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NHL best bets Oct. 31: Bet on the Capitals, back the under in the Ducks vs. Penguins game

One under on a game total and one puck line contribute to today’s best NHL bets.

The pregame narrative: The Anaheim Ducks and Pittsburgh Penguins struggle to score so I’m backing the under in that matchup. Elsewhere, I’m taking the Washington Capitals to win comfortably over the Montreal Canadiens.

Find my NHL best bets for Oct. 31 below.

NHL best bets

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Best Bet: Ducks/Penguins under 6.5 goals (-113)

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Anaheim scores the third-fewest goals (2.33) and records the fourth-fewest shots (26.8) per game.

Goalie Lukas Dostal has emerged as the Ducks’ No. 1 option while John Gibson recovers from surgery and he’s been nothing short of spectacular.

In seven starts, Dostal has a .943 SV% and 2.00 GAA and he leads the NHL with 10.8 goals saved above expected, per MoneyPuck.

And it’s not like the Penguins are an elite offence. They rank 19th in goals per game (3.0) and have been shut out twice in 11 games.

Key stat: Dostal held his last four opponents to two goals or less while stopping 27-plus shots in each contest. All of those games stayed under this total.

Quick pick

Capitals -1.5 (+130): Washington has surprised the league as one of the best teams out of the gate and it’s no fluke.

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The offence scores the seventh-most goals per game (3.88) while allowing the fewest shots against (25.1).

Montreal has been somewhat of the opposite. The Habs score just 2.9 goals per game (21st) while allowing 4.0 (28th)

All five of their regulation losses have come by at least two goals with a -18 goal differential in those games.

Cayden Primeau gets the start for Montreal and he has allowed 3-plus goals in all five of his appearances this season despite only making three starts.

The Habs’ defence and goaltending have been poor in the early portion of the season and I expect that to continue against the Capitals on the road.

NHL picks made at 10:45 a.m. ET 10/31/2024.

Maple Leafs props vs. Kraken Oct. 31: Target Matthews and Tavares on Thursday

The Toronto Maple Leafs host the Seattle Kraken on Halloween night.

The pregame narrative: The Leafs have been inconsistent this season so it’s hard to pick a side. However, I can back the over in a matchup between two shaky goalies. I’m also taking Auston Matthews to score and John Tavares to record a point.

Check out our Maple Leafs props vs. Kraken for the game on Oct. 31.

Maple Leafs props vs. Kraken

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Best Bet: Matthews to score (-134): There is a fair amount of juice on this play but Matthews is one player who deserves it.

Toronto’s newest captain led the league with 69 goals last season. In six career games vs. the Kraken, Matthews has six goals and 11 points.

He hasn’t had the same start to the season that he had last year, but his 8.5% shooting percentage would be the worst of his career, by far (career 16.0% shooting percentage).

Because of that, I’m looking to buy in on Matthews before he gets hot and his price becomes unplayable.

Key stat: Matthews leads the NHL in shots (47) and is second in expected goals (7.5) per MoneyPuck.

Tavares to score 1+ point (-154): If the last play carried too much juice then look away, but I think the price is worth it here.

Tavares has a point in seven of nine games this season and is coming into tonight on a five-game point streak.

The former captain has the benefit of skating on the first powerplay unit with Toronto’s top offensive players. Despite that, he only has two PP points this season so there’s still room for improvement.

He continues to be on a line with William Nylander which is excellent for his production and newcomer Max Pacioretty is another veteran winger who scored close to a PPG in his last healthy season.

NHL picks made at 10:36 a.m. ET on 10/31/24.

Maple Leafs picks vs. Kraken Oct. 31: Target Matthews and Tavares on Thursday

The Toronto Maple Leafs host the Seattle Kraken on Halloween night.

The pregame narrative: The Leafs have been inconsistent this season so it’s hard to pick a side. However, I can back the over in a matchup between two shaky goalies. I’m also taking Auston Matthews to score and John Tavares to record a point.

Check out our Maple Leafs picks vs. Kraken for the game on Oct. 31.

Maple Leafs picks vs. Kraken

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Best Bet: Over 6 goals (-121)

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Both sides turn to their secondary goalies, which is the main reason for this pick.

