NHL Playbook: Betting Lines, Odds & Picks For Saturday, Oct. 22

NHL Betting Lines, Odds & Picks for Saturday

Went from three games yesterday to a humongous 13-game slate on Saturday, which means 10 more chances to make money and keep crushing these books. I swear, sometimes I think the NHL is the easiest sport to bet, because it seems like it's the last one to have lines adjusted. Of course, the BetQL model also has its picks for this week, and that is not something you want to miss with how well the model has done over the past year.

The model has gone 304-241-0 (56% win) on 3-Star and higher NHL spread bets of $100 in the last 365 days, so be sure to check out the model's best bets for tonight. BetQL subscribers can see more betting trends and all of our best bets with star ratings for every pick.

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We are getting started EARLY here on a Saturday, with the first games dropping the puck at 1 p.m. ET. I have to say, I was blown away by the Sharks getting the outright win over the New York Rangers last time out, but this is hockey, and anything can happen on any given day. The Sharks generally have poor statistics that say they are a very bad team, and their record indicates that as well. To the eye though, I actually don't see that. The goaltending has been pretty brutal, but the team hasn't looked super overmatched every night.

The Devils are a team I am keeping a really close eye on. They have actually been one of the best teams in all of hockey to start the year, despite their 2-2 record. They are dominating the ice, outshooting their opponents 40 to 21 on average, but they aren't getting great goaltending. Couple that with some really bad luck at times, and they sit at .500 despite being very good in the opening few games.

PICK: I'm going with the Devils. San Jose is feisty, and I dont think they are as bad as their record says, but New Jersey should be far better than 2-2. Devils -1.5.

Another early game here has Minnesota taking on Boston. Minnesota is another team that, just like the Devils, has been playing pretty well but their record isn't very good. Most of the blame here falls squarely on the goaltending, which has been the worst in the NHL so far. Marc-Andre Fleury and Filip Gustavsson have been atrocious in net, both having over a 5.00 GAA and below .900 SV%. If they can turn it around, the Wild are probably a playoff team.

Boston has started the year off great despite missing some key pieces like Brad Marchand to injury. They have been playing well, and are coming off of an overtime win against the Anaheim Ducks. The offense has been the story, scoring over four goals per game so far, while allowing just over three a game.

PICK: I can't back Minnesota until I see some improvement in net, especially against an offense like Boston. Give me the Bruins ML.

Heading into the mid-afternoon slate, we get the St. Louis Blues against the Edmonton Oilers. The Blues are out to a pretty surprising 2-0 start to the season, and they have their offense to thank for that, scoring 4.50 goals per game. However, luck is a factor here. The Blues haven't looked all that impressive to me, despite the record. They have been outshot in both contests so far, and they haven't been able to control play.

I'm not sure what Edmonton is right now, or any time for that matter. Some nights they look like they can win the Stanley Cup, other nights they lay a complete egg. The defense for this team has been very bad so far, but their offense has managed to win them a few games. I just think this is your typical Oilers team, having to win with offense every night. In the end, that isn't going to win you championships, Connor McDavid or not.

PICK: Edmonton is at home here, where they have played every game of their season so far. Neither team has impressed me really, so I will probably stay away. If I had to pick a side, I'd go with Edmonton.

Just want to throw this out there, the Coyotes beat the Maple Leafs the other night when Toronto was a -560 favorite. Hilarious stuff, imagine laying that juice and thinking it was a sure bet. But yeah, Arizona is really bad. They are definitely the worst team in hockey in my opinion, and they are playing like it too. They are getting outshot by 14 on average, and that isn't going to win you many games on the ice. This is a bad team that will get dominated most nights by a majority of teams in this league.

Ottawa is a team that no one payed attention to for the longest time, but there finally might be a reason to. They have been playing well so far, and are 2-2 to start the year. The Senators are scoring close to four goals per game, but their goaltending needs to get better. Overall, Ottawa is certainly a team on the rise that will be competitive most days, unlike they have been for the last 10 years.

PICK: I'm taking the Sens -1.5. Arizona is really bad, just don't overthink it.

Heading into the night games now, we start with the Pittsburgh Penguins and Columbus Blue Jackets in Ohio. Pittsburgh has been scoring at a record pace, averaging FIVE goals per game in four games played, which is probably unsustainable. They are 3-0-1 so far, not having lost in regular time. They have looked great on the ice, especially offensively, averaging 40 shots per game. They are going to be hard to stop, even with Sidney Crosby in the twilight of his career.

Columbus has been pretty disappointing so far, sitting at just 2-3 on the year with an anemic offense that isn't even averaging two goals per game. They haven't looked like they are that bad, however. The Blue Jackets are still getting 32 shots on goal per game, they just can't seem to capitalize on any of them. Maybe that is coming soon, but this team has the talent to compete.

PICK: It would be hard for me not to take Pittsburgh's offense against one of the lowest-scoring teams in hockey right now. I'll take them -1.5.

I'm sorry, but both of these teams have been very unimpressive to start the year. The Kings typically are one of the best defensive units in the league, but they have been bad in 2022, and the offense is just trying to keep pace. They've done a decent job of that, and it's why they have a 3-3 record, but they have got to play better defensively and in net. They aren't a great team, but they aren't bad either. LA is just kinda stuck in the middle.

Washington on the other hand has looked really bad. They haven't been as bad as Los Angeles defensively, but this offense has looked completely out of sorts. The Capitals desperately miss Evgeny Kuznetsov and Connor Brown, two big parts of their offense that they are currently missing. Alex Ovechkin can't do it all, especially at his age, so they need some reinforcements and quick.

