Today’s NHL Best Player Props & Goal Scorers on 10/7/25
- Lee Shipley
- 2 days ago
- 4 min read
It’s Time Hockey fans! It's finally time to drop the puck on a brand new NHL season tomorrow, October 7th, and we are absolutely expecting a massive year! We're kicking things off with a fantastic triple-header: the Blackhawks at Panthers, Penguins at Rangers, and the Avalanche at Kings. We've gone all-in with the help of Pine Sports' AI, JaXon, to dissect the game lines, sharp money moves, and player props to find the best statistical edges. Our team is known for delivering very profitable NHL seasons, so make sure you stick with us all season long for all the winning picks!
Here are my top 5 recommendations for NHL opening day:
1. Sergei Bobrovsky (FLA) Over 19.5 Saves ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This is my strongest pick of the night. Bobrovsky has been a save machine, especially recently, and the Blackhawks are likely to generate shots, even if they struggle to score.
Line: Over 19.5 Saves
Odds: -115 BetMGM
Analysis: Bobrovsky has hit the over on this line in 80% of his last 5 games, averaging 30.2 saves during that stretch. His season average is 23.52 saves, well above the 19.5 line. Furthermore, he has hit the over in 70.73% of his home games this season. Given the Blackhawks are expected to be heavy underdogs, they will likely be forced to shoot often, providing plenty of opportunities for Bobrovsky to rack up saves.
2. J.T. Miller (NYR) Over 0.5 Points ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Miller is coming into the season hot, showing elite production in recent games. Playing at home against the Penguins, he is poised to start the season strong.
Line: Over 0.5 Points
Odds: -205 DraftKings
Analysis: Miller has been incredibly consistent, hitting the over on 0.5 points in 100% of his last 5 games and 90% of his last 10 games. His season mean is 0.97 points, nearly double the line. When playing at home, he hits the over 59.46% of the time. While the odds are juiced, the recent performance trends make this a high-confidence pick.
3. Nathan MacKinnon (COL) Over 3.5 Shots On Goal (SOG) ⭐⭐⭐⭐
This is a great value play, getting plus money on one of the league's most prolific shooters.
Line: Over 3.5 SOG
Odds: +100 ESPN Bet
Analysis: MacKinnon's recent volume is massive, averaging 5.6 SOG over his last 5 games and 5.3 SOG over his last 10 games, both significantly higher than the 3.5 line. His season average is 4.14 SOG. Even though he is on the road, he has hit the over 51.16% of the time in visitor games this season. Getting even money (+100) on a player projected to average over 4 shots is excellent value.
4. Ville Koivunen (PIT) Over 0.5 Points ⭐⭐⭐
Looking for a high-value underdog pick? Koivunen has shown strong recent production, and you get plus money here.
Line: Over 0.5 Points
Odds: +105 ESPN Bet
Analysis: Koivunen has hit the over on 0.5 points in 100% of his last 5 games and holds a 75.0% hit rate for the season. His season mean is 0.88 points. While the sample size is smaller (8 games counted for season stats), the recent trend and the plus-money odds make this a compelling pick, especially considering the Penguins are missing Bryan Rust.
5. Anze Kopitar (LAK) Over 0.5 Points ⭐⭐⭐
Kopitar is a reliable veteran playing at home against the Avalanche, and his recent form suggests he will contribute offensively.
Line: Over 0.5 Points
Odds: -129 Caesars
Analysis: Kopitar has been productive recently, hitting the over on 0.5 points in 80% of his last 5 games and averaging 1.6 points in that span. His season mean is 0.87 points. Playing at home, he has hit the over 63.64% of the time. He also has a solid track record against the Avalanche this season, averaging 1.0 point in three matchups.
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My Top Goal Scorers for Opening Night:
Nathan MacKinnon (Colorado Avalanche) Over 0.5 Goals
Line: 0.5 Goals
Best Odds: +145 on BetMGM
Analysis: MacKinnon is one of the league's elite goal scorers, and getting him at plus money (+145) to score just one goal is excellent value. He has been red-hot recently, hitting the Over 0.5 Goals in 80% of his last 10 games, averaging 0.9 goals per game over that span. While his season average is 0.45 goals, his recent form suggests he is primed to start the season strong. The Avalanche vs. Kings matchup is expected to be a high-scoring affair, which further increases the probability of MacKinnon finding the back of the net.
Teuvo Teravainen (Chicago Blackhawks) Over 0.5 Goals
Line: 0.5 Goals
Best Odds: +475 on BetMGM
Analysis: This is a high-risk, high-reward long shot. Teravainen has a season hit rate of 15.85% (13 goals in 82 games). While he hasn't scored in his last 20 games, the Blackhawks face the Florida Panthers in a game that is projected to be high-scoring. Notably, in the 2024-2025 season, Teravainen scored a goal in one of his two matchups against the Panthers, giving him a 50% hit rate against this specific opponent. At +475 odds, this is a strong value play if you are looking for a big payout on a player who has shown he can score against Florida.
Joel Armia (Los Angeles Kings) Over 0.5 Goals
Line: 0.5 Goals
Best Odds: +650 on ESPN BET
Analysis: Armia is another long shot with significant upside at +650. He finished last season with a 12.79% hit rate for the Over 0.5 Goals prop (11 goals in 86 games). Although he has not scored in his last 15 games, the Avalanche vs. Kings game is anticipated to be a high-octane contest. This bet relies on the high-scoring environment and the favorable odds to deliver a positive return.
