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PredictionNHL logoNHL2026-10-09

NHL Picks for October 9: WSH 56% Leads a 4-Game Board

By Verdexed Analytics

A hockey puck spraying ice across centre ice under bright arena lights
Illustration: Verdexed, AI-generated

4 NHL games on the board for 2026-10-09. The firmest call is WSH at 56% over NYR; the model and the market broadly agree. Season to date the model is 39-26 (60.0%) on graded picks, Brier 0.233.

Every number here is the model's own: win probabilities from the point-in-time model blended with the market, the drivers from its feature breakdown, the player lines from the same projections that build the DFS slates, and the crew notes from the referee tables. A player line is the point where our distribution gives that side 57%: the over is a play at that line or lower, the under at that line or higher, at -120 or better.

The board

GamePickVerdexedMarketEdge (pts)Pick priceLineTotalCard
NYR at WSHWSH56%57%-1-148WSH -1.55.5WSH -148
SEA at DETDET56%56%0-142DET -1.56.5DET -142
ANA at WPGWPG52%53%-1-125WPG -1.56.5WPG -125
PIT at CBJCBJ52%52%0-118CBJ -1.56.5CBJ -118

The pick is the more likely winner (the model blended with the market). The Model Card leg is a different question: the side whose price beats the model's own number. In a close game they can point at different teams; both are shown, and both are graded.

Game by game

New York Rangers at Washington Capitals: WSH 56%

The model has WSH at 56% against a market price of 57%. What drives it: streak (+8.0 points), expected goals (5v5) (+2.0 points), expected goals (+0.9 points). The case against is power play (-3.4 points). The line is WSH -1.5, total 5.5.

NYRWSH
Record4-12-1
Margin per game (goals)+1.6+1.0
Home / road1-11-0
StreakW4W1
Last five4-12-1
Rest days32
Head to head2 wins4 wins

NYR starter: Igor Shesterkin (projected). NYR out: Joonas Korpisalo, Adam Sykora, Joe Veleno. WSH starter: Logan Thompson. WSH out: Matt Roy, Rasmus Sandin.

PlayerStatOur projectionOver is a play atUnder is a play at
Alex Tuchshots on goal2.81.5 or lower3.5 or higher
Alex Tuchblocked shots1.20.5 or lower1.5 or higher
Tom Wilsonshots on goal1.91.5 or lower2.5 or higher
Tom Wilsonblocked shots1.40.5 or lower1.5 or higher
Alexis Lafrenièreshots on goal2.11.5 or lower2.5 or higher
Mika Zibanejadshots on goal21.5 or lower2.5 or higher
Jakob Chychrunshots on goal21.5 or lower2.5 or higher
Jakob Chychrunblocked shots0.90.5 or lower1.5 or higher

Seattle Kraken at Detroit Red Wings: DET 56%

The model has DET at 56% against a market price of 56%. What drives it: motivation (+5.0 points), head to head (+3.8 points), expected goals (5v5) (+3.7 points). The case against is streak (-5.8 points). The line is DET -1.5, total 6.5.

SEADET
Record2-21-2
Margin per game (goals)+1.0-0.3
Home / road1-11-2
StreakL1W1
Last five2-21-2
Rest days33
Head to head1 win5 wins

SEA starter: Joey Daccord (projected). SEA out: Jake O'Brien, Ryan Lindgren, Jacob Melanson. DET starter: John Gibson. DET out: Marco Kasper, Mason Appleton, Simon Edvinsson, J.T. Compher.

PlayerStatOur projectionOver is a play atUnder is a play at
Dylan Larkinshots on goal3.22.5 or lower3.5 or higher
Jared McCannshots on goal3.22.5 or lower3.5 or higher
Jared McCannassists0.80.5 or lower1.5 or higher
Alex DeBrincatshots on goal2.92.5 or lower3.5 or higher
Viktor Arvidssonshots on goal2.71.5 or lower3.5 or higher
Viktor Arvidssonblocked shots10.5 or lower1.5 or higher
Bobby McMannshots on goal32.5 or lower3.5 or higher
Bobby McMannblocked shots0.90.5 or lower1.5 or higher

Anaheim Ducks at Winnipeg Jets: WPG 52%

The model has WPG at 52% against a market price of 53%. What drives it: motivation (+5.0 points), venue (+3.4 points), shot margin (+2.9 points). The case against is streak (-9.7 points). The line is WPG -1.5, total 6.5.

ANAWPG
Record2-13-0-1
Margin per game (goals)-0.3+0.5
Home / road1-01-0
StreakL1W3
Last five2-13-1
Rest days22
Head to head5 wins1 win

ANA starter: Lukas Dostal (projected). ANA out: Drew Helleson, Ian Moore, Troy Terry. WPG starter: Clay Stevenson (likely). WPG out: Connor Hellebuyck, Elias Salomonsson, Walker Duehr.

