Check out our NHL picks and predictions for the day-long and loaded 13-game hockey slate on Saturday, October 13.
As the first week of the regular season hits weekend action, our experts have combed the NHL odds board for their favorite picks and predictions for tonight's action.
Our NHL experts are targeting the Kraken vs. Wild on the moneyline (8 p.m. ET, ESPN+) with an Islanders vs. Stars (8 p.m. ET, ESPN+) player prop and two Ducks vs. Sharks (10 p.m. ET, ESPN+) picks.
Let's dive in with our NHL best bets tonight.
NHL Picks & Predictions
The team logos in the table below represent each of the matchups that our NHL betting staff is targeting from today's slate of games. Click on the team logos for any of the matchups below to navigate to a specific bet discussed in this article.
| Game | Time (ET) | Pick |
|---|---|---|
  | 8 p.m. | |
  | 8 p.m. | |
  | 10 p.m. | |
| 10 p.m. | |
Specific betting recommendations come from the sportsbook offering preferred odds as of writing. Always shop for the best price using our NHL Odds page, which automatically surfaces the best lines for every game. | ||
Kraken vs. Wild
By Greg Liodice
This is about as even of a matchup as we’re going to get in the second game of the season.
After blowing a 2-0 lead, the Seattle Kraken head to the Midwest to take on the Minnesota Wild, who nearly escaped the Blue Jackets.
Obviously the sample size is too small to tell, so let’s take a gander at last season's stats. Offensively, they were neck and neck in expected goals with Minnesota ranking 15th and Seattle as 16th. Defensively, the Wild had the advantage with the best xGA/60 team while the Kraken was ranked 12th.
I will say, though, that the Kraken went through some changes. They brought in Stanley Cup winners Chandler Stephenson and Brandon Montour while they get back Andrew Burakovsky, who dealt with injuries.
They also replaced their coach with Dan Bylsma. I can never figure out Bylsma, who peaked way too early in his coaching career. Ever since his first season, he’s been as mediocre as can be behind the bench. Luckily for him, he got a second chance at life coaching in the minors, and he helped Seattle's AHL team reach the Calder Cup. So perhaps he has changed.
I’m picking Seattle to win this game. I see more hope and upside. Minnesota may have the superstar in Kirll Kaprizov and budding star Matt Boldy, but I’m reserving my right to jump the gun on this team — especially with another mediocre coach in Jon Hynes behind the bench.
Let’s get Kraken at plus money here.
Pick: Kraken (+125)
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Islanders vs. Stars
The Islanders may have lost in overtime, but it was a fabulous NHL debut for Maxim Tsyplakov against the Utah Hockey Club on Thursday.
The 26-year-old was poised on the puck, all over the net and seemed to click really well with Brock Nelson on the Isles’ second line. Those two combined on a beautiful goal late in the third period that should have been the winner, but the Isles coughed up the lead to spoil the night.
Nonetheless, I expect Tsyplakov, who scored 31 times in the KHL last season, to continue to be a good value in the anytime goalscorer market for the time being.
The Russian will continue to be deployed on the second line and first power play, and he’s already opened his account, so getting him at this lofty price seems like a savvy play.
Pick: Maxim Tsyplakov Anytime Goalscorer (+500)
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Ducks vs. Sharks
By Nick Martin
The Ducks are a side that I'm quite high on relative to the betting markets. It's hard for me to see how this game was priced evenly at open, comparing the two teams' depth charts.
Anaheim's offensive ceiling is far greater than that of the Sharks, and Lukas Dostal deserves to be viewed as a superior net-minder to Mackenzie Blackwood.
Ducks Top Nine at practice on Friday:
- Cutter Gauthier* 61 – Leo Carlsson 91 – Alex Killorn 17
- Robby Fabbri 13 – Mason McTavish 23 – Trevor Zegras 11
- Frank Vatrano 77 – Ryan Strome 16 – Troy Terry 19
The ceiling for the Ducks offensive core is quite high, and I'd argue this unit could easily be as effective as fringe playoff teams like Seattle or St. Louis are offering out West.
First-overall pick Macklin Celebrini looked good on opening night despite the Sharks blowing a three-goal lead and losing in overtime. San Jose played to a 29.33 xGF% share in that matchup. While a one-game sample doesn't mean much, the Sharks played to a 39.79% expected goal share in the second half of last season and don't project to be all that much better.
At anything better than -135 I see value in backing Anaheim to win this matchup.
Pick: Ducks (-135)
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Ducks vs. Sharks
By Nick Martin
A big reason why the Ducks' offensive ceiling is far greater than last season is the addition of Cutter Gauthier.
Gauthier is a pure goalscorer who put up 38 goals in 41 games with Boston College last season, and he steps into a favorable role while playing alongside an excellent playmaker in 2023 second overall pick Leo Carlsson. He has also been practicing on the Ducks top power-play unit:
Gauthier put up 18 shots in three preseason games, including 17 in his two matchups against the Sharks.
Greg Cronin will likely deploy each of his top three lines fairly evenly in this matchup, and we may not necessarily see full top-line usage from Gauthier. Vatrano and Terry are going to command more ice time than normal third-liners. At a price of +132, that's a very livable concern, and I'd play this prop down to +115.
Pick: Cutter Gauthier Over 2.5 Shots on Goal (+132)
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