Oct 3, 10:37am | 4 min read

Daily Picks 10/03: We Roll Into Day 2

NHL

Chris Wassel

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Our picks for today's NHL action

ANALYSIS

The NHL rolls on with night number two and eight more home openers! There are even a few divisional matchups just to get the juices flowing. This makes for some fun debate and banter along the way. There is plenty of hockey to dive into so let’s get to work.

Here are Today’s NHL Picks:

Winnipeg Jets @ New York Rangers

- Jacob Trouba welcomes his old team into town as Winnipeg plays the front end of a back to back.

The New York Rangers’ home opener features more intrigue than usual. New York sets up a bit better this season with the additions of Jacob Trouba and Artemi Panarin. Also, the Rangers took Kaapo Kakko with the second overall pick. With the return of John Davidson to their front office, hope springs eternal at Madison Square Garden. Winnipeg lost three of their defensemen in the offseason – including Dustin Byfuglien who currently has left the team. That is a void which cannot be replaced. Both teams are capable of scoring 3+ goals in a fast-paced affair.

1u – Over 5.5 Total Goals @ -133

Buffalo Sabres @ Pittsburgh Penguins

- The end of pre-season injury to Sidney Crosby will not cause him to miss tonight’s game against Buffalo.

The Pittsburgh Penguins beat the Buffalo Sabres often. How often? We pulled out Statschecker for this one. Pittsburgh has won 22 of the last 29 meetings between the two teams. Though they did split their meetings last year, Pittsburgh has made this rather one sided since the 2010 season. The Penguins are under a lot of pressure since they were swept out of the playoffs last year by the Islanders. Buffalo is an entertaining team but the 44-29-13 moneyline the past two seasons from Pittsburgh has us hooked.

1u – Pittsburgh Penguins -1.5 @ +150

Calgary Flames @ Colorado Avalanche

- Colorado opens the season at home flush with expectations as they welcome a team that they upended in last year’s playoffs – the Calgary Flames.

This is one game that will have a good deal of buzz surrounding it. Again, keep in mind that Colorado beat Calgary in five games last year in the playoffs. Calgary had come in as the Pacific Division champions. Also, the Flames were second in the league in goals scored with 289. Colorado was no slouch last season as they averaged well over three goals a game at home. The season series went nothing like the playoffs but there was one common factor... Goals were scored in bunches to the tune of eight per contest in the regular season (three games). Colorado will be without Ian Cole and possibly Erik Johnson tonight, who are both recovering from off-season surgery. With Johnny Gaudreau and Nathan MacKinnon on the ice, plays are expected to be made.

1u – Over 6.5 Total Goals @ +125

Arizona Coyotes @ Anaheim Ducks

- John Gibson and Darcy Kuemper headline one of the better goalie matchups to end Thursday night’s hockey slate.

Two more Pacific Division teams clash tonight. The NHL schedule makers got one right here. Arizona went out and acquired Phil Kessel from the Pittsburgh Penguins in the off-season to bolster an offense which did not feature a single 20-goal scorer. Anaheim is hoping that their improved 20 game stretch at the end of last season meant something. Arizona won three of the four meetings last year according to Statschecker and covered the spread 58% of the time. The first two games were decided by one goal which favors Arizona a little bit. This contest will surprise some people.