Joseph Woll was expected to be the starter for Toronto this season but injuries have limited his production in October.

In his first start against the St. Louis Blues, Woll gave up four goals on 26 shots. It usually takes some time for a goalie to get into game shape and fans are seeing that currently.

Philipp Grubauer starts for Seattle and his results this season have been underwhelming. The veteran goaltender has allowed multiple goals in each of his four starts and his starts equating to a .881 SV%.

The Kraken are 10th in the league in goals scored per game (3.5) while the Leafs are 15th (3.2). However, they record the fifth most shots on goal (32.1) with a 10% shooting percentage.

Toronto should arguably have a lot more goals and I expect the loaded offence to continue to grow as the year continues.

Key stat: The Leafs are 4-0-1 against this line across their last five games.

Quick picks

Matthews to score (-130): There is a fair amount of juice on this play but Matthews is one player who deserves it.

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Toronto’s newest captain led the league with 69 goals last season. In six career games vs. the Kraken, Matthews has six goals and 11 points.

He hasn’t had the same start to the season that he had last year, but his 8.5% shooting percentage would be the worst of his career, by far (career 16.0% shooting percentage).

Because of that, I’m looking to buy in on Matthews before he gets hot and his price becomes unplayable.

Matthews leads the NHL in shots (47) and is second in expected goals (7.5) per MoneyPuck.

Tavares to score 1+ point (-150): If the last play carried too much juice then look away, but I think the price is worth it here.

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Tavares has a point in seven of nine games this season and is coming into tonight on a five-game point streak.

The former captain has the benefit of skating on the first powerplay unit with Toronto’s top offensive players. Despite that, he only has two PP points this season so there’s still room for improvement.

He continues to be on a line with William Nylander which is excellent for his production and newcomer Max Pacioretty is another veteran winger who scored close to a PPG in his last healthy season.

NHL picks made at 9:30 a.m. ET on 10/31/24.

Vikings vs. Rams Week 8 TNF prop picks: Back Aaron Jones, Fade Kyren Williams in tough matchup

The 5-1 Minnesota Vikings visit the struggling Los Angeles Rams on Thursday Night Football.

The pregame narrative: Running backs have had a field day with the Rams’ defence this season. With that in mind, the over on Aaron Jones’ yards prop is my best bet. I’m also fading Kyren Williams against a tough defensive unit.

Check out my Vikings vs. Rams prop picks for Thursday Night Football on Oct. 24.

Vikings vs. Rams prop picks

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Best Bet: Jones over 66.5 rushing yards (-115)

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The Vikings’ tailback has been efficient this season, averaging 5.2 yards per carry. He’s coming off a monsterous performance where ran for 93 yards on 14 attempts (6.6 YPC).

Los Angeles allows the third-most rushing yards per game (151.7). All six opposing starting running backs have cleared this line against the Rams.

Last week, Alexander Mattison tallied 93 yards on the ground despite his offence failing to find much success (15 points, no touchdowns).

Jones was a limited participant in practice to start the week, but if he’s healthy, he should get his usual share of touches.

Backup Ty Chandler has been far less effective (3.4 YPC) and only got two carries this past Sunday.

Key stat: Jones has surpassed this total in all four games in which he received 10-plus rush attempts.

Quick pick

Williams under 73.5 rushing yards (-114): Williams has been the one constant force in the Rams’ offence, but now it’s time to fade him.

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Minnesota’s defence allows the second-fewest rushing yards per game (80.0).

Jahmyr Gibbs exploded for 116 yards last week against the Vikings, but he and the Lions tend to run the ball effectively against everyone. So I’m not putting much stock into that when comparing to Williams.

Only one other tailback has cleared this hefty line against Minnesota (Jordan Mason in Week 2), and there’s no doubt that the Rams have a worse offensive line than both the Lions and 49ers.

Running backs who’ve been kept in check include Josh Jacobs (51 yards) and Breece Hall (23 yards).

Cooper Kupp is also expected to return to the lineup, and Williams averaged just 37.5 rushing yards per game in the two matchups with Kupp active. The receiver is the focal point of the offence whenever he’s on the field.