PICK: No way Washington should be a -140 favorite in this game, even at home. This is more of a toss up, so I'll gladly take the plus-money with LA and hope they can pull it out.

I'm not sure there is a team more frustrating than the Maple Leafs. They should be really good, and I mean very good. They have been owning the ice so far, outshooting their opponents on average by 10 shots per game, but they are just 3-2, and can't seem to pull away from anyone. You should bet them on the PL most nights, but you almost can't because you can't trust them to put a game away.

Winnipeg hasn't impressed me at all to start the year. They are getting outshot by 5 every game on average, and the offense has looked bad. For a team that had hopes of making the postseason in 2022, they better start playing at a much higher level than what we have seen. Neal Pionk is leading the team in points, a guy that you probably heard of just now when reading this.

PICK: I want to take Toronto on the PL so badly here, they are far and away the better team. I just don't trust them to actually get the job done. If I have a play, it's just that, but good luck to you.

Two teams that have seen each other a lot over the last three years take the ice when the Islanders and Lightning meet up once again. These teams played in the 2019 and 2020 Eastern Conference Finals, with Tampa Bay winning both of those series. New York has been excellent in net so far, allowing just 2.5 goals per game. They have played well on the ice as well, so they are off to a much better start to the season than they had in 2021.

Tampa Bay is off to the opposite start of what they are used to, losing three of four. Neither offense or defense has been impressive so far, but this is a team that is far better than how they have played to begin the year. I expect them to bounce back, but it might take a bit. They have played more hockey in the last three seasons than any team in the NHL by far. Fatigue could be an issue.

PICK: New York has been the better team to this point, and Tampa is a -165 favorite because of who they are. Why not just take the Islanders at plus money? You are getting the better team right now with better odds.

Dallas is 3-0-1 top start their season thanks to some incredibly goaltending by Jake Oettinger, and nothing more. He's been awesome, and is one of the rising stars in the NHL, but his team needs to support him better. The Stars haven't looked all that great outside of him, getting outshot on a nightly basis, and getting very lucky with the goal totals they have been putting up. Almost four goals per game on just 27 shots on average? That's nuts.

Montreal is a shocking 3-2 to begin the year, and they can also attribute that success to great goaltending. They have improved tremendously in that department since last season, with Jake Allen in net. I don't think this team is that great still, but they are definitely better than they were a year ago, and they have some young pieces as well.

PICK: If Oettinger starts, it's really hard to pick against him. I just haven't been impressed with the Stars overall. Canadiens getting plus money at home seems intriguing to me.

The primetime matchup bring us two teams that I think are both bad, but one has been shocking everyone so far. The Flyers were supposed to be one of the worst teams in hockey this season, but are off to a 3-1 start behind some solid goaltending and some opportune shots that have went Philly's way. Still, I will continue to fade them hard. They lack talent, and despite winning these games, have been getting killed in possession time on the ice.

The Predators aren't much better, and they are another team that I will fade a lot this season. Juuse Saros hasn't looked like the goaltender we saw last season up to this point, and if he isn't great on a nightly basis, Nashville isn't going to win a lot of games. They have lost four in a row after starting 2-0.

PICK: I won't be betting this game. Yes, Philadelphia is getting good plus money as the "better" team, but they really aren't better. Both these teams are bad. If anything, I'd fade this start for the Flyers and take Nashville -1.5.

I was surprised the way the Hurricanes got whipped the way they did against Edmonton the other day, but as I said previously, the Oilers are Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde. This Carolina team is really good, one of the best the league has to offer, and this is going to be a fantastic game. You know they will be looking to come back strong after a loss like that, giving up six goals.

Calgary is right there with Carolina as one of the better teams in the NHL, and they have been playing like it through four games. The Flames are outshooting opponents 38 to 27 on average, and they have been owning TOP so far. They took a tough loss to a surging Buffalo Sabres team last time out, so they will also be looking to bounce back strong.

PICK: Carolina is getting plus money, so I will pick them. Honestly, this is a very evenly matched game, so give me whatever team is presenting more value. Should be the game of the night.

Another team that has shocked me early on is Vegas, and I didn't think they would be very good this season with all of their changes. Goaltending was a major question, but rookie Logan Thompson has answered the call, and has been great for them so far. He already has a shutout, and is sporting a 2.03 GAA and .938 SV%, which is very impressive for a rookie.

We all know the name of the game with the Colorado Avalanche: Offensive juggernaut with questionable goaltending that wins on talent alone. The Avs are defending champions for a reason, and they are better than any team they hit the ice with on a nightly basis. That doesn't mean they always win, however.

PICK: Any time that I am getting even money or plus money with the Avalanche, it's an auto-bet. They are better than every team in this league and should be favored in every game.

There has been a lot of talk recently about the Buffalo Sabres and their quick start to the season. While I'll admit, I am quite shocked they have jumped out to a 3-1 record and just beat the Flames the other night, they have been getting outplayed badly. In fact, no one is allowing more shots per game than Buffalo, who is giving up 41 on a nightly basis. That is going to come back and bite them sooner rather than later.

Vancouver is still winless on the season, even if they should have a few wins already. They have been the ultimate choke artists to being the year, getting out to large leads and blowing them in a split second. I like the Canucks as a team, but they have got to do something about this late game play. Eventually they will break out of that.

PICK: Buffalo is a good story, but like Philadelphia, this team is winning despite being the worse team every night. Vancouver has to win at some point, and Buffalo is going to cool off. I'll take the Canucks -1.5.