NHL RINK RAT PREVIEW – MONDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2025

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.

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