After the first full day on the 2025-26 National Hockey League schedule, with all 32 teams in action, we have just a single game on Sunday. The Washington Capitals travel to meet the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden, and puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET on NHL Network. We'll take a look at some same-game parlay (SGP) possibilities. Let's get started.
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Best NHL Bets Today: Expert NHL Picks for
Sunday, October 12
For the latest NHL Odds, including NHL Futures and NHL player props, visit RotoWire's NHL Betting page. For up-to-date NHL player news and NHL Injury Report info, head to RotoWire's NHL Lineups page. You can find more picks at Bookies.com/picks. Here are our NHL Best Bets today, featuring expert NHL picks for an action-packed slate of games.
Key NHL Betting Trends and Matchups Analysis
Washington Capitals 
at New York Rangers 
The Capitals (1-1-0) and the Rangers (2-1-0) meet at Madison Square Garden at 7 p.m. ET in this standalone matchup.
Washington swept the three-game regular-season series in 2024-25, outscoring New York 15-9. The lone meeting at Madison Square Garden resulted in a 3-2 overtime victory on March 5 as short 'dogs (+100). The Over cashed in two of three meetings last season, while going 3-1 in the past four in the series.
Washington opened with a 3-1 loss against the Boston Bruins in the opener Wednesday in the nation's capital, before doubling up the New York Islanders 4-2 at UBS Arena as slight favorites as the Over (5.5) cashed.
Logan Thompson started the first two games in the crease for the Capitals, going 1-1-0 with a 2.05 goals-against average (GAA) and .930 save percentage, but with the second end of the back-to-back, it appears we'll see Charlie Lindgren for the first time this season.
Lindgren was 20-14-3 with a 2.73 GAA and .896 SV% and 1 shutout last season, and he was slightly better on the road than he was at home. He had a 2.66 GAA and .897 SV% with his lone shutout away from the Beltway. The Lakeville, Minn. native allowed 2 goals on 17 shots in a 3-2 OTW at MSG on March 5, too, in his only starting assignment against the Blueshirts last season.
Don't make any bets on your favorite sports betting apps without first consulting the latest NHL odds.
For the Rangers, Igor Shesterkin has started the first three games, including a 6-1 rout of the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday. It was his second straight win after losing 3-0 at home to the Penguins Tuesday.
The win Saturday was costly, as Carson Soucy was forced out of the game due to an upper-body injury. Will Borgen might need a new defensive partner if Soucy isn't ready, and Matthew Robertson is likely to be the candidate to draw in, as he is a rearguard who has been a healthy scratch for the Rangers.
Veteran Jonathan Quick is likely to start Sunday in the second end of the back-to-back. He was 11-7-2 with a 3.17 GAA and .893 SV% with three shutouts in 20 starts and 24 appearances. Quick was tuned up his only start against the Caps last season, allowing six goals on 27 shots in a 7-4 road loss in D.C. Jan. 4.
Let's side with Lindgren and the Capitals, as Quick just wasn't terribly dependable for the Rangers last season. In addition, let's go with the Over with a pair of backup goalies tending the twine on Sunday evening at MSG.
We're siding with the public for the total, which is usually not a great idea. It appears 80 percent of the money and total bets are on the Over. However, nearly 90 percent of the money, and roughly 55 percent of the total bets, are on the Rangers.
For the props, Capitals RW Tom Wilson had a goal against Boston Wednesday, the first of the season for the team, and he added an assist Saturday against the Islanders. Let's roll the dice on Wilson more than doubling up with an Anytime Goal Score.
- Capitals ML (+100 at BetRivers Sportsbook)
- Over 5.5 Goals (-130 at FanDuel Sportsbook)
- Tom Wilson - Anytime Goal Scorer (+230 BetMGM)
Don't make any bets on your favorite sports betting apps without first consulting the latest NHL odds.
NHL Parlays Today
3-Leg NHL Super SGP Parlay (+518 at FanDuel Sportsbook)
- Capitals ML (-110), Over 5.5 (-128) and Tom Wilson (+220) Anytime Goal Scorer
2-Leg NHL SGP Parlay (+240 at BetMGM)
- Capitals ML and Over 5.5 Total Goals