Picks made at 3:40 p.m. ET 10/23/2024.

Suns vs. Clippers same-game parlay predictions Oct. 23: Expect Durant to lead Phoenix to a win in +425 ticket

The Phoenix Suns and Los Angeles Clippers open the season in a Western Conference showdown on Wednesday night.

The pregame narrative: The Suns’ big three is healthy and has a good opportunity to get off to a winning start. This three-leg parlay includes Phoenix on the moneyline, a Kevin Durant prop and a pick on Norman Powell.

Check out my Suns vs. Clippers same-game parlay predictions for the season-opening matchup on Oct. 23.

Suns vs. Clippers predictions

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Parlay: Suns moneyline + Durant over 23.5 points + Powell over 17.5 points (+425)

Suns moneyline (-200): Kawhi Leonard is out for the foreseeable future and Paul George is off to the 76ers.

Last season, the Suns beat the Clippers without Kawhi and PG, 124-108, in Los Angeles In fact, L.A. was 0-3 in games without those two stars.

James Harden remains with the Clippers, but he’s shown he can’t carry a team like he used to.

On the other side, the Suns are about as healthy as they can be. All three of Bradley Beal, Devin Booker and Kevin Durant logged 27-plus minutes in the preseason finale.

The Big Three looks ramped up and ready to go, and I’m looking to jump in the waters early.

SGP legs

Durant over 23.5 points (-125): Is it just me or is this line a little disrespectful?

Durant averaged 27.1 points last season on 52.3% shooting. He cleared this line in 51 of 75 games (68.0%).

The four-time scoring champ proved he is still one of the best in the world at the 2024 Olympic Games, playing a crucial role in the USA’s gold medal victory.

Additionally, Durant has surpassed this point total in both games versus the Clippers at Crypto.com Arena since joining the Suns.

Powell over 19.5 points (-108): Someone will need to step up for Los Angeles, and Powell is the best choice to take on a bigger role.

The former Raptor is coming off a down year (13.9 PPG) but is poised to bounce back.

Powell looked good in preseason, averaging 11 points on 54.2% shooting in only 16.5 minutes of action per game.

There’s no doubt that his minutes will increase now that the games matter. Powell is arguably the Clippers’ best pure scorer, and he should see an uptick in minutes this season.

Last year, Powell averaged 26.2 minutes off the bench. He’s expected to be in the starting five to begin the 2024-25 season.

Picks made at 2:41 p.m. on 10/23/24.

Suns vs. Clippers same-game parlay predictions Oct. 23: Expect Durant to lead Phoenix to a win in +300 ticket

The Phoenix Suns and Los Angeles Clippers open the season in a Western Conference showdown on Wednesday night.

The pregame narrative: The Suns’ big three is healthy and has a good opportunity to get off to a winning start. This three-leg parlay includes Phoenix on the moneyline, a Kevin Durant prop and a pick on Norman Powell.

Check out my Suns vs. Clippers same-game parlay predictions for the season-opening matchup on Oct. 23.

Suns vs. Clippers predictions

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Parlay: Suns moneyline + Durant over 23.5 points + Powell over 17.5 points (+300)

Suns moneyline (-200): Kawhi Leonard is out for the foreseeable future and Paul George is off to the 76ers.

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Last season, the Suns beat the Clippers without Kawhi and PG, 124-108, in Los Angeles In fact, L.A. was 0-3 in games without those two stars.

James Harden remains with the Clippers, but he’s shown he can’t carry a team like he used to.

On the other side, the Suns are about as healthy as they can be. All three of Bradley Beal, Devin Booker and Kevin Durant logged 27-plus minutes in the preseason finale.

The Big Three looks ramped up and ready to go, and I’m looking to jump in the waters early.

SGP legs

Durant over 23.5 points (-127): Is it just me or is this line a little disrespectful?

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Durant averaged 27.1 points last season on 52.3% shooting. He cleared this line in 51 of 75 games (68.0%).

The four-time scoring champ proved he is still one of the best in the world at the 2024 Olympic Games, playing a crucial role in the USA’s gold medal victory.

