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NHL RINK RAT PREVIEW – MONDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2025

nhl hockey picks

Happy Thanksgiving to our Canadian puckheads! 🍁 While most people are carving up turkey, we’re carving up value — because today’s NHL board is serving up 10 games, from early matinees to a primetime close in Chicago.

Let’s break it down Raymond Report style — by percentages, market cycles, and value indicators — not emotion.


🕧 Colorado Avalanche (-172) vs. Buffalo Sabres (+150)Total: 6.5

📍 KeyBank Center – 12:30 PM ET

Colorado dropped a 5–4 shootout against Dallas, but they’re still the better-structured team. Buffalo, meanwhile, is 0–2 and can’t buy a goal. The market’s catching on — hence the -172 tag.

  • C.O.W.: COL 51% | BUF 39%
  • V.I.C.: COL Neutral | BUF Bearish
    🎯 Lean: Colorado ML / Over 6.5 – Sabres’ defense too leaky to stop the Avalanche pressure.

🕐 Nashville Predators (+140) vs. Ottawa Senators (-164)Total: 6.0

📍 Canadian Tire Centre – 1:00 PM ET

Ottawa returns home after a tough 6–2 loss to Florida, while Nashville let one slip to Utah. Both teams are still finding identity — Ottawa’s offense looks fine, but their defensive gaps are glaring.

  • C.O.W.: NSH 41% | OTT 61%
  • V.I.C.: Both Neutral
    🎯 Lean: Over 6 – both clubs coming off poor defensive showings with good pace potential.

🕐 Winnipeg Jets (-118) vs. New York Islanders (+105)Total: 6.0

📍 UBS Arena – 1:00 PM ET

Winnipeg rebounded nicely against L.A. with a tight 3–2 win. The Isles? Still searching for their first victory and offense. If you believe in momentum, the Jets have a short runway advantage.

  • C.O.W.: WPG 52% | NYI 33%
  • V.I.C.: WPG Neutral | NYI Bearish
    🎯 Lean: Jets ML / Under 6 – Hellebuyck steadies the crease while the Isles still sputter.

🕐 Tampa Bay Lightning (-159) vs. Boston Bruins (+135)Total: 6.5

📍 TD Garden – 1:00 PM ET

Boston is 3–0 and looks like Boston again — structured, stingy, smart. Tampa’s defense has been soft and Vasilevskiy hasn’t looked dialed in.

  • C.O.W.: BOS 32% | TBL 52%
  • V.I.C.: BOS Bullish | TBL Bearish
    🎯 Lean: Bruins ML / Under 6.5 – momentum, goaltending, and home ice edge Beantown’s way.

🕑 Detroit Red Wings (+145) vs. Toronto Maple Leafs (-167)Total: 6.5

📍 Scotiabank Arena – 2:00 PM ET

These two went at it Saturday with Detroit winning 6–3. Expect the Leafs to bring more structure this time around. Detroit’s still young, and their goaltending isn’t reliable yet.

  • C.O.W.: TOR 59% | DET 37%
  • V.I.C.: Both Neutral
    🎯 Lean: Toronto -1.5 / Over 6.5 – revenge game for the Buds.

🌆 New Jersey Devils (-132) vs. Columbus Blue Jackets (+115)Total: 6.0

📍 Nationwide Arena – 7:00 PM ET

The Devils got back on track with a 5–3 win over Tampa. Columbus is feeling good after a 7–4 wild one vs. Minnesota. Both teams are loose defensively right now.

  • C.O.W.: NJD 57% | CBJ 26%
  • V.I.C.: Both Neutral
    🎯 Lean: Over 6 – young speed on both sides, defensive structure optional.

🦁 Florida Panthers (-133) vs. Philadelphia Flyers (+120)Total: 6.0

📍 Wells Fargo Center – 7:00 PM ET

Florida’s 3–0 and looks like the Eastern Conference bully again. Philly plays hard but lacks scoring depth.

  • C.O.W.: FLA 64% | PHI 39%
  • V.I.C.: FLA Bullish | PHI Bearish
    🎯 Lean: Florida ML / Under 6 – the Panthers grind out another road win.

🐻 St. Louis Blues (+100) vs. Vancouver Canucks (-120)Total: 6.0

📍 Rogers Arena – 7:30 PM ET

Both teams are 1–1, both inconsistent. Vancouver has the edge in pace and power play. St. Louis is still figuring out its forward lines.

  • C.O.W.: VAN 61% | STL 41%
  • V.I.C.: Both Neutral
    🎯 Lean: Canucks ML / Over 6 – energy matchup that could open up late.

🌲 Los Angeles Kings (+100) vs. Minnesota Wild (-119)Total: 6.0

📍 Xcel Energy Center – 8:00 PM ET

Both teams dropped their last game and are sitting 1–2. Kings are generating chances but struggling to finish; Minnesota’s defense gave up seven to Columbus.

  • C.O.W.: MIN 61% | LA 31%
  • V.I.C.: Both Neutral
    🎯 Lean: Over 6 – neither team is defending the slot well.

🦣 Utah Mammoth (-156) vs. Chicago Blackhawks (+140)Total: 6.5

📍 United Center – 8:30 PM ET

Utah’s expansion buzz continues — they’re skating hard and structured. Chicago’s 0–3, playing close games but can’t close.

  • C.O.W.: UTA 62% | CHI 38%
  • V.I.C.: UTA Neutral | CHI Bearish
    🎯 Lean: Utah ML / Over 6.5 – the Mammoth stampede continues.

📊 RINK RAT RECAP

  • Games: 10
  • Top Bullish Teams: Florida, Boston, Colorado, Utah
  • Bearish Teams: Buffalo, Philadelphia, Chicago
  • Totals Trend: Early matinees trending Over, late slate trending Under
  • Market Watch: Overs are hitting 58% league-wide through the first week

💰 FINAL WORD

Thanksgiving Monday serves up a mix of early edges and late traps. The disciplined bettor waits for the numbers — not narratives. Ride the Bullish cycles (Boston, Florida, Colorado), and fade the Bearish ones (Buffalo, Philly, Chicago).

Keep your bankroll tight, your systems sharper, and as always — shop for value and play the percentages.

 

🏒 Visit ATSStats.com for today’s full Raymond Report NHL Card, SBI Trends, and Smart Money Index charts.

 

#GoodMorningPuckHeads 🏒 #RinkRatReport #NHLpicks #SportsBetting #RaymondReport

 

author avatar
Ron Raymond
Ron Raymond is a veteran sports handicapper and founder of ATSstats.com, creator of the Raymond Report sports betting system. Active in the industry since 1996, Ron has nearly three decades of experience analyzing market cycles, performance indicators, and value metrics across the NFL, NHL, NBA, MLB, and CFL. Ron’s data-driven approach has helped thousands of bettors think strategically, manage risk, and win with confidence.