Check out our NHL picks and predictions as our experts search for value for games on Thursday, October 24.
After last night's one-game slate, the league is back in full force on Thursday night with nine games. We're targeting the early part of the evening's lineup.
Our pros are focused on two key matchups: Stars vs. Bruins (7 p.m. ET, ESPN+) and Blues vs. Maple Leafs (7 p.m. ET, ESPN+).
Below, check out the NHL odds for each matchup with our best bets.
Matchup odds as of Thursday morning and via BetMGM. Make your hockey bets with our BetMGM promo code!
NHL Picks & Predictions for Thursday
The team logos in the table below represent each of the matchups that our NHL betting staff is targeting from today's slate of games. Click on the team logos for any of the matchups below to navigate to a specific bet discussed in this article.
| Game | Time (ET) | Pick |
|---|---|---|
  | 7 p.m. | |
  | 7 p.m. | |
Specific betting recommendations come from the sportsbook offering preferred odds as of writing. Always shop for the best price using our NHL Odds page, which automatically surfaces the best lines for every game. | ||
Stars vs. Bruins Pick
The Boston Bruins have not gotten out of first gear yet this season, and you do wonder if what transpired in the offseason is having an impact on the B's October woes. The most notable occurrence was the contract dispute that forced Jeremy Swayman to miss all of training camp, but it was also a summer of change for the Bruins that saw a handful of players (Jake DeBrusk, Kevin Shattenkirk, Danton Heinen) depart and get replaced by some prized free agents (Elias Lindholm, Nikita Zadorov).
Whatever it is, the results have lagged for Boston out of the gates, and the Bruins' statistical profile is also wanting. Boston has an even goal difference at 5-on-5 through seven contests, but the B's are allowing 0.5 more expected goals per 60 minutes than they are creating, and they're conceding 10 more shot attempts per game, too.
While Boston (+100) is searching for its game, it's been business as usual for the Dallas Stars (-120). Winners of five of their first seven games, the formula looks pretty solid for Dallas. The Stars are getting leads, defending them well and moving on from there. They didn't have their best stuff in Buffalo on Tuesday, but every team will have a dud throughout the 82-game marathon.
Simply put, Dallas is in a different tier compared to Boston at this very moment. That makes the current price of -120 quite appealing, and I would go as far as -130 on the Stars.
Pick: Stars (-118 at BetRivers)
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Blues vs. Maple Leafs Pick
By Nick Martin
The Blues suffered a tough blow Tuesday night when top forward Robert Thomas fractured his ankle against the Jets. That leaves a massive hole down the middle for St. Louis (+200), and the team will need some forwards to step up to help fill the void, especially tonight against Toronto (-250).
It would make sense to see a spirited effort from Blues Captain Brayden Schenn in this matchup as he takes on former coach Craig Berube, but it's not simply reaching on that narrative to see value backing him to record three shots tonight.
Schenn will see increased power-play usage in Thomas' absence, and he will likely get more even-strength minutes as well. He leads the team with 10.09 shots on goal per 60, and he ranks second to Jordan Kyrou with 16.81 shot attempts per 60.
Schenn has gone Over 2.5 shots on goal (SOG) in 4-of-7 matchups this season. He will likely get some head-to-head matchups versus Auston Matthews at even strength, which is far from ideal, but we can live with that given the +142 price tag. Let's play it down to +125.
Pick: Brayden Schenn Over 2.5 SOG (+142 at FanDuel)
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