Additionally, Durant has surpassed this point total in both games versus the Clippers at Crypto.com Arena since joining the Suns.

Powell over 17.5 points (-103): Someone will need to step up for Los Angeles, and Powell is the best choice to take on a bigger role.

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The former Raptor is coming off a down year (13.9 PPG) but is poised to bounce back.

Powell looked good in preseason, averaging 11 points on 54.2% shooting in only 16.5 minutes of action per game.

There’s no doubt that his minutes will increase now that the games matter. Powell is arguably the Clippers’ best pure scorer, and he should see an uptick in minutes this season.

Last year, Powell averaged 26.2 minutes off the bench. He’s expected to be in the starting five to begin the 2024-25 season.

Picks made at 12:41 p.m. on 10/23/24.

Flyers vs. Capitals picks and predictions Oct. 23: Expect goals, Jakob Chychrun to contribute

The Philadelphia Flyers visit the Washington Capitals for the second half of a back-to-back.

The pregame narrative: With both backup goalies likely getting the start today, I expect this game to go over the projected total. I’m also taking Jakob Chychrun to record at least one point.

Check out our Flyers vs. Capitals picks for the game on Oct. 23.

Flyers vs. Capitals picks

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Best bet: Over 6 goals (-110)

Much of the reasoning for this pick lies with the goaltending.

Ivan Fedotov is expected to start for Philly, and he hasn’t been good early in his career. He has allowed five or more goals in both outings this season and has an .818 SV%.

Things weren’t any better for him last year, when he had a 4.96 GAA and .811 SV% in three appearances.

Washington’s offence has been buzzing out of the gates. It ranks fifth in goals per game (4.0) and has an opportunity to fill the net tonight.

Logan Thompson takes the crease for the Capitals. The former Golden Knight allowed five goals in his last start against the New Jersey Devils but his team scored six and got him the win. That is a testament to Washington’s efficiency in the attacking zone.

Thompson has an .877 SV% and has allowed at least two goals in both starts.

Key stat: The over on this line is 3-0-1 this season in games where these goalies started.

Quick pick

Chychrun to record 1+ point (+140): I like the value here for a guy playing in Washington’s top defensive pairing.

Chychrun is on the ice a lot, averaging 21:30 of time per game. Only John Carlson plays more (26:02), but he has -157 odds to record a point, so I’d much rather get behind Chychrun in this market.

The tandem plays together in 5-on-5 scenarios, and all four of Chychrun’s points have come at even strength.

Again, I also like the over and believe the Capitals can contribute a lot of goals. If that’s the case, one of the Capitals’ top defencemen should find his name on the score sheet.

NHL picks made at 10:08 a.m. ET on 10/23/24.

Flyers vs. Capitals picks and predictions Oct. 23: Expect goals, Jakob Chychrun to contribute

The Philadelphia Flyers visit the Washington Capitals for the second half of a back-to-back.

The pregame narrative: With both backup goalies likely getting the start today, I expect this game to go over the projected total. I’m also taking Jakob Chychrun to record at least one point.

Check out our Flyers vs. Capitals picks for the game on Oct. 23.

Flyers vs. Capitals picks

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Best bet: Over 6 goals (-109)

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Much of the reasoning for this pick lies with the goaltending.

Ivan Fedotov is expected to start for Philly, and he hasn’t been good early in his career. He has allowed five or more goals in both outings this season and has an .818 SV%.

Things weren’t any better for him last year, when he had a 4.96 GAA and .811 SV% in three appearances.

Washington’s offence has been buzzing out of the gates. It ranks fifth in goals per game (4.0) and has an opportunity to fill the net tonight.

Logan Thompson takes the crease for the Capitals. The former Golden Knight allowed five goals in his last start against the New Jersey Devils but his team scored six and got him the win. That is a testament to Washington’s efficiency in the attacking zone.

Thompson has an .877 SV% and has allowed at least two goals in both starts.

Key stat: The over on this line is 3-0-1 this season in games where these goalies started.

Quick pick

Chychrun to record 1+ point (+140): I like the value here for a guy playing in Washington’s top defensive pairing.

