NHL Predictions – Expert Picks on Monday, January 20:
Here are today’s NHL predictions:
Buffalo Sabres at Seattle Kraken (-120, 5.5)
4 p.m. ET
These two teams met eight days ago in Buffalo, with Seattle scoring six unanswered goals, blasting the Sabres, 6-2. The Kraken dominated the Sabres in their brief history, winning six of the seven meetings and scoring four goals or more in all six wins. The Over has cashed in six of the seven matchups, but all seven of the games have had a combined six goals or more. The Kraken have covered the Puck Line (-1.5 goals) in five of the six wins over the Buffalo and have covered the Puck Line and scored four or more goals in their last three wins overall.
A goal in the first ten minutes of Seattle games has cashed in five straight and nine of their last 10 games. The first period Over 1.5 goals has cashed in eight of Buffalo’s last 10 road games and 13 of 20 Sabres road games this season. The first period Over 1.5 goals has cashed in 11 of Seattle’s last 13 games. This is also the front end of a back-to-back for Buffalo. The Sabres are 1-6 on the front end of back-to-backs this season, giving up four goals or more in all six losses.
Kaapo Kakko has flourished since his trade to Seattle. Kakko is on a five-game point streak (three goals, five assists) and has 13 points in 14 games with the Kraken. He scored twice against Buffalo in the Kraken’s 6-2 win over the Sabres and now has eight goals in 19 career games versus Buffalo, including a goal against Sabres projected starting goalie Devon Levi.
Buffalo goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen is out with an undisclosed injury, and the Sabres recalled Devon Levi, who will get the start today.
Two Sabres players that I will take a shot with today are Alex Tuch (four goals in five games against Seattle, two against Joey Daccord) and Nicolas Aube-Kubel (three goals in four games against the Sabres) and Sam Lafferty, who has scored twice in the two games he has faced Daccord.
NHL Predictions: Goal 1st 10/Yes (-145) – 1 unit
Buffalo Sabres/Seattle Kraken 1st Period Over 1.5 (-125) – 1 unit
Buffalo Sabres/Seattle Kraken Over 5.5 (-120) – 1 unit
Seattle Kraken TT over 3.5 (+140) – 1 unit
Kaapo Kakko anytime goal (+280) – ¼ unit
Kaapo Kakko Over ½ assist (+170) – ¼ unit
Alex Tuch anytime goal (+270) – ¼ unit
Sam Lafferty anytime goal (+900) – ¼ unit
Nicolas Aube-Kubel anytime goal (+950) – ¼ unit
St. Louis Blues at Vegas Golden Knights (-200, 5.5)
6 p.m. ET
A goal in the first 10 minutes has cashed in nine of the Blues’ last 11 games and eight of the last 10 meetings between the two teams.
Six of the last nine meetings between the Blues and Vegas have gone Over the total. This season, the Knights have played two afternoon games with a combined 10 and eight goals.
A couple of props that have caught my attention. The Blues’ Pavel Buchnevich, who scored twice in the only meeting this season against Vegas and with Adin Hill in the net, now has six goals in five games against the Vegas netminder.
On the Vegas side, Jack Eichel has four goals in seven games against Blues goalie Jordan Binnington. One of my favorite players, Pavel Dorofeyev, has been a moneymaker when it comes to recording at least three shots on goal in a game. He has cashed his prop (Over 2.5 SOG) in seven of his last nine games.
NHL Predictions: Goal 1st 10/Yes (-145) – 1 unit
St. Louis Blues/Vegas Golden Knights Over 5.5 (-120) – 1 unit
Pavel Buchnevich anytime goal (+310) – ¼ unit
Jack Eichel anytime goal (+180) – ¼ unit
Pavel Dorofeyev Over 2.5 SOG (-125) – 1 unit
Columbus Blue Jackets at NY Islanders (-175, 5.5)
7:30 p.m. ET
The Blue Jackets had their six-game win streak snapped on Saturday at MSG in a 1-0 shootout loss to the Rangers. Jackets goalie Daniil Tarasov earned his first career shutout in the loss, as shutouts are solely based on goals given up in regulation and overtime. So, with that, our system play is in effect of a goal to be scored in the first 10 minutes, the first period Over 1.5 goals following a game when a team has been blanked in its previous game.
