NHL Best Bets Today, 10/28: Picks, Predictions & Player Props - Monday
Hello and welcome everyone to the Monday, October 28th edition of the NHL Best Bets Today! It’s a brand-new week of NHL action as we move into the end of the opening month of the season. After a few weeks, I am starting to get a handle on who these teams really are as we make NHL picks. Tonight, we have 8 games on the slate to pick apart so check out my NHL predictions below, and let’s go stuff our wallets!
NHL Picks, Predictions & Best Bets Today, 10/28
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!
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! 16 games on this weekday 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: 34-24-0
- Bankroll: +5.5 Units
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Oilers vs. Blue Jackets Prediction: Monday, October 28th
As I prepare to break down this game, I just want to say thank you to all the money the Blue Jackets have made us so far this season as underdogs and all the plus odds that have come with it! That being said, it's time to flip away from them at least for tonight as Connor McDavid and the Oilers come to town.
Elvin Merzlikins will start for the Blue Jackets and that’s where the fade begins as he’s 0-2-0 on the season with a 3.65 GAA and .854 SV% – neither are up to par for NHL goaltenders! The Oilers' offense hasn’t been the best this season overall, but they’ve been scoring more in the past week and this is just an absolute prime matchup given the Blue Jackets' struggles against top forward units.
The Oilers powerplay unit is also just 13% this season. While they probably won’t reach over 30% like last season, I fully expect that to pick up and they very well could this evening. Give me the Oilers over 3.5 goals tonight!
If the Oilers are going to have a big game, it's time for Zach Hyman to get it together and start scoring goals this season! He has no goals so far through 9 games and that’s just not up to his standard as a 30-40 goal scorer in this offense. He’s getting almost 20 minutes on the ice per game and has 25 shots on goal through the first few weeks. The chances will be there and I am betting he scores a goal tonight.
- Expert Oilers vs. Blue Jackets NHL Picks
- Edmonton Oilers Over 3.5 Team Total Goals (-160 on DraftKings)
- Zach Hyman Anytime Goalscorer (+100 on DraftKings)
Best NHL Prop Bets & Other Picks Today, 10/28
- Nashville Predators Money Line (+115 on DraftKings)
- San Jose Sharks Money Line (+225 on DraftKings)
- Carolina Hurricanes & Vancouver Canucks Under 6 Goals (-115 on DraftKings)
- Pavel Dorofeyev (VGK) Over 2.5 Shots On Goal (+100 on DraftKings)
Player News
Oneil Cruz (back) remains out of the lineup for Tuesday’s showdown against the Mets.
It’s time for fantasy managers to increase their level of concern with Cruz absent from Pittsburgh’s lineup for the third straight game due to lower back tightness. The 26-year-old power/speed combo outfielder has launched eight homers and stolen 16 bases this season through 37 games. He remains day-to-day for now. It’ll be Ji Hwan Bae patrolling center field on Tuesday night in his place.
Josh Smith (back) remains out of the lineup for Tuesday’s game against the Rockies.
Smith will sit out his second straight contest on Tuesday night due to back soreness. It doesn’t sound like a massive concern, but it’s a situation fantasy managers should monitor. There’s an opportunity for him to play everyday with Corey Seager on the injured list with a hamstring strain. It’ll be Ezequiel Duran filling in at shortstop on Tuesday in his absence.
Rangers activated C Kyle Higashioka from the 10-day injured list.
Higashioka rejoins the Rangers for Tuesday’s game against the Rockies after missing nearly two weeks recovering from an intercostal strain. He’ll split the catching duties with Jonah Heim going forward.
Rangers placed SS Corey Seager on the 10-day injured list, retroactive to May 11, with a right hamstring strain.
Seager heads to the injured list after re-aggravating a lingering right hamstring issue during Saturday’s two-homer performance against the Tigers. The 31-year-old fantasy superstar missed four of the club’s last five games due to the ongoing issue. He’s unlikely to require a lengthy absence, but hamstring issues can be complicated matters and the Rangers can’t really afford to take any chances. It’ll be Josh Smith taking over at shortstop in his absence.
Red Sox manager Alex Cora told reporters Tanner Houck will make his next start “as of now” on Sunday against Atlanta.
It’s not exactly a vote of confidence. It sounds like the Red Sox are leaving all options on the table before considering their next move, which could involve jettisoning Houck to the minors in what would essentially be a full-scale reset. The 28-year-old righty was torched for 11 runs on Monday in a loss to the Tigers. The move would leave rookie Hunter Dobbins in Boston’s rotation even after Walker Buehler (shoulder) returns next week from the injured list. We’ll have updates on the developing situation as it unfolds in the coming days.
Cubs selected the contract of C Moises Ballesteros from Triple-A Iowa.
Ballesteros joins the Cubs for Tuesday’s game against the Marlins after recording a sublime 368/.420/.522 triple-slash line with four homers and three steals over 34 games this season for Triple-A Iowa. The 21-year-old catcher still has some long-term defensive question marks left to answer, but his strong bat-to-ball skills enable him to avoid strikeouts, and he figures to offer enough power upside to make an impact for fantasy purposes. There may be some initial struggles as Ballesteros adjusts to life in the majors, but he’s worthy of a speculative roster spot in all fantasy formats.