted to the Canadiens’ top power play in Saturday’s matchup versus the Canucks, and recorded two power play points.
- Canadiens are expected to start Samuel Montembeault, who has been outperformed by expected number-two option Jakub Dobes so far this season. Montembeault holds a -6.3 GSAx and .842 save percentage in five appearances this season.