NHL Picks, Predictions & Best NHL Hockey Bets For 10/23

⭐ Buffalo Sabres Puckline (+125) at BetMGM Sportsbook 

The Buffalo Sabres entertain the Montreal Canadiens on Monday night. This game gets top billing on NHL Network, beginning at 7:00 p.m. ET. Currently, the projected goalies are Jake Allen for Montreal and Eric Comrie for Buffalo. Comrie is listed as likely, which typically means he will be in between the pipes tonight for the Sabres.  

NHL Picks emphasize heavily to be careful with this type of week. What do we mean? Simply, there is an up-and-down nature to the schedule, which is unusually amplified thanks to ESPN’s plan. By the way, there is a Heritage Game on Sunday as well. The Moneyline around -185 on DraftKings is troubling. Buffalo easily handled the New York Islanders on Saturday behind 24 saves from Comrie. Can he do it again versus a Montreal team that will up the tempo at all costs?                                                                   

Buffalo has gotten off to a slow start this season. Amusingly, they have not scored more than three goals this season. If any team will allow 4+ goals, it may be the Montreal Canadiens. 

This is where the betting gets difficult. The Sabres are a young and inconsistent team, while Montreal is much the same. If one tries to get too cute here, a bettor could be in for a rough time. At some point, this Sabres’ offense with Tage Thompson, Jeff Skinner, and Alex Tuch is going to get rolling. 

The Montreal vs Buffalo predictions think it might be tonight. Ride the puckline. 

⭐ Recommended Bet: Buffalo Sabres Puckline (+125) at BetMGM Sportsbook 

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⭐ Montreal Moneyline (+154) at DraftKings Sportsbook 

Montreal and Buffalo almost lends itself to a rare hedge of a pick. Why? When two teams this young face off against each other, unexpected results are more expected. This is the last game of a four-game homestand for Buffalo. Do they look ahead to tomorrow night’s game in Ottawa? It is a valid question. Montreal also has a game at home tomorrow night against New Jersey.     

Free NHL picks carry some intriguing options here as a hedge. So, there are a couple of ways to take Montreal in this case. One way is to use the Moneyline simply (+154 on DraftKings). That allows for things like the overtime and the shootout. All the Canadiens need to do is win. It does not matter if that takes 60 or even 65 minutes on Monday night. Now, there is another option to consider.         

Alas, NHL picks have an “in-regulation” choice. If one believes Montreal will win the game in 60 minutes, there is a higher return on investment. Yes, the risk is greater, but so is the reward. For example, Montreal’s number jumps to +240. Even non-math majors know that represents a 76-cent difference. Usually, one might see something in the 40-60 range. Again, all three of Buffalo’s losses in October have come in regulation. It is a small sample size, but something to keep in mind.    

More Montreal and Buffalo predictions, like considering the Moneyline if one tries to go in a different direction on Monday night. Again, Montreal did beat the Sabres right around the same time last year in almost the same scenario. The score of that game was 3-2 in regulation, by the way. Guess who the losing goalie was in that game? It was none other than Eric Comrie. Yes, the hockey world has a strange way of creating a big giant circle sometimes.   

⭐ Recommended Bet: Montreal Moneyline (+154) at DraftKings Sportsbook 

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⭐ Nick Suzuki Anytime Goal (+210) at FanDuel Sportsbook

Hey, we have hit the NHL picks prop machine once again. On lighter nights, we head down the rabbit hole and look at some player props. In this case, watch your units always. However, on Friday night, we hit the Hughes brothers, Bo Horvat and Brock Nelson. Horvat and Nelson had two goals for good measure. It is always nice when those Devils-Islanders games turn into 5-4 offensive slugfests.    

These free NHL picks keep things simple. There is little fancy to them. In this prop, simply a player only has to score a goal. No one has to worry whether it is the first, last, or third goal. None of that matters. Most of these props will be at plus money. It is a way of wagering on micro-based outcomes as opposed to the bigger picture. 

Also, there is Nick Suzuki’s shot prop. Wait until closer to game time to get a better number. Suzuki might be better value to record 3+ shots on goal. He has nine shots on 16 attempts this season. The fact that he has no goals through four games might increase his urgency to get more pucks on the net.  

Suzuki plays over 21 minutes a night, which also increases his chances for more shots and the potential to see him get his first goal of the season on Monday night.

⭐ Best NHL Bet: Nick Suzuki Anytime Goal (+210) at FanDuel Sportsbook

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⭐ Erik Karlsson Over 1.5 Blocked Shots (+105) at DraftKings Sportsbook

Erik Johnson is a defensive defenseman for the Buffalo Sabres. Bluntly, his job is to play in his zone and prevent opportunities. 

Now, the risk of him being a sixth/seventh defenseman is ice time. He only plays about 14-15 minutes a night. However, in three of his last four games, he has at least two blocked shots.  Free NHL picks like taking one for the team here. 

NHL picks props are counting on 2+ blocked shots from Johnson tonight.

⭐ Best NHL Bet: Erik Karlsson Over 1.5 Blocked Shots (+105) at DraftKings Sportsbook

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