NHL Picks Today ??? Best Odds & Predictions Thursday, Oct. 17

Author: Lou Monaco | Fact checker: Tommi Valtonen · Updated: · Ad Disclosure
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A full slate of 11 faceoffs in the NHL will take place Thursday night. We will focus on four of those contests. Here are our best picks from NHL betting sites in America.

Vancouver Canucks (0-1-2) at Florida Panthers (3-2-0)

Time 7:08 p.m. ET
Money Line/Spread Odds
Florida -115 / -1.5 (+200)
Vancouver -105 / +1.5 (-250)
Total 6 (over -115 / under -105)

Pick: Florida (money line)

The defending Stanley Cup champions are coming off an emotional 4-3 road victory at the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday, Oct. 15 as the Blue Jackets celebrated the life of forward Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew.

Sam Reinhart, who leads the league in scoring with four goals (two short-handed), tallied a goal with two assists, and Eetu Luostarinen provided an insurance goal to secure the Panthers’ win. Goalie Spencer Knight made 35 saves, including a barrage of 15 shots in the third period, to earn his first win since Jan. 3, 2023.

Vancouver dropped a 4-1 road decision at the Tampa Bay Lightning, also on Tuesday. Conor Garland scored a third-period goal to avert the shutout for Vancouver. The Canucks must stop Florida from scoring early, as 15 of their 17 goals this season have come in the first two periods. In their three wins, Florida had the lead entering the third period.

You would think Vancouver has to notch their first win of the season soon, but it just won’t be tonight.

Player prop: Garland (VAN) Over 0.5 Points (+100).

New York Rangers (2-0-1) at Detroit Red Wings (1-2-0)

Time 7:38 p.m. ET
Money Line/Spread Odds
New York -145 / -1.5 (+170)
Detroit +120 / +1.5 (-210)
Total 6.5 (over +100 / under -120)

Pick: NYR (puck line)

The New York Rangers visit the Detroit Red Wings for their second meeting of the season. New York won 4-1 at home on Monday, Oct. 14, as Mike Zibanejad had one goal with two assists in the win.

Dylan Larkin scored a first-period goal, and Patrick Kane notched an assist for his first point of the season in Detroit’s loss.

The Rangers, who begin a three-game road trip, have points in three straight games to start the season for the first time since 2015-16 (3-0-0). New York has tallied 15 goals in their first three games, and the offense will continue tonight.

Detroit is 1-for-11 on the power play, and that must improve if they want to get back into the win column.

Lay the puck line.

Player props: Artemi Panarin (NYR) Over 1.5 Points (+105); Kane (DET) Over 0.5 Points (-175).

Edmonton Oilers (1-3-0) at Nashville Predators (0-3-0)

Time 8:08 p.m. ET
Money Line/Spread Odds
Nashville -105 / -1.5 (+200)
Edmonton -115 / +1.5 (-250)
Total 6.5 (over -105 / under -115)

Pick: EDM (money line, puck line)

The Edmonton Oilers visit the Nashville Predators with both teams sensing urgency.

Nashville dropped a 7-3 decision to the Seattle Kraken on Tuesday, Oct. 14. Michael McCarron, Tommy Novak, and Brady Skjei each scored one goal for the Predators.

Edmonton notched their first win of the season in a come-from-behind 4-3 overtime home win versus the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday, Oct. 15. Leon Draisaitl scored 56 seconds into overtime to complete the comeback for the Oilers.

Connor McDavid extended his point streak to three games (four assists), but the Oilers were 0-for-4 on the power play. The win against the Flyers completed a four-game homestand and was much needed before this two-game road trip. Look for Edmonton to heat up offensively in a tough contest.

Player Props: McDavid (EDM) Over 1.5 Points (-105); Skjei Over 0.5 Points (+130).

Philadelphia Flyers (1-1-1) at Seattle Kraken (2-2-0)

Time 10:08 p.m. ET
Money Line/Spread Odds
Seattle -135 / -1.5 (+180)
Philadelphia +115 / +1.5 (-225)
Total 6 (over +100 / under -120)

Pick: PHI (money line)

The Philadelphia Flyers complete a four-game season-opening road trip against the Seattle Kraken after a 4-3 overtime loss to the Oilers on Tuesday.

The big news for the Flyers is that heralded rookie right winger Matvei Michkov scored his first two goals of his NHL career on two power plays in the first period, giving Philadelphia a 2-0 lead.

I think Tuesday’s performance will open the floodgates for Michkov moving forward.

Seattle, beginning a five-game homestand tonight, scored four goals in the third period to blow open a tight game and defeat the Nashville Predators, 7-3, on Tuesday. Jaden Schwartz, Jared McCann, Adam Larsson, and Oliver Bjorkstrand each tallied one goal with an assist in the win. Chandler Stephenson posted two assists.

This is going to be a shootout, but I give the edge to the Flyers to head back home on a high note.

Player Props: Michkov (PHI) Over 0.5 Points (-120); Stephenson (SEA) Over 0.5 Points (+125).

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Author
Sports Betting Analyst
Lou Monaco had been East Coast Scene columnist since June 2019. He has over 30 years sports experience with previous stints at ESPN SportsTicker, Daily Racing Form and Oddschecker. At BonusFinder he's a prolific expert in all things sports betting, but with an emphasis on golf and the NHL. Top News from Lou NHL Picks October 15th NHL Picks October 12th Gamble Gamble Gamble Gamble More