2 Expert Picks
It's the second of a B2B for Nashville. ...
Ottawa is 2-0 vs. Philadelphia this season. ...
BetRivers wasn't offering -1 until recently (only -1.5), although I'm prepared for possible craziness in the finale for both before the break. The Blues are free-falling with one victory in their past eight. Jordan Binnington, who is supposedly Team Canada's No. 1, has lost his past six outings while posting a 4.38 GAA and an .829 save percentage. It's Jake Oettinger for the Stars, and he'll be on Team USA. Oettinger is riding a five-game winning streak during which he has a 2.74 GAA.
The campaign has gone pear-shaped for the Blues but never as bad as Monday in Nashville when St Louis squandered a 5-1 lead in a 6-5 loss at Bridgestone. That result made it losses in seven of the last eight, two of those defeats vs. the Stars, though by narrow 3-2 and 4-3 margins. Jordan Binnington was in the net for St Louis in both of those losses and has had a mostly-miserable campaign, especially lately with six straight losses. In January, he was 1-6-0 with a 3.75 GAA and .854 saves; though that was maybe better than December, when he was 1-5-1 with a 4.77 GAA and .839 saves. Meanwhile, Dallas enters tonight very hot with five straight wins. Play Stars on Puck Line
What must be considered in Minnesota games is the chance of an overtime or shootout, and adding an extra goal to the scoreline. That's because in 22 of 55 games thus far in the 2025-26 campaign, the Wild have required extra time. Add that to the scoring dynamics each way tonight at Bridgestone...for Minnesota, it's been a productive nine-game spell in which the Wild scored 39 goals (though OTs included a few times), and 11 of the last 12 games have all featured at least seven goals. On the Nashville side, at least seven goals combined in each of the last two games, and eight of the last ten Preds games have featured seven goals or more. Play Wild-Preds Over
Don't love that red-hot Columbus is in the second of a back-to-back, but its superior goalie is in tonight in Jet Greaves, who is unbeaten in six appearances (one in relief). Not like he played Tuesday at New Jersey. And top-line forward Kirll Marchenko (46 points) is expected to play after missing Tuesday with an illness.
Wow, if the Blue Jackets would have known Rick Bowness would make such a difference behind the bench, maybe they would have hired him away from the TNT studios a bit sooner! The "Bowness Bounce" is real in Columbus as the Jackets have win six straight and nine of ten since Bowness took over, the latest a 3-0 blanking of the Devils last night behind Elvis Merzlikins in goal, plus two Mathieu Olivier goals. Tonight it will be Jet Greaves between the posts at Nationwide, and all he's done lately is win in five of his last six starts. Meanwhile the Hawks are off of a 6-3 win over San Jose on Monday but had dropped five straight prior. Play Blue Jackets on ML
Good move lately for Seattle to get into playoff position with four straight wins, keyed mostly by solid defense into tonight at Anaheim. Joey Daccord has had a good run lately in goal for the Kraken, too, allowing just two goals in each of his last three starts, all Seattle wins. Daccord also has a win over the Ducks earlier this season when stopping 35 of 36 shots on opening night. Meanwhile Lukas Dostal remains solid in goal for Anaheim, posting a 2.49 GAA in January, and the Ducks winning 7 of his last 8 starts. Play Kraken-Ducks Under
Second of a back-to-back for the Leafs, who remain without top blueliner Morgan Rielly (31 points). That also means backup Anthony Stolarz in net and he's having an awful season with a 3.67 GAA and .876 SV. In two starts since returning from injury, Stolarz lost both and allowed a combined nine goals. Last game for Toronto ahead of the break so the guys. The Oilers are rested, healthy and probably motivated after being embarrassed 7-3 at home on Saturday to snap a three-game winning streak. They won easily in Toronto earlier this season.
If the Penguins had their way they would likely erase the past 64 minutes of ice time, when the Rangers got close with three late goals on Saturday before losing 3-2 to the Sens last night. Still the offense has been popping, scoring six goals three times in the past five games, and Stuart Skinner is back in the nets tonight and looking for a sixth straight win. Into tonight, Skinner is 8-1 in his last nine starts, and posted solid numbers (2.13 GAA, .910 saves) in January. Meanwhile the Devils continue to flounder for Sheldon Keefe, losing three of four into the Rock tonight. Play Penguins on Money Line
This is a spot that I look for quite often. Carolina defeated the Senators less than 10 days ago, 4-1, despite getting outshot 37-19 in Ottawa. The Senators are 5-3 SU and 6-2 ATS when playing with zero days' rest this season. One of the losses was when they played in Utah and Colorado back-to-back. Ottawa is one of the few teams that can match Carolina’s defensive tenacity. The Hurricanes are coming off two OT games, and they are just 21-34 ATS this season. Carolina is undoubtedly a strong team, but their impressive record has been aided by facing the league's 11th easiest schedule.
Ottawa is playing some good hockey right now but is on the second of a road back-to-back and thus starts journeyman James Reimer in net and he's really the fade reason (sorry a bit late, the Sens waited forever to confirm him). Reimer allowed four goals in a home loss to the Canes on Jan. 24. Carolina has won six of eight and plays its final home game for more than three weeks due to the break. In the New Year, the Canes are 7-0-1 at the Lenovo Center. Brandon Bussi has been lights out everywhere at 21-3-1 with a 2.21 GAA. His 14 wins on home ice are tied for the second-most among NHL goalies.
Beware the "Bowness Bounce" which continuess in Columbus as the the Blue Jackets have continued their winning ways since Rick Bowness took over behind the bench in mid-January. Columbus has won five straight and now eight of nine under Bowness, part of a current 9-1 run that has the Jackets back in the mix for an East playoff berth. Goals have been flying into the net in recent games, 22 goals in fact the last four games with everybody seeming to contribute, including recently-added Mason Marchment (via Seattle), who tallied a hat-trick in a recent win over Tampa Bay. Meanwhile, the Devils continue to flounder for Sheldon Keefe, losing three of four entering the Rock tonight. Play Blue Jackets on Money Line
Very good Detroit absolutely could win in Denver and will be duly motivated after getting smashed in Motown by the Avs 5-0 on Saturday, but it's just so rare to even get Colorado -1 on home ice this dominant season that we have to. Think I've seen more -2s than -1s on the Avalanche, who are often -300 or higher in Denver. Granted, they have lost four of five there but still just 2 regulation home defeats. Do be aware we might see some really crazy results this week ahead of the Olympic break with guys worn down and/or looking forward to Italy.
Fun matchup here as Connor Bedard of Chicago faces Macklin Celebrini of San Jose. The two are friends, B.C., natives and recent No. 1 overall draft picks. They have faced off only once in their NHL careers with Celebrini and the Sharks winning last season; Celbrini had a helper and Bedard was blanked. You know he will want some personal payback and to find the net here against struggling Sharks netminder Yaroslav Askarov (3.65 GAA in past five, 3.43 on season).