NHL Playbook: Betting Lines, Odds & Picks For Monday, Oct. 31

NHL Betting Lines, Odds & Picks for Monday

Happy Halloween, hockey fans! I won't be using cliché adjectives today like "spooky" or "scary good" because that is just so unprofessional. Today presents us with a disturbingly small three-game slate to weave through. Let's dive into these wicked good games and make some winning wagers tonight on the ice.

Speaking of winning, the BetQL model has gone 37-15-10 (72% win) on 4-star and higher NHL bets of $100 in the last seven 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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The Red Wings and Sabres will meet on Halloween night to kick things off, and both of these teams have enjoyed some success to begin the year. Detroit is 4-2-2 on the season, and that record is just about right for this team in terms of their statistics. The Red Wings score just over three goals per game, and they give up three goals per game on average. Four wins and four losses while giving up the same amount of goals as you score. The epitome of average play on the ice. They are getting outshot 34 to 30 on average, so they need to be better at puck control, or it could go downhill as they go forward.

As for Buffalo, they are 5-3 and enjoying their best start to a season in a long time. They are averaging close to four goals per game and allowing under three, which is a great formula for success. I was amazed by how this team was winning to begin the season, as they were allowing 40 shots per game and only getting 29 of their own each game. Buffalo has evened that out a bit, but they still have some work to go. Dan Granato is 22 - 24 after having lost 2 of his last 3 games while coaching the Sabres.

PICK: These teams are very even, and I don't see a huge difference between them. When that is the case, I'll always take the plus-money with the underdog, so give me Detroit.

The Washington Capitals have started to play a little better as of late after starting the season looking slow and old. They have won three of their last five games, and look to grab another win here tonight, albeit on the road against a very good Carolina Hurricanes team. I'm still not entirely convinced about Washington, as I think the injuries and aging players that litter this team is going to hurt them this season, but they are playing well right now. They have gotten some great goaltending from former Avalanche netminder Darcy Kuemper, who owns a 2.47 GAA.

The Hurricanes are a team that should have a better record than they do. This is one of the better squads in hockey this season, and they have played like it, averaging 36 shots on goal per game and only allowing 27, just dominating puck possession in most of their contests. Carolina is 5-2-1, which isn't bad, but they are playing like a team that should have maybe 1-2 losses instead of three. They are just 2-2-1 in their last five, so they need to start generating some wins.

PICK: Washington is playing better right now, but there is no question in my opinion who the better team is. Carolina should dispatch the Caps, so I will take them in regulation at a reasonable price.

The nightcap features two teams that probably shouldn't be in the highlight game of the evening. LA and St. Louis have both been quite terrible as of late, with the Blues being losers of four straight games, and the Kings losing three of their last five. Neither team has been especially impressive this season. The Kings are about as average as it gets, with a 5-5 record and almost equal shots for and against. They need to get better production out of their netminders, which has really been a struggle. Jonathan Quick isn't as quick as he used to be when he was in his 20s, and it has shown.

As for the Blues, I've been saying for a while now that this is not a very good hockey team. After they got off to a fast start to the season, they have now lost four straight games and look more like the team I thought they were. The offense has faded, as it should have after averaging less than 30 shots a game, and the goaltending has faltered as well. Backup goalie Thomas Greiss has a 4.10 GA/G in his 2 starts, which has been disastrous for the team.

PICK: This is a tough one, as I don't like either team. Just give me the plus-money with the Kings here. I think they are maybe slightly better than St. Louis, and there is some value there against a team that can't win.