NHL Playbook: Betting Lines, Odds & Picks For Tuesday, Oct. 25

NHL Betting Lines, Odds & Picks for Tuesday

We have a fairly large 10-game Tuesday slate tonight on the ice to sink our teeth into and analyze the matchups. The NHL has been going great so far this season for me, and we're going to continue that tonight with this slate of pretty good games. 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 306-238 (57% win) on 3-Star and higher NHL puck line 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.

Take advantage of BetQL's free trial and see all of today's best NHL bets, plus what the model is projecting for every football game this week! Start your free trial today!

I've said it plenty of times before, but I am really high on the Devils this season. I think they are a Stanley Cup Playoff team that can compete this year, but we will see how they do down the road. So far, it's been fantastic offensively, as the team is putting up a ridiculous 39 shots per contest. The defense has been just as great, allowing just 21 shots a game and just 2.80 goals. Look out for them this year, I'm telling you.

The Red Wings are hoping to make the playoffs finally after their long rebuild process seems to be taking shape. The offense is scoring almost four goals per game and taking 33 shots on average, so they have been doing well on that side of the ice. Defensively, they are allowing about 33 shots as well, so it's been an average balance.

MY PICK: Until they stop playing so well, I'm inclined to take the Devils against almost anyone. No one has controlled pace of play and puck possession like New Jersey has to start the season.

Jake Oettinger has been the best goaltender in the league this season, and there is no argument for that. The guy is a stud in net, and with the way his team fails to control the puck for large portions of the games they play, he's been even more impressive. Seriously, Dallas has been ridiculously lucky offensively, scoring four goals per game on 28 shots. They are allowing 33 shots per game, so eventually this will come back to get them.

The Bruins have been great to start the season despite all the injuries. Boston is scoring over four goals a game and taking 37 shots per contest, one of the best marks in hockey right now. Defensively, they have been solid, allowing just over three goals per game and about 31.5 shots.

MY PICK: This should be one of the best games of the night, and with Oettinger playing like he is, it's tough to fade Dallas. However, I just don't like how they have played to start the year, and I think they are perhaps getting a bit lucky and relying too much on goaltending. Give me Boston here.

Look, the Coyotes are absolutely terrible, but I'm not sure the Blue Jackets are the team that should be massive -225 favorites over them. Arizona is the worst team in hockey, and it may not be close. They are taking just 24 shots per game offensively and scoring just under three goals per game. Defensively, it has been a total disaster, allowing 37 shots per contest and over FIVE goals each time out.

Columbus is not a good hockey team either. They are getting outplayed on a nightly basis just like Arizona, but just not as badly. The offense scores just over three goals per game and they take about 30 shots on average. Nothing to ride home about there. The defense is allowing almost four goals a game, and 34 shots as well.

MY PICK: Arizona is so bad that I can't pick them seriously, but Columbus also stinks. Maybe place a small amount on Coyotes moneyline at a large plus money number? The Blue Jackets can definitely lose. I think they either lose outright or they win by margin, so take Arizona ML or Blue Jackets -1.5 for a small amount.

Here's a matchup between two teams that haven't been very impressive so far. The Wild have been perhaps the worst defensive team in the league, allowing 35 shots a game and surrendering over FIVE goals per contest. That is worse than Arizona. It's been bad, but their offense has been doing its part. They are taking about 35 shots per game and and scoring almost four goals as well, but they haven't been able to keep up with the bad defense.

Montreal is better than expected, I'll give them that. They still aren't good, scoring a measly 2.67 goals per game and allowing about three a game. They are also getting outshot 29.5 to 31, which isn't exactly horrible, but not very good either. Let's just say they have been painfully average to begin the season.

MY PICK: I don't think Minnesota has any business laying -185 against Montreal here. I'll just do what I have been though in every Wild game, which is take the over until their defense gets better.

An excellent matchup on the ice awaits between the New York Rangers and Colorado Avalanche. The defending Stanley Cup Champs haven't been playing very well to start the year, despite all the star power that they still possess. Colorado is only averaging just under four goals per game, which is actually bad for them compared to last season. They are taking just 29 shots a game, well below expectations for a team with Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Maker.