PlayerStatOur projectionOver is a play atUnder is a play at
Kyle Connorshots on goal4.83.5 or lower5.5 or higher
Cutter Gauthiershots on goal4.53.5 or lower5.5 or higher
Leo Carlssonshots on goal2.71.5 or lower3.5 or higher
Leo Carlssonassists1.10.5 or lower1.5 or higher
Cole Perfettishots on goal2.51.5 or lower3.5 or higher
Beckett Senneckeshots on goal2.41.5 or lower2.5 or higher

Pittsburgh Penguins at Columbus Blue Jackets: CBJ 52%

The model has CBJ at 52% against a market price of 52%. What drives it: motivation (+5.0 points), rest (+3.4 points), schedule load (+2.2 points). The case against is streak (-3.1 points). The line is CBJ -1.5, total 6.5.

PITCBJ
Record2-21-1
Margin per game (goals)+1.2+0.0
Home / road1-11-1
StreakL2L1
Last five2-21-1
Rest days26
Head to head3 wins3 wins

PIT starter: Arturs Silovs (projected). PIT out: Ryan Graves, Andrei Kuzmenko, Justin Brazeau. CBJ starter: Cam Talbot.

PlayerStatOur projectionOver is a play atUnder is a play at
Zach Werenskishots on goal3.32.5 or lower3.5 or higher
Zach Werenskiblocked shots1.40.5 or lower1.5 or higher
Bryan Rustshots on goal2.11.5 or lower2.5 or higher
Bryan Rustblocked shots1.10.5 or lower1.5 or higher
Matthew Kniesshots on goal1.71.5 or lower2.5 or higher
Evgeni Malkinshots on goal2.11.5 or lower2.5 or higher
Tommy Novakshots on goal1.81.5 or lower2.5 or higher

Anytime goal list

PlayerTeamExpectedOur probabilityFair priceTake at
Kyle ConnorWPG0.8356%-129-115
Alex TuchWSH0.8156%-125-112
Dylan LarkinDET0.7452%-110+101
Cutter GauthierANA0.5844%+127+139
Bryan RustPIT0.5542%+136+149
Viktor ArvidssonDET0.5341%+143+156
Mackie SamoskevichSEA0.5140%+150+163
Alex DeBrincatDET0.5039%+154+168
Alexis LafrenièreNYR0.4939%+158+172
Cole PerfettiWPG0.4838%+162+176
Beckett SenneckeANA0.4637%+171+185
Tommy NovakPIT0.4637%+171+185

Yesterday's board

10 games, the model went 7-3.

GamePickVerdexedModel aloneMarketFinalResultCard
VAN at CARCAR68%63%74%CAR 7-2HitCAR -340 (hit)
COL at CGYCOL64%59%68%COL 7-3HitCOL -238 (hit)
CHI at NYINYI63%64%62%NYI 4-1HitNYI -185 (hit)
PHI at OTTOTT61%59%62%OTT 2-1HitOTT -180 (hit)
TOR at VGKVGK60%61%60%VGK 4-3HitVGK -170 (hit)
NSH at MTLMTL59%54%62%NSH 5-2Miss-
MIN at TBLTBL57%58%56%TBL 3-2Hit-
SJS at STLSTL57%57%56%SJS 3-2Miss-
UTA at BOSUTA53%53%53%BOS 6-1Miss-
DAL at BUFDAL51%47%53%DAL 4-0Hit-

Where the model and the market split: DAL at BUF: the model took BUF (53%), the market DAL; the served pick was DAL and the pick hit. CAR over VAN: model 63%, market 74%, an 11-point gap; the pick hit. COL over CGY: model 59%, market 68%, a 9-point gap; the pick hit. MTL over NSH: model 54%, market 62%, an 8-point gap; the pick missed.

The firmest calls: CAR 68% over VAN (hit), COL 64% over CGY (hit), NYI 63% over CHI (hit).

The Model Card is a different question from the pick: the pick is the more likely winner, the card leg is the side whose price beats the model's own number. The card went 5-0 on its 5 legs here.

Season to date through October 8: 39-26 (60.0%), Brier 0.232; picks at 60% or better are 10-2.

The record

Graded regular-season picks since 2026-09-29: 39 of 65 (60.0%), Brier score 0.233. The live figure, the hit rate by confidence band and every voided pick with its reason are on the NHL accuracy page.

Responsible play

This is model output, not betting advice. Verdexed publishes its model's probabilities and edges for informational and entertainment purposes only. Nothing here is a recommendation to place a wager, and no outcome is guaranteed, even the model's highest-confidence picks lose regularly.

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