NHL Plays & Predictions: October 24th, 2026

Saturdays in the Fall might be for College Football. Even though, this doesn't mean we just ignore the action going on in the NHL!

With that being said, all Saturday aren't created equal. Twelve games on the slate doesn't mean every game is going to have playable angles. This might be one of those Saturdays, but their are some plays worth targeting! The angles are there!

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

Capitals ML (-120 Hard Rock)

BUF Projected Goalie: Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (3-3-2, .864 SV%, 3.54 GAA)
WSH Projected Goalie: Charlie Lindgren (1-1-0, .897 SV%, 3.06 GAA)

After an emotional season/run last season, the Sabres have started slow to start this season. The main reason why for this switch up is because they are allowing more goals than they are scoring (I know, DUH, right). Last year, the were scoring an average of 3.5 goals per game while allowing under 3 goals per game. Those number are flipped to start this season.

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen also is underperforming his season from last season. He's giving up one more goal per game this season. He was giving up 2.5 goals per game last season, but giving up 3.5 goals per game this season.

The Capitals have definitely been the more solid team to start this season of these two teams. They are averaging at least 3 goals per game this season and I believe their offense can definitely get going today in this matchup. The Caps are also 4-2-0 at home this season (1-1-2 on the road for the Sabres).

The only "question" for the Capitals in this game is Charlie Lindgren staring at goalie. Logan Thompson has been the more solid goalie for Washington, but Lindgren has only started two games this season. Those two games were against the Lightning and the Canadiens. The Lightning started very slow offensively this season and the Canadiens have an offense that can score the puck often.

Gimme the Capitals at home against a struggling Sabres team.

Penguins ML (-125 Hard Rock/MGM/Draft Kings/Fanatics)

NSH Projected Goalie: Juuse Saros (3-2-2, .906 SV%, 2.82 GAA)
PIT Projected Goalie: Arturs Silovs (4-3-0, .885 SV%, 3.01 GAA)

Let's be honest. Both of these teams are struggling at this point in the season. They are both riding 1-4 recording in their last five games coming into today's game, but I'd argue the strength of opponent in those last five games is tougher for the Penguins. The Pens have loss to Utah, Vegas, Colorado, and Chicago in their last five. The Preds have loss to Boston, San Jose, Vegas, and Ottawa. Penguins have faced the more explosive offenses.

The two reasons I like this play are the potential of the Penguins offense and the fact this game is being played in Pittsburgh.

Pittsburgh is scoring and giving up just over 3 goals per game this season compared to 2.5 goals forced and 3.11 goals against for the Predators. Yes, both these teams have given up goals this season, but the Penguins have the better offense. I feel better about the Pens getting going offense than I do about the Predators getting going. Plus, three of their opponents in their last five games rank in the Top 10 for goals scored per game. The Predators are on the same caliber offensively as Utah, Vegas, or Colorado.

Also, these teams are both better at home than they are on the road. Pittsburgh is 3-1 at home this season, where the Predators are 1-1-2 on the road. The only team to beat the Penguins at home this season is the Winnipeg Jets. The Jets have cooled down recently, but they were red hot at the time they played in Pittsburgh.

If the Penguins offense is able to do their thing today, I feel like they should be able to come out with the win.

Golden Knights ML (-130 Hard Rock/SCORE)

VGK Projected Goalie: Carter Hart (4-3-0, .888 SV%, 2.87 GAA)
CBJ Projected Goalie: Cam Talbot (1-2-0, .867 SV%, 3.40 GAA)

There's a theme to today's write up it seems. The theme is teams where both are averaging 3+ goals against per game, but one of the team can't average three goals scored per game. That same trend is true for this matchup too. In this case, the Golden Knights can score the goals more easily than the Blue Jackets on the year.

When it comes to the Vegas offense vs the Columbus defense these two are so far apart! Vegas is a Top 10 (6th) scoring offense in the NHL to start this season, compared to Columbus who's defense is Bottom 5 (29th) scoring defense.

Carter Hart hasn't been the best goalie on the Knights between the pipes. However, he's been good and he's been good against teams in the Bottom 5 in scoring defense. Hart has gone up against the Kings, Flames, and Blackhawks this season and have won every single one. Cam Talbot has gone against one of the Top 10 teams in scoring offense (Toronto), and the Blue Jackets got blown out in that game.

If this was in Vegas, I'd be going with -1.5 over moneyline, but the Knights should be able to win against the Blue Jackets today in Columbus.

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