NHL Best Bets Today: October 8 Picks & Predictions
Thursday night features a solid slate of 10 NHL games. Whether you will be tuning in to watch your favorite team or you are just here hanging around to find some action, we have you covered.
Here are my three NHL best bets that may be worth considering today -- with lines and odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook at the time of writing. Also be sure to check out all of our NHL predictions for every game throughout the season, including all 10 matchups tonight.
NHL Best Bet: Avalanche -1.5 over Flames (+104)
The Colorado Avalanche will be in Calgary on Thursday night to take on the Flames. It will be the second half of a back-to-back for the Avalanche, but I do not think this will have an impact on them. The Flames are 0-3 on the season, and they have been outscored 16-3 in their first three games. They are going up against a Stanley Cup contender in the Avalanche that is led by Cale Makar and Nathan MacKinnon. The Flames are completely outmatched in this game.
In three meetings last season, the Avalanche won all three games. The Avalanche outscored the Flames 15-4 in those three games. They covered the puck line in all three as well. I expect more of the same this time around. Look for a dominant performance from the Avalanche against the Flames.
Get the whole analysis of our Avalanche vs Flames prediction
NHL Best Bet: Hurricanes -1.5 over Canucks (-130)
The Hurricanes are seeking their first home win of the 2026-27 season, and they won’t have a better chance than when they welcome the Canucks on Thursday. The Hurricanes were 29-10-2 on home ice last year. In two meetings with the Canucks last season, the Hurricanes were 2-0 and covered the puck line in one of those wins. The Hurricanes have a very deep forward group that the Canucks simply cannot stack up against.
The Canucks are averaging 4.50 goals against per game through their first four games, and this poor defensive play will not hold up well against a relentless Hurricanes team. The Hurricanes are a veteran team that will not take their opponent lightly, so expect a strong showing from Carolina against the Canucks on Thursday.
Lock in our Canucks vs Hurricanes pick
NHL Best Bet: Sebastian Aho 3+ shots on goal (+104)
Sebastian Aho and the Carolina Hurricanes have been putting pucks on net early and often this season. This has been a common theme for them in the Rod Brind’Amour regime. In his first four games, Aho has tallied 15 shots on goal – an average of 3.75 shots per game. In three of the four games, he recorded 3+ shots on goal. He will be going up against a Vancouver Canucks team that is very poor defensively, to put it lightly. They have allowed 120 shots against in their first four games of the season.
Aho plays in all situations, including on the top powerplay unit and the penalty kill. He will have plenty of chances to put the puck on net. Look for Aho to take advantage of a shaky defensive team in the Vancouver Canucks and to record three or more shots on goal.
Check out our expert NHL picks for all 10 matchups tonight and every game throughout the entire 2026-27 season
