2023 NHL odds, picks, Opening Night best bets from proven model ...

One of the most heralded prospects in recent memory makes his debut, and the reigning Stanley Cup champions begin their title defense as Opening Night of the 2023-24 NHL season takes place on Tuesday. Connor Bedard, an 18-year-old center who was the first overall pick of the 2023 NHL Draft, takes the ice when his Chicago Blackhawks visit the Pittsburgh Penguins and superstar Sidney Crosby, who has lived up to the incredible hype that surrounded him when he broke into the league in 2005, as part of an Opening Night tripleheader.

Before the Blackhawks and Penguins face off at 8 p.m. ET, the Tampa Bay Lightning get the season started when they host the Nashville Predators at 5:30 p.m. ET. The tripleheader concludes when the Vegas Golden Knights raise their championship banner at T-Mobile Arena before facing the Seattle Kraken at 10:30 p.m. ET. The latest NHL odds for Tuesday's tripleheader list Tampa as a -157 favorite on the money line, with the over/under for total goals at 6.5. The Penguins are listed as -246 favorites, and the over/under also is 6.5, while the Golden Knights are -167 favorites, and the over/under is 6. Before making any NHL picks for Tuesday's tripleheader, you need to check out what the proven SportsLine Projection Model has to say.

This model simulates every NHL game 10,000 times, taking into account factors like current form, individual matchups, injuries and short- and long-term trends. The model seeks the best values on the money line, puck line and total.

Now, the model has evaluated the NHL odds for Tuesday's tripleheader and posted its best bets. Parlaying these three NHL picks will return more than 6-1. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model's top NHL picks.

The model sees value in going Over the 6.5-goal total in the Predators-Lightning contest. Nashville struggled defensively during the preseason, allowing four or more goals in four of its six contests -- including a 5-4 loss at Tampa Bay. That was one of three games in which the Lightning netted at least four tallies and also one of three in which they surrendered a minimum of four.

The Predators are hoping for a return to form by Filip Forsberg, who fell one tally shy of his eighth 20-goal season in 2022-23 after netting a career-high 42 the previous campaign. They also expect big things from Tommy Novak, a 26-year-old center who had 17 goals last season and led the team with three in the preseason. The Lightning possessed four 30-goal scorers in 2022-23, including Brayden Point and two-time Maurice Richard Trophy winner Steven Stamkos. The 27-year-old Point has recorded at least 23 goals in each of the last six campaigns and finished fifth in the NHL with a career-high 51 last season.

The model has locked in two other NHL best bets, with a goal-total pick in both games. You can only see the model's NHL picks and analysis at SportsLine.

So which NHL picks should you parlay on Tuesday for a shot at a payout of more than 6-1? And which picks are the model's strongest plays? Visit SportsLine now to see the top NHL picks for Tuesday, all from the model that has crushed its NHL picks, and find out.