New York on the other hand, has been a force despite their identical record. The Rangers are taking 35 shots a game and only allowing 28, so they have been dominating puck possession for the majority of their contests, but they haven't been getting results. They are scoring just over three goals a game, and allowing just over three as well.

MY PICK: The Rangers have been the far better team so far this season, despite what the record shows. In a toss-up, I'll take them to get the win here, even though it makes me sick to pick against Colorado.

The defending Presidents Trophy winners are still destroying everyone in their path just like they did in 2021. The Panthers are taking over 35 shots per game and allowing 31, so they have been in control of most of their games thus far. Florida is scoring just over three goals per game, which is sort of disappointing considering the shots, but they are still winning lots of games and playing great defense.

Don't look now, but the Blackhawks are winning games. I don't know why they are, considering they must want a top draft pick, but they have been. This is still among the worst teams in the league, taking just 25 shots a game and allowing 32. They don't control pace of play at all, and they are overwhelmed quite a bit. They have gotten some pretty good goaltending overall, allowing just three goals per game.

MY PICK: Florida should destroy them for all intents and purposes, but Chicago has shown some resilience. Be careful here, but I'll take the Panthers -1.5.

One of the best matchups of the day comes in the form of the Pittsburgh Penguins and Calgary Flames. The Penguins are seemingly scoring at will, taking a massive 40 shots per contest and putting the puck in the net over FIVE times per game on average. They are an offensive monster that can bury you early, but the defense has been questionable. They allow 35 shots per game, a mark that is among the worst in hockey.

The Flames have been equally as impressive, but in their own way rather than just offensively. Calgary dominates pace of play and puck possession, to the tune of shooting 37 shots per game and giving up just 27. When you are playing that well, it's hard to lose many hockey games.

MY PICK: Calgary can hold its own against the Pittsburgh offense, and should be able to contain them a bit. I like the Flames at home here to get another win, they have been one of the most impressive teams in the NHL so far.

I'm still blown away by how Buffalo continues to win games like they have been. They are scoring over four goals per game despite averaging just 29 shots on goal, which is pretty crazy, but not as crazy as these defensive statistics. The Sabres are allowing a massive 39 shots against them per game, which is the highest number in the NHL per game, but allowing just over two goals per game. That is totally unsustainable, and at some point, those shots are going to turn into goals for the opposing team.

That's why the Kraken are favored tonight against them despite having a far worse record. Buffalo has been getting outplayed by a large margin, but that isn't the case for Seattle. In spite of their poor record, they are actually controlling the ice most nights, taking 33 shots per game and allowing just 28. The goaltending has been pretty poor for them so far, which is a problem, but they have actually been good.

MY PICK: Buffalo isn't a good hockey team, despite their record. I'll play against their lucky streak and go with the Kraken at a short number.

Two teams with perhaps the longest names in hockey meet up when the San Jose Sharks take on the Vegas Golden Knights. The Golden Knights have surpassed my expectations for them to start the season, as their goaltending has been much better than I anticipated. They are allowing just over two goals per game, which is one of the best marks in the league. They are controlling pace of play as well, outshooting opponents 34 to 30.5 on a nightly basis.

The Sharks would be completely hopeless if it wasn't for their goaltending this season. San Jose is allowing just under three goals per game, which is really good. The problem is that the offense is downright terrible, taking just 26 shots a game and scoring at the lowest mark in the league at just 1.88 goals per game.

MY PICK: Vegas is just the much better team, and they should be able to stop the Sharks from scoring at all. This one could be a shutout with how good the goaltending has been in Vegas against this sharks offense. Take the under 6.5 here.

Last but not least, we have the Tampa Bay Lightning taking on the LA Kings. These teams are similar in many ways to start the season. Tampa has been disappointing relative to all they have accomplished over the last few years, but they are still very talented. The lightning are taking 33 shots per game and giving up 35, so they have been fairly even there. They have been a very average hockey team.

LA actually has about the same statistics when you look at them. The Kings are averaging about 33 shots per game and allowing 34, so they have also been painfully average. The difference may be that Tampa has been getting much better goaltending, as the Kings have allowed over four goals per game so far.

MY PICK: This is a tough one between two teams that have played similarly this season, but I'll take the Lightning here as short favorites on the road. They have the better goaltender.