NHL Best Bets Today, 10/29: Picks, Predictions & Player Props - Tuesday
Hello, and welcome everyone to the Tuesday, October 29th edition of the NHL Best Bets Today. It's another good-sized slate tonight as 7 games are scheduled to drop the puck around the league. That means no shortage of NHL picks from yours truly. Yesterday, I got smacked around with my NHL predictions to finish 2-4 on the night. Still, we did hit on the Sharks Money Line at +225 – so that helped protect the bankroll. Let’s go out there and get back what the books took from us yesterday. Good luck everyone!
NHL Picks, Predictions & Best Bets Today, 10/29
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: 36-28-0
- Bankroll: +4.7 Units
Follow me on X/Twitter: @jwaggs10
Wild vs. Penguins Prediction: Tuesday, October 29th
This game is going to be an emotional roller coaster for both Marc-Andre Fleury and the Penguins. It will likely be the veteran goalie's last trip to Pittsburgh in his career and that narrative has my full attention heading into tonight. The Penguins aren’t particularly good right now either as their defense ranks as one of the worst in the NHL at this time. So, I immediately have a pair of bets to throw out in this game.
The first one is taking this game to hit the over. As I said, the Penguins' defense is trash, allowing 4.2 goals per game right now. They have gone over the total at a record of 6-3-1 this season. The Wild, on the other side, are more even when it comes to the total but they are scoring 3.63 goals per game, which is in the top 10 of NHL offenses.
Fleury is also not at his best right now for the Wild, allowing 5.54 goals against per game. That being said, I will take him to go over on his saves prop. Fleury has a great track record against his former team and he’s going to want to show out one last time.
- Expert Wild vs. Penguins NHL Picks
- Wild & Penguins Over 6 Goals (-115 on DraftKings)
- Marc-Andre Fleury Over 27.5 Saves (-125 on DraftKings)
Best NHL Prop Bets & Other Picks Today, 10/29
- Anaheim Ducks Team Total Under 2.5 Goals (-155 on DraftKings)
- New York Rangers & Washington Capitals Under 6 Goals (-110 on DraftKings)
- Boston Bruins Puck Line -1.5 (+125 on DraftKings)
- Oliver Bjorkstrand (SEA) Over 2.5 Shots On Goal (+140 on DraftKings)
Player News
Panthers signed fourth-round RB Trevor Etienne to a four-year contract.
Etienne doesn’t figure to factor in much as a runner early behind Chuba Hubbard. But since neither Hubbard nor Rico Dowdle have a rich history of catching the football, it’s possible that Etienne winds up playing a third-down role for the Panthers early. That’ll depend mostly on if the coaches trust him in pass protection. It will likely take injuries ahead of him for the undersized Etienne to be a fantasy factor in his rookie season.
Seahawks signed fifth-round WR Tory Horton to a four-year contract.
They also officially agreed to terms with seventh-round RB Damien Martinez and seventh-round WR Ricky White III. Horton and White will probably battle for a spot at the end of the roster behind Cooper Kupp, Jaxson Smith-Njigba, and Marquez Valdes-Scantling. The Athletic’s Michael-Shawn Dugar has predicted that Horton will wind up as the main return specialist for Seattle this year in a recent mailbag. White and Jake Bobo will probably be in a true dogfight for the final spot in the wideout room.
Yordan Alvarez will not come off the injured list for Tuesday’s game against the Royals.
Alvarez started hitting Monday as he continues his recovery from a muscle strain in his right hand, and the Astros figure to activate him as soon as he’s comfortable. Thursday is probably the best bet at the moment.
Ravens signed EDGE Kaimon Rucker.
One major trait that stands out in Rucker’s game is his speed off the ball. If you’re playing him on the outside, he can really win those bull rush battles. His speed also helps him consistently get to the quarterback, posting an 81.8 pass rush grade in 2024. Rucker really blew up in 2023, where he recorded 61 total tackles and 8.5 sacks. He plays with a high motor, and his combination of speed and bend on the outside is impressive. His 32 ⅝-inch armspan has given him the advantage to win those one-on-one battles. He is active with his hands, and he doesn’t rely on one move. As a run defender, there are times where he relies on his speed. Meaning, he’ll lack the upper body strength and sometimes get beat right away. Rucker also isn’t as physical off the ball consistently. Overall, Rucker has consistently improved over his collegiate career, recording 18 sacks over the last three seasons. A fractured fibula left Rucker unsigned through the early part of post-draft free agency, but the Ravens are apparently comfortable enough with the injury to take a chance.
Packers OL Elgton Jenkins did not report to Green Bay’s offseason program.
Channel 3000’s Jason Wilde, a long-time Packers beat, cites a league source as saying Jenkins wants a reworked contract as compensation for being moved to center this offseason. Jenkins has no guaranteed money remaining on a four-year, $68 million extension signed prior to the 2022 season. This will be his age-30 season, as to this point he’s authored a stellar career spent only with the Packers.
Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio reports a 2026 comeback is “extremely unlikely” for Derek Carr.
Carr is reportedly “already making other professional plans.” Whatever those entail, they apparently do not involve using retirement as a quick dodge off the Saints roster. We’ll probably get rumors for another year or two about Carr, who would have been playing his age-34 season had he not retired suddenly on Saturday. But there’s no reason to expect him to return to the field at this point.