Free NHL Hockey Picks

Free Play – Take #6 Boston -105 over N.Y. Rangers (8:07 p.m. ET, Tuesday, September 29)

After Marco Sturm's head coaching debut ended with a surprise return to the Stanley Cup playoffs last spring, the Bruins are eager to begin the 2026-27 season with a Tuesday night visit from the New York Rangers. "I think (that experience is) a good thing. The message (to start training camp) was that we want to build on that," said Sturm, whose team suffered a first-round playoff exit against the Buffalo Sabres following a 100-point regular season. "We want to have that taste again. ... We want more. But we've got to earn it." Boston returns many of its core players, but will be without Charley McAvoy for six games as he serves a suspension. The Rangers start anew after finishing last in the Eastern Conference and missing the playoffs for the second straight season in 2025-26. New York has reworked its roster in hopes of returning to the postseason. Give me the Bruins at home on Day 1 of the NHL! 

>NHL Opening Night Thrashing! 65-32 run

Our selection is on the Colorado Avalanche to defeat the Los Angeles Kings on Wednesday at 10:07pm ET for a number of reasons. Here are some of the more important ones:

These teams played in round one of the NHL playoffs last year and Colorado won each and every game of that series.

The Avalanche couldn't get past Vegas. But, they were dealing with injuries in that series.

They are back and even better for this season.

Los Angeles lost it's captain, Anze Kopitar due to retirement.

The Kings will also be without Kevin Fiala still for the opening part of this season.

The play is on Colorado at home.

AAA Sports

(#9) Chicago Blackhawks | ATS | . 

Opening night has finally arrived in the NHL & I expect fireworks from start to finish. It's a new season with 84 games about to be played by each team for the very first time. I believe that Chicago, even without Connor Bedard, can be a very sneaky team throughout this season. Although it made the Stanley Cup and had a very good chance of winning it all, Vegas started the year rather poorly up until the end of November. I believe that the same thing could occur this time around. There's no question that Vegas is probably the better team. But, expect Chicago to put up a good fight in the opener. I'll take the extra goal and a half. 

Burns' Prediction: 3-2 Blackhawks.