NHL Plays & Predictions: October 22nd, 2026

After only two games last night during the NBA triumphant return, hockey is back with a full slate tonight!

Twelve games on the docket in total for tonight! We'll have a rookie making his debut for the Panthers against Pittsburgh, the Kings looking for their second win of the season against a back-up goalie in New York, and the hottest team in Edmonton facing last year's defending chompions!

Here's the best of what I like for tonight in the world of Hockey!

Jets/Stars Under 5.5 (+100 Hard Rock)

WPG Projected Goalie: Stuart Skinner (3-1-2, .910 SV%, 2.65 GAA)
DAL Projected Goalie: Jake Oettinger (4-2-1, .945 SV%, 1.13 GAA)

The Jets are cooling off after their ridiculous start to the 2026-27 season. They're currently riding a three-game losing streak and are losers in four of their last five games. The offense is sliding just a tad too. They were a consist 3 goals per game team to start the season, but are averaging 2.5 goals per game in their last five games.

The Stars are the opposite in terms of streaks heading into tonight. They're riding a three-game WIN streak. Much like the Jets recent offense performances, the Stars aren't a team putting up a ton of goals this season. They are only averaging 2.44 goals per game on the season. They've built their early identity on defense rather than offense.

Both these net minders for tonight are solid between the pipes so far this season. I see this game going one of two ways tonight. The game will either be: 1) both teams score goals and the final is 2-1 or 3-2 or 2) the Stars score goals while the Jets are blanked and the final is Stars 2-0, 3-0, or 4-0 .

I am leaning Stars moneyline too, but decided on the under rather than the moneyline.

Wild -1.5 (+130 Draft Kings/Bet365/Fanatics)

MIN Projected Goalie: Jesper Wallstedt (6-1-2, .915 SV%, 2.20 GAA)
CAL Projected Goalie: Dustin Wolf (1-4-0, .834 SV%, 4.85 GAA)

NOTE: I still like this play with Cooley in net

I do not care if they burn me. I will continue to fade the Flames until they prove that they are consistently a good team (especially with Wolf in as goalie).

This is an easy pick to write about because the reason is simple. That reason is "Wild Good, Flames Bad." However, I know you guys want more than that and I am a people pleaser.

Despite winning two of their last three games, the Flames lost every other game this season by two or more goals. They are currently allowing 4.63 goals per game through eight games. There's no way a team is going to give up THAT many goals a night and NOT lose the majority of them.

The Wild have been very solid on the other end of this discussion. They are getting goals from winger Kirill Kaprizov and goalie Jesper Wallstedt is doing exactly what you want from your goalie.

You could play the 60 minute moneyline if you are scared it will be a one goal game. I'm just a Flames fader and when they lose, they lose by two or more goals.

Hurricanes/Oilers Over 6.5 (-110 MGM/Draft Kings/Hard Rock/SCORE)

CAR Projected Goalie: Brandon Bussi (2-2-1, .882 SV%, 2.98 GAA)
EDM Projected Goalie: Devon Levi (5-1-0, .898 SV%, 2.83 GAA)

Just like the Jets/Stars game, I lean a result in this game, but I'm landing on the total instead. The Oilers are RED HOT to start this season and the Hurricanes are a "shaky" eight win team in my opinion. The offense is there, but Brandon Bussi is not playing like the Brandon Bussi that beat my Vegas Golden Knights in the Stanley Cup last season.

I know Canes fans will defend Bussi because his goals against average isn't the worst (it's better than Dustin Wolf's GAA), and that it's his win/loss record that's the negative. There's some truth to that, but I'll counter with the Edmonton Oilers.

Edmonton has been insane to start this season and especially offensively. The lead the entire league in goal forced per game with 4.56. The "Evan McDraisaitl" has especially been even more deadly this season. Hell, Connor McDavid could have the best season ever by a hockey player if he keeps his pace up. Through nine games, he's recorded 20 assists (fastest in NHL history and one game faster than "The Great One") and he's on pace for 242 points this season (27 more than the most Gretzky ever had in a single season).

Enough glazing! I'm not even an Oilers fan. Plain and simple, I like the Oilers offense to find the net a bit against Bussi and I like the Hurricanes to score enough to help this over.

Mammoth/Kraken Over 6.5 (+100 SCORE)

UTH Projected Goalie: Karel Vejmelka (5-2-0, .879 SV%, 2.89 GAA)
SEA Projected Goalie: Joey Daccord (3-2-0, .882 SV%, 3.89 GAA)

Usually when two offenses in the Top 10 face off, you're going to want to back the over for the game. It's not surprising that the Mammoth offense is cooking, but I'd be lying if I said I expected this out of the Kraken to start off the year, They are both averaging 3.80 and 3.70 goals per games respectively.

However, I do expect Utah to more of the heavy lifting to get this over across the finish line. Only reason I say this is because of Karel Vejmelka.

The Mammoth net minder has done a solid job, but he is susceptible to the occasional 3+ goals against game. As a whole team, the Mammoth as averaging at least three goals against this season. So, it's not out of the question that Seattle lights the lamp at least three times tonight.

In the other net, Kraken goalie Joey Daccord has allowed at least three goals per game whenever the team isn't playing the Flames. He's also allowed five and eight goals to the Golden Knights and Panthers respectively.

Just like the Hurricanes and Oilers total pick, I expect Utah to do a little more heavy lifting here, but the Kraken might chip in more than the Hurricanes in this total.

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