Find line reports, best bets, and subscribe to push notifications in the Betting News section.
October has just about come and gone.
Some teams will be aiming to stay hot over these final few days, while others will be desperate to generate some momentum heading into November. Here's your betting guide to the final week of October:
Game betting
Florida Panthers at Vancouver Canucks (Monday)
Travis Green is likely still wondering how his team blew a 5-1 lead to lose in a shootout against the Capitals on Friday night. The Canucks have had two days off to think about losing me my bet, but they get the chance to right the ship here against the Panthers. Florida is coming off an impressive win in Edmonton last night, but this is a tough spot for it on a back-to-back with travel and backup Samuel Montembeault in net.
San Jose Sharks at Boston Bruins (Tuesday)
No team has lost fewer games this season than the Bruins, who find themselves in a tricky situation Tuesday as they gear up for their third game in four nights. As high as they're flying right now, this feels like a letdown spot after a perfect weekend, which included a shutout win over the St. Louis Blues in a Stanley Cup Final rematch. The Sharks are reeling through this East Coast trip, but expect a much better effort than they put forward against the Ottawa Senators on Sunday. San Jose will likely be priced close to +200 and offer excellent value.
Washington Capitals at Toronto Maple Leafs (Tuesday)
The Maple Leafs have been playing .500 hockey through October, and while they've hardly lived up to lofty expectations, they've been relatively easy to predict from a betting perspective. Much has been made about their deficiencies in back-to-backs, but they've consistently followed them up with impressive performances, including wins over Boston and San Jose in their last two attempts. The Capitals are concluding a lengthy five-game road trip, including four stops in Canada, and might lack the intensity of a more desperate Toronto side. Take the Leafs here at what's likely to be a very short price.
Tampa Bay Lightning at New Jersey Devils (Wednesday)
The Devils have only played nine games this season, fewest among all teams. That's not a comment on their on-ice performances, though it really could be. This will be just the second game in 11 nights for New Jersey, for no good reason. With just two wins thus far, the Devils sit in the NHL's basement, and with so much time off to iron out their issues, there's no excuse for them not to come roaring out of the gate. They face a Lightning team that will have played the night before in New York. The Devils aren't nearly as good as the preseason hype suggested, but this is as good a spot as any to back them so far this season.
Edmonton Oilers at Columbus Blue Jackets (Wednesday)
Following a 7-1 start, the Oilers head into the week going 1-1-2 over the last eight days. They've lost their last three road games, scoring just one goal. They begin an East Coast swing in Detroit on Tuesday before flying to Columbus for the second half of a back-to-back. The Blue Jackets keep things close at home, as each of their last five contests at Nationwide Arena has been decided by just a goal. Expect another tight game, with the under looking a strong play.
Montreal Canadiens at Vegas Golden Knights (Thursday)
The Canadiens have lost 10 of their last 13 contests on the road when playing the second game of a back-to-back, as they are here in the infancy stages of their West Coast trip. Keith Kinkaid will also almost assuredly be in net for Montreal, with Carey Price likely to start Wednesday night in Arizona. The price on the Golden Knights will be steep, so you can also look toward the puck line if you aren't willing to lay the juice.
Game props
Chicago Blackhawks at Nashville Predators (Tuesday)
Until the Blackhawks prove they can score consistently, you should probably bet against them doing so. They had a five-goal outburst against the lowly Kings on Sunday but have otherwise been starved of goals. Prior to that game, they scored just three times in their previous three outings, and they were shut out in their only road contest this season. Ride their team total under 2.5, especially against a Predators team that's held Chicago to two goals or fewer in each of its last six trips to Bridgestone Arena.
Montreal Canadiens at Vegas Golden Knights (Thursday)
Doubling up on this game, hit the Canadiens' team total under 2.5 goals. In their last 14 games away to Western Conference teams in the second half of a back-to-back, they've scored two or fewer goals in 12 of them. And, of course, there's also the old adage about Quebec-born goalies elevating their game against the Canadiens. Could a shutout for Marc-Andre Fleury be in the cards?
Player props
Florida Panthers at Vancouver Canucks (Monday)
No team is averaging more goals per game this season than the Canucks. They should definitely improve on that against a Panthers club allowing 3.45 goals thus far. (Only six teams have allowed more.) Florida will play its backup and could be tired playing in its second game in as many nights. Elias Pettersson's three goals this season have come in Vancouver's four home contests. Look for him to add to his tally in this one.
Edmonton Oilers at Detroit Red Wings (Tuesday)
The Oilers boast the league's top power-play unit and will take on the Red Wings and their 29th-ranked penalty kill. Seven of James Neal's 10 goals this season have come with the man advantage. Back him to get on the scoresheet against Detroit.
Alex Moretto is a sports betting writer for theScore. A journalism graduate from Guelph-Humber University, he has worked in sports media for over a decade. He will bet on anything from the Super Bowl to amateur soccer, is too impatient for futures, and will never trust a kicker. Find him on Twitter @alexjmoretto.
Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.