NHL Picks of the Week

The 2016 NHL betting season is a handful of games old. Over the first nine days of the NHL season, teams are averaging 3.05 goals per game. If that rate holds, it would mark the first time teams have climbed above three goals per game since 2005-06. What does that mean for your NHL bets? Let's find out with this week's NHL betting picks.

NHL Picks of the Week

Check out 3 my NHL betting picks of the week! Can Florida bounce Toronto as a possible road favorite on Thursday, Oct. 27? Does Nashville have any shot against San Jose this Saturday after taking on Los Angeles and Anaheim earlier in the week? What will happen when L.A. battles Chicago in the Windy City on Sunday, Oct. 30?

Florida at Toronto

• When:  Thursday, Oct. 27 at 7:30 pm ET
• Where: Air Canada Centre, Toronto, ON
• TV: FSFL/TSNT

Analysis: The Florida Panthers face the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday, Oct. 25 on the road before taking on Auston Matthews and the Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday. Depending on what happens on Tuesday, Florida could go into Toronto ready to put a beat down on the Leafs. Or, they could go into Toronto and fold.

My gut tells me that Pittsburgh plays Florida tough on Tuesday night I think they play them tough enough where Matthews and the Leafs could get a head start in the scoring department on Thursday night. Although it won't be easy, I think Toronto wins this match.

I will go with the Toronto Maple Leafs over the Florida Panthers on Oct. 27.

Pick: Toronto

Nashville at San Jose

• When:  Saturday, Oct. 29 at 10:30 pm ET
• Where: SAP Center, San Jose, CA
• TV: FSSM/CSNCAL

Analysis: By the time that Nashville gets to San Jose this Saturday, the Predators will have faced the tough Anaheim Ducks as well as the high-scoring Los Angeles Kings. Ducks, Kings and then Sharks? That's sort of a murderers' row of Western Conference foes.

Does Nashville have any shot against the Sharks? I'm not so sure. The Sharks are only allowing 25.7 shots on goal per match. San Jose has been cagey this season, which is why they are 3 and 3 straight up.

San Jose is playing the long game, which means that Nashville would have had a shot in this match if the Sharks were the only team that they faced this week. Unfortunately, the Preds must battle the Ducks and Kings on the road before taking on the Sharks. I like San Jose.

Pick:  San Jose

Los Angeles at Chicago

• When:  Sunday, Oct. 30 at 7:00 pm ET
• Where: United Center, Chicago, IL
• TV: FSWD/CSNC

Analysis: The Kings travel to the Windy City this Sunday to take on the Chicago Blackhawks. Chicago has finally started to play like the favorites to win the Stanley Cup that they are. L.A. needs to work on its defense since they allow 3.6 goals from only 26.4 shots per match. L.A. also has a problem killing power plays as they only do so 73.7% of the time.

Chicago has won 3 out of their last 4 going into a Monday, Oct. 24 match with Calgary. The Blackhawks are starting to get it together. In this battle between 2 high-scoring teams, I must side with Chicago. The Blackhawks should find a way to score more goals than Los Angeles in this Sunday matchup.

Pick: Chicago