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Chychrun is on the ice a lot, averaging 21:30 of time per game. Only John Carlson plays more (26:02), but he has -157 odds to record a point, so I’d much rather get behind Chychrun in this market.

The tandem plays together in 5-on-5 scenarios, and all four of Chychrun’s points have come at even strength.

Again, I also like the over and believe the Capitals can contribute a lot of goals. If that’s the case, one of the Capitals’ top defencemen should find his name on the score sheet.

NHL picks made at 10:08 a.m. ET on 10/23/24.

Best Champions League prop bets Matchday 3: Expect Kane to score, Vlahovic to contribute in opposing third

Two strikers contribute to my Champions League Matchday 3 prop bets.

Pregame narrative: Harry Kane is a goal-scoring machine and I’m betting on him to bag one against Barcelona on Wednesday. Before that, I’m targeting the over on Dusan Vlahovic’s shot prop.

Check out the best Champions League prop bets for Matchday 3.

Champions League prop bets

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Best bet: Kane to score (+100)

Kane’s four UCL goals lead the competition and he has eight goals in seven games for Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga.

He went on a recent four-game goalless drought but bounced back with a hattrick against VfB Stuttgart on the weekend.

Before the cold spell, Kane scored 10 goals in the previous four games. When he’s hot, he’s hot, so now is an opportune time to buy low.

The Englishman has 10 shots on goal in two Champions League appearances and the volume should be there again.

Barcelona is great at scoring but has kept just four clean sheets in 12 games across La Liga and the Champions League.

This game is proving hard to pick a side but if Barcelona slips up and allows a goal or two, there’s no better bet than Kane to get on the scoresheet.

Key stat: Kane has 12 goals in 14 Champions League games since joining Bayern Munich.

Quick pick

Valhovic 2+ shots on target (-154): Juventus’ striker is no stranger to letting shots go.

Vlahovic cleared this line in three of his last four appearances and has four shots through two Champions League games.

The Serbian international attempted 24 shots across his last four starts for Juventus leading to five goals, so it’s clear the gameplan is to feed the target man and let him do the rest.

I’m also keen on backing a player that’s trending up and there’s no hotter striker around than Vlahovic right now. He should be looking to goal with every opportunity he gets.

Picks made at 3:25 p.m. on 10/21/2024.

Best Champions League prop bets Matchday 3: Expect Kane to score, Vlahovic to contribute in opposing third

Two strikers contribute to my Champions League Matchday 3 prop bets.

Pregame narrative: Harry Kane is a goal-scoring machine and I’m betting on him to bag one against Barcelona on Wednesday. Before that, I’m targeting the over on Dusan Vlahovic’s shot prop.

Check out the best Champions League prop bets for Matchday 3.

Champions League prop bets

Full Champions League Matchday 3 betting markets

Best bet: Kane to score (+123)

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Kane’s four UCL goals lead the competition and he has eight goals in seven games for Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga.

He went on a recent four-game goalless drought but bounced back with a hattrick against VfB Stuttgart on the weekend.

Before the cold spell, Kane scored 10 goals in the previous four games. When he’s hot, he’s hot, so now is an opportune time to buy low.

The Englishman has 10 shots on goal in two Champions League appearances and the volume should be there again.

Barcelona is great at scoring but has kept just four clean sheets in 12 games across La Liga and the Champions League.

This game is proving hard to pick a side but if Barcelona slips up and allows a goal or two, there’s no better bet than Kane to get on the scoresheet.

Key stat: Kane has 12 goals in 14 Champions League games since joining Bayern Munich.

Quick pick

Valhovic over 3.5 shots (-129): Juventus’ striker is no stranger to letting shots go.

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Vlahovic cleared this line in six of his last seven appearances and has 10 shots through two Champions League games, clearing this total in both.

The Serbian international attempted 24 shots across his last four starts for Juventus leading to five goals, so it’s clear the gameplan is to feed the target man and let him do the rest.

I’m also keen on backing a player that’s trending up and there’s no hotter striker around than Vlahovic right now. He should be looking to goal with every opportunity he gets.

Picks made at 2:54 p.m. on 10/21/2024.