We have a loaded NHL slate tonight with 10 games on the docket, so I crafted some NHL Best Bets. Tonight, we have two moneyline plays, as well as a 60 Minute Line play.
Let's see what we have in store for tonight's schedule, as I share my NHL picks and predictions.
NHL Best Bets
The team logos in the table below represent each of the matchups that our NHL betting staff is targeting from today's slate of games. Click on the team logos for any of the matchups below to navigate to a specific bet discussed in this article.
| Game | Time (ET) | Pick |
|---|---|---|
  | 7:00 p.m. | |
  | 7:00 p.m. | |
  | 7:30 p.m. | |
Specific betting recommendations come from the sportsbook offering preferred odds as of writing. Always shop for the best price using our NHL Odds page, which automatically surfaces the best lines for every game. | ||
Wild vs. Canadiens
If you tailed my picks last night on the Action Network app (@greg_liodice for those who don’t follow), you would’ve cashed out on a nice +140 payout when the Wild beat the Maple Leafs in Toronto.
Minnesota is the best road team in the league, and it’s not even close, so it’s hard not to back the Wild when they’re listed as plus-money road underdogs once again.
They face the Montreal Canadiens, who are making a strong push for the playoffs and are only two points out of the final spot.
The problem for Montreal, though, is that it has tallied three consecutive losses. Before that, the Habs were doing just fine, with a 7-2-1 record to start the calendar year.
Every team has its down periods, and I’m not putting much weight on this losing streak. They’re doing just fine, especially given where they’ve been the past few years.
Goalie Sam Montembeault’s stats are just OK, but I know he’s capable of more. However, I think it would be a mistake if coach Martin St. Louis doesn’t start rookie Jakub Dobes tonight. The young stud has dominated his first six starts with a 5-0-1 record, with a .933 SV% and an 8.8 GSAx.
I’ll be banking on the Wild to be exhausted from a gritty game against the Leafs, and backing the Habs. But just to be safe, I’m also going to hedge by putting a half unit on Minnesota because it’s hard not to back the Wild on the road.
Pick: Canadiens ML (-135)
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Capitals vs. Senators
This is a game I’ve most certainly had my eye on.
USA and Canada’s national capitals are squaring off and they’re both red hot. The Washington Capitals own the best record in the NHL, while the Ottawa Senators seem to finally be making a push for relevancy, holding the third seed in the Atlantic Division.
Washington’s wrapping up a season-long five-game road trip, where it’s gone 3-1, but what’s more impressive is that the Capitals have registered a point in all but one game in January.
The Caps are buying into Spencer Carbery’s plan, which may catapult him to win the Jack Adams Award this season.
Meanwhile, my number one playoff target this offseason in the Senators are proving me right.
Even without Linus Ullmark, the Sens are riding the success of rookie goaltender Leevi Merilainen. The 22-year-old netminder is posting exceptionally strong numbers in 10 starts with a .921 SV% and a 5.9 GSAx.
It seemed for the past few years goaltending was a pain point in Ottawa – unable to get out of its own way.
Despite the high-end talent up front, the offense has taken a back seat due to coach Travis Green’s emphasis on defense, and it has worked wonders.
These teams faced off once and found themselves in overtime. Given how stingy these teams can be and the strong goaltending on both sides, I don’t think it’s out of the question for this game to find itself in extra time again.
I love the value of a 60-minute Draw at +290 odds.
Pick: 60 Minute Draw (+290)
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Islanders vs. Flyers
Are the Islanders roping me back in?
They’re winners of their last five games, including a 5-2 beatdown to the Colorado Avalanche on Long Island. Within this five-game stretch, New York has scored 3.6 goals per game, allowed only 1.4 goals per game, the penalty kill has been on fire, and hold a .948 total save percentage.
So yes, I’m going back on my word by saying the Isles are officially back. I know I’ll eat my words eventually.
They opened this meetup as +105 underdogs, but after the Flyers got walloped by the Devils in a 5-0 shutout, the oddsmakers decided to favor the Isles overnight.
Believe it or not, the Flyers are still playing really solid hockey since the turn of the calendar year. They’re third in expected goals, and fourth defensively in xGA/60, but are only 6-6-2, still struggling to find their way into a playoff spot.
It’s been such a grind for the Flyers, and you almost have to feel bad for them given the exceptional kind of hockey they’re playing.
Goaltending will continue to be the bane of their existence. Samuel Ersson was beaten so badly by the Devils last night that Ivan Fedotov had to come in as relief. I would expect Fedotov to get the nod in tonight’s matchup.
Fedotov is hardly the model goalie, playing to a lowly .880 SV% and -5.5 GSAx in 14 starts. To top it off, he hasn’t been great against high-danger shots, with a .778 SV% against high-danger opportunities.
The Islanders, just so happen to be 11th in high-danger goals scored, so this could be a rough back-to-back for the Flyers.
Pick: Islanders ML (-125)
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