NHL Best Bets Today, 10/10: Picks, Predictions & Player Props - Thursday
Thursdays are normally bigger NHL slates and that's exactly what we have tonight with nine games across the league.
Surprisingly, there are a few teams on the second night of a back-to-back, which is a bit interesting to see on just the third day of the season. It should give us a few backup goalies in action, so let's jump into today's NHL Best Bets!
NHL Picks, Predictions & Best Bets Today, 10/10
After a solid 2-0 start with the nets for Tuesday's NHL best bets article, we look to keep things rolling tonight, as a new set of teams are starting their 2024 seasons.
As the season continues to get going, we'll key in on different patterns for teams and establish a good sense of who/what we should be targeting on a night-to-night basis for our NHL Best Bets.
Kings vs. Sabres Prediction: Thursday, October 10th
After a tough 0-2 start to the season against the New Jersey Devils in Prague, Czechia, the Buffalo Sabres have their home opener tonight against the Los Angeles Kings. Hopefully, those first few games have them in the flow of things on offense, which gives them a leg up against the Kings.
I don't want to look for a goal scorer here, as I think the Sabres should try to keep things as simple as possible and look to generate some offensive chances, after scoring only two goals in two games against the Devils.
This brings me to Rasmus Dahlin, the newly named captain of the Buffalo Sabres. Besides patrolling the blue line, Dahlin also sees time on the Sabres' first power-play unit, which is always an added advantage to pile up some shots.
Last season, Dahlin averaged 2.9 shots per game and was second on the team with 235 total shots, both marks he can replicate this season.
- Expert Kings vs. Sabres Picks:
- Rasmus Dahlin Over 2.5 Shots on Goal (+100 on FanDuel)
Penguins vs. Red Wings Prediction: Thursday, October 10th
The Pittsburgh Penguins are coming off an embarrassing 6-0 loss to the New York Rangers last night, but the silver lining is they can right back on the ice and get things going in the right direction.
The Detroit Red Wings starting their season at home against a team on the second night of a back-to-back is about as good as you can get in the NHL. There are high hopes for the Red Wings and the “Yzerplan” this season, as they've locked up their core with some long-term deals.
One such player with a new contract is Lucas Raymond, who recently signed an eight-year deal. The 22-year-old is coming off a career season with 31 goals and 72 total points in 82 games, a level of scoring he should be able to meet and exceed this season.
Playing alongside Dylan Larkin and Alex DeBrincat is a power line for the Red Wings and a source of production on a nightly basis. This should give us a high level of consistency and a wonderful spot to look for player props in today's NHL predictions.
As we circle back to the Penguins, who allowed 70 Total Shot Attempts to the Rangers last night, their defense could have another rough outing against a young and hungry top line from the Red Wings.
- Expert Penguins vs. Red Wings Picks:
- Lucas Raymond Over 2.5 Shots on Goal (+102 on FanDuel)
Best NHL Prop Bets & Other Picks Today, 10/10
- David Pastrnak 2+ Points (+144 on FanDuel Sportsbook)
- Anthony Duclair Goal (+250 on FanDuel Sportsbook)
Player News
The Fort Lauderdale Police Department released a report detailing additional information regarding Quinshon Judkins’ arrest for domestic battery over the weekend.
The full report can be found at the link provided at the end of the blurb, but the details are quite disturbing. Arresting officer Steven Pohorence reported that the victim of Judkins’ alleged assault reported the incident the day after it occurred, alleging Judkins “punched her in the mouth/chin area with a closed fist” while adding he later struck her in the arm and thigh. The victim also showed pictures of her chin/lip area, with officer Pohorence noting in the report “the bruising was clearly evident.” Bruises could also be found on her arm and thigh. This situation is far from resolved and could have a direct impact on Judkins’ availability for training camp as he remains unsigned at this time.
The Athletic’s Will Sammon reports that Ronny Mauricio is working with Juan Soto to refine his approach at the plate.
Sammon points out that Mauricio’s biggest flaw has been his penchant for chasing pitches out of the strike zone. The 24-year-old has big time raw tools and the ability to play multiple positions, so getting him settled in with a more polished big league approach could be big for the Mets. Over the last few weeks, he has been working on this with Soto and has posted a .797 OPS over his last 15 games. “He’s trying to stop chasing a little bit,” said Soto. “He’s doing it the past couple weeks with good takes, better decisions, and swinging the bat well. He is on the right path.” If Soto can help Mauricio hone his approach a bit more, that could pay huge dividends for the Mets and fantasy managers.
The New York Post’s Jon Heyman reports that the Diamondbacks are listening to offers on Randal Grichuk, Alek Thomas, Lourdes Gurriel Jr., and Jake McCarthy.
The Diamondbacks are not locked into the “seller” role, but unless something changes in the next few weeks, it would be smart of them to consider offers for players who are not likely to be part of their future. Grichuk seems to be the most likely to be dealt since he’s playing on a one-year contract with a mutual option for next season. Gurriel has $13 million guaranteed for 2026, which could make it harder for the Diamondbacks to find a trade partner for him, and they may be less inclined to trade Thomas, who used to be one of the top prospects in baseball and is under team control for a few more years.
Adrian Del Castillo went 4-for-6 with two home runs, two doubles, two runs scored, and six RBI for Triple-A El Paso on Sunday.
Del Castillo was battling some arm fatigue earlier in the season, but he has now played 14 games at Triple-A, slashing .288/.386/.559 with four home runs, 16 RBI, and a 19/10 K/BB ratio. He has split his time between catcher and designated hitter and could get another opportunity with the Diamondbacks after the trade deadline if players like Eugenio Suarez are moved to another team.
Zebby Matthews (shoulder) threw four scoreless innings for Triple-A St. Paul on Sunday.
The 25-year-old allowed one hit and struck out nine without walking a batter. He threw 38 of his 56 pitches for strikes and induced 15 whiffs in his four innings. Matthews averaged 97.4 mph on his four-seam fastball and touched 99 mph on one. There’s a good chance that he could return to the Twins rotation immediately following the All-Star break. It’s time to stash him if he’s still available in your league.
Sawyer Gipson-Long (neck) threw 4 2/3 scoreless innings for Triple-A Toledo on Sunday.
The 27-year-old didn’t allow a single hit while walking one and striking out five on the day. He threw 41 of his 59 pitches for strikes and looked to be in complete control on the day. Gipson-Long will likely need at least one more rehab start before rejoining the rotation to replace Keider Montero.