NHL Predictions: Goal 1st 10/Yes (-145) – 1 unit
1st Period Over 1.5 (-125) – 1unit
Matt Barzal anytime goal (+200) – ¼ unit
Anthony Duclair anytime goal (+380) – ¼ unit
Bo Horvat anytime goal (+200) – ¼ unit
Kent Johnson anytime goal (+390) – ¼ unit
Kent Johnson Over ½ assist (+180) – ¼ unit
Adam Fantilli anytime goal (+240) – ¼ unit
Adam Fantilli Over ½ assist (+240) – ¼ unit
Tampa Bay Lightning at Toronto Maple Leafs (-110, 6)
7:30 p.m. ET
The Leafs have won both meetings this season (5-2, 5-3) and have won six of the last eight regular season games over their Atlantic Division rivals. Toronto has scored four or more goals in seven of the last eight in those games.
Tampa is on the front half of a back-to-back with a game tomorrow night in Montreal and have just two wins in six games in this spot.
Wagering on a goal in the first ten minutes of Leafs games has been very profitable over the past few weeks. Toronto games are on a run of eight straight and 16 of the last 19 have had a goal scored in the first ten minutes.
NHL Predictions: Goal 1st 10 minutes/Yes (-160) – 1 unit
Toronto Maple Leafs TT over 3.5 (+110) – 1 unit
Carolina Hurricanes (-310, 6) at Chicago Blackhawks
8:30 p.m. ET
If it’s a Blackhawks game, then I am jumping on the first period Over 1.5 goals and a goal in the first 10 minutes. The goal in the first 10 minutes has cashed in nine straight and 11 of the last 12 overall. It’s also on a great run at the United Center, going 14-2. The first period Over 1.5 has also fattened up bettors’ accounts, cashing in 12 of the last 13 games.
Carolina opened as a (-270) road favorite and has been steamed up to (-310). The Canes are receiving 89% of the bets but just 56% of the money, according to our VSIN Betting Splits page. I like Chicago in this spot. The Hurricanes have just 9 wins in 22 road games and the Hawks have beaten some of the NHL’s best on home ice. Saturday, Chicago knocked off the Golden Knights, 5-3. Other home wins include Florida, Dallas, Washington, Montreal (during the recent run) and Colorado. I also look at this as a “trap game” for the Hurricanes who are coming off a win over Vegas and are at Dallas tomorrow night. Both the Hurricanes and Blackhawks are coming off wins over the Vegas Golden Knights.
Frederik Andersen is expected to make his first start either tonight or tomorrow since having knee surgery in November.
NHL Predictions: Goal 1st 10 minutes/Yes (-155) – 1 unit
1st period Over 1.5 goals (-130) – 1 unit
Chicago Blackhawks ML (+250) – ¼ unit
Winnipeg Jets (-155, 5.5) at Utah HC
9:30 p.m. ET
The Jets hit the road for the first time in 2025 as they face the Utah HC. Winnipeg has won 11 straight meetings (including one earlier this season) against the Utah HC/Arizona Coyotes. Home ice has not been kind to Utah, who are tied for the second fewest points (18) on home ice. Utah is just (2-8) as a home underdog and have lost six straight, seven of the eight in regulation. The Jets are (13-8) on the road, with 11 of the 13 wins coming in regulation. When you break down Winnipeg’s splits as a road favorite and road underdog, the numbers are very telling. The Jets are (10-2) as road favorites and (3-6) as a road underdog. Jets goalie. Connor Hellebuyck has as many shutouts (6) as regulation losses this season. One of those shutouts came against Utah HC back in November.
NHL Predictions: Winnipeg Jets in Regulation (+105) – 1 unit
Pittsburgh Penguins at Los Angeles Kings (-190, 5.5)
10:30 p.m. ET
The Los Angeles Kings play their first game on home ice since the fires ravaged the city. The Kings won two of their five games on their most recent road trip. While I generally like to wager against a team that is playing its first home game following a road trip of five or more games, I do believe the players are going to be pumped up to give the fans a win tonight with all that has gone on in the city.
The Penguins have been off for a couple of days following their 4-1 loss to Washington and have now dropped eight of their last 10 games. The road has been a nightmare for the Penguins, who have just seven wins in 16 games away from PPG Paints Arena and are 5-15 as the road underdog. Overall, Pittsburgh is (11-25) as an underdog and (7-4) as the betting favorite.
The Kings have scored just 15 goals in the last seven games, with five coming from Adrian Kempe and three from Alex Turcotte.
NHL Predictions: Los Angeles Kings in Regulation (-115) – 1 unit
Los Angeles Kings TT over 3.5 (+110) – 1 unit
Adrian Kempe Over ½ assist (+112) – ¼ unit
Alex Turcotte Over ½ assist (+310) – ¼ unit
Adrian Kempe anytime goal (+160) – ¼ unit
Alex Turcotte anytime goal (+370) – ¼ unit
