NHL Odds, Picks & Predictions: Saturday (10/25)
A fresh NHL season is upon us, and it means optimism for all 32 fan bases. As the season progresses, we’ll see who the real contenders are, but it will be great to see what teams surprise us all. Let’s break down some key matchups today in the NHL. Below are our top NHL picks & predictions for Saturday, October 25th.
Saturday’s NHL Best Bets & Picks
(Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook)
Columbus Blue Jackets (+100) at Pittsburgh Penguins (-120) | O/U 6.5 (-110/-110)
After narrowly missing the playoffs last year, the Blue Jackets were hoping to take that next leap forward and be a contender. Their 3.17 goals per game look good, but that's heavily influenced by five- and seven-goal efforts; they've scored more than two once in the other four games. An example of how inconsistent they are: Kirill Marchenko grabbed a hat trick in the second game of the season, but has only found the back of the net twice in the last five games.
The biggest advantage the Pens have is on special teams. Look for their league-leading 33.3% on the power play to be a factor against Columbus’ league-worst 60% penalty kill.
Pick: Penguins Moneyline (-120)
Montreal Canadiens (-105) at Vancouver Canucks (-115) | O/U 5.5 (-130/+110)
Last year, the Canadiens made the playoffs for the first time since the 2020-21 season, and this young core is looking to make an even bigger impact this season. This offense looks like it will run deep, as they come in sixth, averaging 3.56 goals per game. We're getting what we expected from Nick Suzuki (12 points) and Cole Caufield (10 points), but they finally have a support system as 10 players have five points.
The Canucks are coming off a five-game road trip that started with wins in Dallas, Chicago and Washington. However, it ended on a down note, with losses in Nashville and Pittsburgh, where they scored one goal in each game.
In most of their games, the Canucks are struggling to create chances, with an expected goal share of 46.7% (31st). They're not getting any contributions from their top skaters like Elias Pettersson, who is coming off a 2024-25 season riddled with injuries and inconsistent play. He has just four points in eight games.
It’s hard not to look at the Habs’ offense and think they could overpower the Canucks.
Pick: Canadiens Moneyline (-105)