NHL Best Bets Today, 10/19: Picks, Predictions & Player Props - Saturday
Hello and welcome everyone to the Friday edition of the NHL Best Bets on October 18, 2024! We had our first big-time night yesterday as the best bets went 3-1 overall and were stalled by just the Avalanche inability to close out games. Frustrating for them and us but I will take a night like those 10 times over! Today we shift focus to a 13-game slate which has my wagers stacked to the brim for today’s NHL picks.
A note though for this first month of the season, all bets until November will be half unit plays while we figure out the identity of these teams so don’t go wild on the bankroll just yet, let’s learn some things!
NHL Picks, Predictions & Best Bets Today, 10/19
In this NHL Best Bets Today article you will find a wide array of choices from some Money Lines and Team totals to plenty of player props for the action today in NHL Picks! 13 games on this weekend slate let’s dive right into it!
Now, let's dive into my expert NHL Best Bets today!
***ALL BETS ARE HALF UNIT PLAYS***
- Regular Season Record: 18-16-0
- Bankroll: +0.9 Units
Follow me on twitter @jwaggs10
Edmonton Oilers vs. Dallas Stars Predictions
It's October in the NHL so of course that means the Oilers are starting off slow once again! They’ve looked like a team that just doesn’t care right now, maybe it’s a Stanley Cup losing hangover. Either way, they are allowing 4 goals per game right now and sit at 2-3-0 through the first 2 weeks of the season. I have no problem fading this team today especially because the Stars have been so damn good and look like the more driven team.
The Stars are off to a great start this season at 4-1-0 overall and are undefeated at home. They were a great home team last year as well and it seems nothing there has changed. Through 5 games the Stars have scored 14 goals which isn’t super impressive but on defense they’ve allowed just 7 goals! They should be able to handle whatever Edmonton throws at them tonight and they have the more rested and deeper team. Give me the Stars on the Money Line tonight.
Adding to the Edmonton fade of this article is going to be a prop on goalie Stuart Skinner who has been dreadful so far with a 7.33 GAA and .845 SV%. In 3 starts he has stopped just 60 total shots and has gone over his saves prop of 25.5 saves just once. Seeing as the Stars only average 26.4 shots per game right now and Skinner is sure to let some behind him, I just can’t see this number hitting the over so give me the under on Skinner saves tonight.
Pick: Stars Money Line (-110 on DraftKings)
Pick: Stuart Skinner (EDM) Under 25.5 Saves (-130 on DraftKings)
Best NHL Prop Bets & Other Picks Today, 10/19
Pick: Canadiens & Islanders Under 6 Goals (-110 on DraftKings)
Pick: Bruins Money Line (-125 on DraftKings)
Pick: Red Wings & Predators Over 6.5 Goals (-110 on DraftKings)
Pick: St. Louis Blues Money Line (+130 on DraftKings)
Pick: Roman Josi (NSH) Over 3.5 Shots On Goal (+100 on DraftKings)
Pick: Jared McCann (SEA) Over 2.5 Shots On Goal (-135 on DraftKings)
Player News
Jorge Soler left Wednesday’s game against the Mets with an apparent injury.
Soler has been dealing with some nagging issues as of late, and it appears that has something to do with the early exit for the 33-year-old. Chris Taylor has moved to right field from third base, and Kevin Newman has taken over at third. Specifics on why Soler left Wednesday’s game should be available shortly.
Andrew Vaughn is not in the lineup for Wednesday’s finale against the Mariners.
Vaughn will rest for the first time since the break. Tyler Black will get the start at first base for the finale against Seattle versus Luis Castillo.
Brenton Doyle is not in the lineup for Wednesday’s tilt against the Cardinals.
Doyle will get another day off Wednesday, as he’s not been in the starting lineup in three of the seven games since the All-Star break. Mickey Moniak will get the start in center field in Doyle’s absence.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports Dolphins CB Artie Burns is believed to have suffered a torn ACL in Wednesday’s practice.
The Sun Sentinel’s David Furones has since confirmed that Burns tore his ACL in practice. The injury will sideline him for the entirety of the 2025 season. Burns signed a one-year deal with the Dolphins in the offseason to bolster their secondary. Burns bounced between the Seahawks’ practice squad and active roster last year and was set to compete for a rotational role in Miami. The injury and Jalen Ramsey trade leave Miami severely undermanned at corner. They could look to the free agent market for some depth.
Jose Altuve is not in the starting lineup for Wednesday’s bout against the Diamondbacks.
It’ll be the first time Altuve doesn’t start for the Astros since June 10. The 35-year-old gets a breather with Cooper Hummel in left field as Houston looks to complete a three-game sweep.
ESPN’s Courtney Cronin reports Bears WR Luther Burden is not practicing at the start of training camp.
As Cronin notes, Burden got banged up when he landed on the ball in an early offseason practice. He was also dealing with a hamstring issue at one point. It’s not clear which injury is forcing him to miss the start of camp, but it’s a bad sign no matter the cause. The fact thta Ben Johnson previously indicated that Burden would be ready for camp and he isn’t is an even brighter red flag. Burden left Mizzou as a schemed-touches master, perfect for Johnson’s heavily curated offense. Fantasy managers should still bet on him carving out a role as a rookie, but the odds of that happening early in the season are decreasing by the day.