NHL Previews
The NHL is one of the most popular sports for betting, but choosing the right teams and players to bet on can be challenging. Thankfully, Scores and Stats has a team of talented handicappers that are always putting their blood and sweat into previewing every NHL game from an betting perspective.
Whether you’re a first time sports bettor, or an experienced sharp, these predictions and NHL expert picks are up for grabs.
Latest NHL Previews


Minnesota Wild vs St. Louis Blues Betting Preview The Minnesota Wild travel to the St. Louis Blues for an early-season Central Division clash on Thursday night at Enterprise Center. Puck drop is set for 8:00 PM ET on ESPN+. Both clubs reached the postseason last year, finishing within a single win of each other, and enter the new campaign trying


New Jersey Devils vs Carolina Hurricanes Betting Preview The New Jersey Devils and Carolina Hurricanes open their 2025-26 NHL seasons Thursday night at the Lenovo Center in Raleigh, North Carolina. This is no ordinary opener — it’s a rematch of last season’s playoff clash, where the Hurricanes eliminated the Devils in five games. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:30 PM


New York Islanders vs Pittsburgh Penguins Betting Preview The New York Islanders begin their 2025-26 campaign Thursday night with a divisional showdown against the Pittsburgh Penguins at PPG Paints Arena. Puck drop is set for 7:00 PM ET on ESPN+. Rookie defenseman Matthew Schaefer, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, makes his highly anticipated debut for


Philadelphia Flyers vs Florida Panthers Betting Preview The Philadelphia Flyers open their 2025-26 NHL season Thursday night against the defending back-to-back Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers at Amerant Bank Arena. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 PM ET on NBCS. This matchup marks Rick Tocchet’s coaching debut for Philadelphia — a return to the franchise where he starred as a


Ottawa Senators vs Tampa Bay Lightning Betting Preview The Ottawa Senators open their 2025-26 campaign on the road Thursday night against the Tampa Bay Lightning, with puck drop set for 7:00 PM ET at Benchmark International Arena. Fans can catch the action live on ESPN+. Ottawa broke its eight-year playoff drought last spring and looks to take another step forward


New York Rangers vs Buffalo Sabres Betting Preview The New York Rangers visit the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday night at KeyBank Center in a matchup between two Eastern Conference teams eager to set the tone early. The puck drops at 7:00 PM ET on ESPN+. Mike Sullivan, making his second appearance as Rangers head coach, looks to rebound from a


Boston Bruins vs Washington Capitals Betting Preview The 2025-26 NHL season opens in the nation’s capital on Tuesday, Oct. 8, as the Washington Capitals host the Boston Bruins at Capital One Arena. It’s a matchup between a team looking to defend its Eastern Conference crown and another trying to reestablish its identity after a rare down year. Washington brings back


Maple Leafs vs Canadiens Season-Opener Betting Preview The Toronto Maple Leafs open their 2025-26 campaign at Scotiabank Arena against the rival Montreal Canadiens marking a new era without longtime winger Mitchell Marner. Toronto traded Marner to Vegas in the offseason after failing to reach a long-term extension. Auston Matthews, who leads the Leafs’ veteran core, said the team is focused


New York Rangers vs Pittsburgh Penguins – NHL Betting Preview The New York Rangers begin their long climb back to playoff contention with a new voice behind the bench — former Penguins coach Mike Sullivan. The Rangers missed the postseason last year despite returning most of their Presidents’ Trophy core, and now they face the Pittsburgh Penguins to open the