NHL Predictions Today: Odds, Picks & Best Bets for Thursday, Oct. 1
I’m featuring one of the world’s best goal-scorers and Tampa Bay’s talisman in my NHL predictions today.
Leon Draisaitl looks to score his first of the season, Nikita Kucherov opens his season in the Big Apple, and Vasily Podkolzin would love nothing more than to repeat his performance against the Vancouver Canucks in the opener.
🏒 NHL predictions today: Oct. 1
See all of our experts’ NHL picks based on the latest NHL odds.
| Pick | Odds | Bet size |
|---|---|---|
| Leon Draisaitl anytime goalOilers vs. Canucks, 10 p.m. ET | +100 via FanDuel | 1 unit to profit 1 unit |
| Vasily Podkolzin Over 2.5 shotsOilers vs. Canucks, 10 p.m. ET | -106 via FanDuel | 1 unit to profit 0.94 units |
| Nikita Kucherov Over 0.5 assists Lightning vs. Rangers, 7 p.m. ET | -125 via FanDuel | 1 unit to profit 0.8 units |
Total wagered: 3 units | Max profit: 2.74 units
💰 NHL best bet today
Leon Draisaitl anytime goal (+100 via FanDuel)
Draisaitl is prolific against almost every team, but even more so versus the Canucks.
He had a few golden opportunities to score in the opener, firing five shots on goal, only to be stymied by Kevin Lankinen. His stretching kick save on Draisaitl’s one-timer was the pick of the bunch.
Draisaitl will not be refused, though. He netted seven goals in the previous six games against the Canucks, with Tuesday’s home contest the only time he didn’t score in that sample size.
📡 SBR Edge: Draisaitl dominates the Canucks
Draisaitl scored a goal in three of the first four games in the 2025-26 season and eight in the opening 11. He has four goals in the last two meetings with the Canucks at Rogers Arena.
🔥 More NHL picks & predictions
Vasily Podkolzin Over 2.5 shots (-106 via FanDuel)
With 10 shot attempts and seven shots on target, Podkolzin was arguably the Oilers' best forward on opening night. He benefited greatly from playing alongside Draisaitl and Kasperi Kapanen. The trio had their way with the Canucks all evening, attempting 21 shots to the Canucks three.
Podkolzin scored two goals and had 1.27 expected goals, the most on the Oilers. He should enter Thursday’s game bursting with confidence and still fresh after playing only one game.
He definitely won’t be as productive as he was in Edmonton, but I feel good about his chances of testing Lankinen at least three times. He also hit the Over on this total in five of the previous six meetings with Vancouver.
Nikita Kucherov Over 0.5 assists (-125 via FanDuel)
Kucherov kicks off his season at Madison Square Garden against the New York Rangers.
While he didn’t have the best start to the 2025-26 season, failing to register an assist in the opening three games, Tampa’s wizard notched 11 assists in the previous seven games against the Blueshirts.
As they showed in the season opener in Boston, the Rangers will be immeasurably better defensively this season. However, Kucherov is rarely denied, with 86 assists last season.
He registered a helper on 30% of the Lightning’s goals in 2025-26 and averaged 1.13 assists per game.
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