NHL Plays & Predictions: October 29th, 2026

Another hockey Thursday is upon us! Another night of eleven games on the slate for the NHL and there are quite a few games tonight where I like some sort of action one way or another.

Eight of the eleven games intrigue me in one way or nothing. The only games I don't like at all are: Blackhawks/Red Wings, Islanders/Wild, and Canucks/Sharks. Now, I don't know until closer to game time which plays will officially make it on my official card for today, but tonight could be a FAT CARD THURSDAY!

Here's three favorites for tonight's slate:

Hurricanes -1.5 (+105 SCORE)

CBJ Projected Goalie: Jet Greaves (2-3-0, .883 SV%, 3.34 GAA)
CAR Projected Goalie: Pyotr Kochetkov (8-0-0, .918 SV%, 1.62 GAA)

After a "rocky start" in Carolina Hurricanes' standards, the Canes have hit their stride and have become the team everyone expected them to be after winning the title. Stanley Cup hangover over? Seems like it is over.

Carolina is currently Top 5 of the league in both goals scored per game and goals against per game. The are currently averaging 3.79 goals per game (3rd) and 2.36 goals against per game (4th fewest). A big reason why they are Top 5 in the goals against stat is goalie Pyotr Kochetkov. Many thought and assumed Brandon Bussi would be the leading starting goalie in Carolina, but it seems as thought he's back to being the backup. Kochetkov is playing better than Bussi overall (not that Bussi is playing bad). He's also played two more games as the starting goalie than Bussi has this season.

For Columbus, Jet Greaves has been the weaker of the two goalies. Cam Talbot has been the playing better out of the two, but at the moment of writing this write up, Jet Greaves is the confirmed starter for tonight's game. The Blue Jackets defensive are middle of the pact, but their offense is in the Bottom 5 is the league. They rank 5th worst for goals forced per game so far this season, averaging 2.50 goals scored per game.

Lightning 60 Minute ML (-140 Fanatics)

WPG Projected Goalie: Stuart Skinner (3-2-3, .911 SV%, 2.60 GAA)
TB Projected Goalie: Andrei Vasilevskiy (5-3-0, .884 SV%, 2.78 GAA)

Oh how quickly the turn tables! The Jets were red hot to start the season, but have cooled off EXTREMELY in their last ten games. They are just 3-7 in those last ten games and currently ride a six game losing streak heading into tonight's game.

The main reason for the struggles with the Jets is their offensive production. They are a Bottom 5 offense right now, averaging 2.33 goals scored per game this season.

On the flip side, Lightning goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy has been a solid starter for Tampa this season, but is coming off an interesting last two games. Two games ago, he "shut down" a red hot Vegas offense in a win with only two goals surrendered. The last game though wasn't a good one for Vasilevskiy. He and the Lightning di face the second best offense in the league in Colorado, but they still gave up six total goals and lost 6-3.

Some are saying this could be a bounce back game for Vasilevskiy, and I agree. The Jets offense is weak enough for the Lightning to get back in the win column.

Their regular moneyline odds are too long to play straight, but I'm completely fine risking the 60 Minute moneyline for better odds.

Stars ML (-150 SCORE)

MTL Projected Goalie: Jakub Dobes (1-2-2, .847 SV%, 4.47 GAA)
DAL Projected Goalie: Jake Oettinger (6-2-1, .929 SV%, 1.43 GAA)

Montreal is a interesting one for this game with the Dallas Stars. As a team, they are hot right now. They are 6-4 in their last ten games and are 4-1 in their last five games. They've also won three straight games heading into tonight's game in Dallas. This isn't why their interesting tonight. The reason for that is their starting goalie Jakub Dobes (confirmed starter for tonight's game).

Both goalies are fire and ice for the Canadiens right now. Jakub Dobes is a the ice in this analogy. He's ICE COLD!!! Outside of opening night against Toronto, Dobes allowed 21 total goals in the other four games he's started this season. They say, "you're only a strong as your weakest link," and Jakub Dobes is the weakest link on this team.

The Stars are not a team that will blow you away with their offense. They only average two goals a game this season, but their defense is phenomenal. The Canadiens have won their last two games by scoring two goals in the game, but that would be enough here.

If Dobes gives up at least 3 goals in this game, the Canadiens will lose. I don't see them scoring more than two goals against this Stars defense, especially in Dallas.

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