NHL January 15, 2026

A classic Atlantic Division rivalry kicks off the Thursday slate as Montreal travels to Buffalo. The Canadiens (21-21-4) have been the definition of mediocre this season, hovering right around .500 and giving their fans just enough hope to stay engaged. Cole Caufield continues to be their offensive catalyst, but the supporting cast has been inconsistent. Montreal's road record sits at 9-12-2 - not terrible, but not inspiring either.

Buffalo (24-16-4) has been one of the pleasant surprises of the 2025-26 campaign. The Sabres are finally playing playoff-caliber hockey, and KeyBank Center has become a legitimate home-ice advantage. Tage Thompson leads the way with his combination of size, skill, and scoring touch, while the team defense has improved dramatically under the current system. Buffalo is 14-6-2 at home this season, making them a tough out in their building.

The 6.0 total reflects the offensive capabilities of both squads. Montreal's defensive inconsistencies mean they can give up crooked numbers, and Buffalo has the firepower to capitalize. That said, the Sabres have been better defensively at home than on the road, so we might see a more controlled game. The -160 on Buffalo is steep for a divisional matchup, but the Sabres have earned that price with their home dominance. The over has some appeal here given Montreal's defensive struggles on the road.

The Battle of Pennsylvania takes center stage on ESPN, and these rivalry games rarely disappoint. Pittsburgh (21-14-10) has been maddeningly inconsistent this season - they've got the talent to compete with anyone but seem to play down to their competition far too often. Sidney Crosby remains a marvel at 38 years old, still producing at a point-per-game pace and willing his team to wins. But the supporting cast around him and Evgeni Malkin needs to show up consistently.

Philadelphia (22-15-8) has exceeded expectations this season, playing with an edge and intensity that's been missing in recent years. Travis Konecny is having a career year, and the young core is developing nicely. The Flyers are 10-7-3 on the road - a respectable mark that shows they can win in hostile environments. More importantly, they come into this rivalry game with genuine confidence, not just hope.

The 5.5 total is lower than you might expect for a rivalry game, but both teams have been playing tighter defensively lately. Pittsburgh at -152 is the right side here - they simply have too much firepower at home, and Crosby seems to elevate his game for these Keystone State clashes. That said, Philadelphia has the ability to hang around and make this a one-goal game. The puck line at +145 for Pittsburgh feels risky; this should be tight throughout.

Washington is a heavy home favorite against San Jose, and the betting market is clearly expecting a Capitals blowout. The Sharks (15-28-4) are in full rebuild mode, focusing on developing their young talent for the future rather than competing for a playoff spot this season. Macklin Celebrini has shown flashes of brilliance, but he's still learning to handle the grind of an NHL season. The rest of the roster lacks the firepower to consistently compete.

The Capitals (27-14-4) have been one of the most pleasant surprises in the Eastern Conference. Alex Ovechkin continues his relentless pursuit of Wayne Gretzky's goal record, and the team around him has been playing inspired hockey. Washington is 15-5-2 at home this season - that's a dominant home record that justifies the steep -210 price. They've been beating bad teams soundly and splitting with good ones.

Here's the thing about games like this: the Sharks have nothing to lose. They're playing with house money, developing their young guys, and occasionally pulling off an upset. Washington at -210 is a lot of juice to lay, even at home against a rebuilding team. That said, the Capitals' home record speaks for itself. The puck line at +105 is tempting - Washington has been covering these spreads against weak opponents. The total at 5.5 should lean over given San Jose's defensive struggles.

Vancouver's nightmarish season continues with a trip to Columbus. The Canucks (16-25-5) were supposed to build on last year's Pacific Division success, but everything has gone wrong. Injuries, inconsistent goaltending, and a lack of secondary scoring have combined to create a disaster in British Columbia. They're 6-14-2 on the road this season - one of the worst road records in the league - and there's no indication things are about to turn around.

Columbus (20-19-7) has been a solid, workmanlike team this season. Not spectacular, but not embarrassing either. The Blue Jackets are playing for playoff positioning, and games like this one against struggling opponents are must-wins. They're 11-8-4 at home - respectable but not dominant. The key for Columbus is their young core led by Kent Johnson and Kirill Marchenko, who have been putting up points consistently.

The 6.5 total is the highest on the board tonight, and it makes sense when you consider Vancouver's defensive issues. The Canucks have been hemorrhaging goals on the road, and Columbus has the offensive firepower to exploit those weaknesses. The -178 on Columbus feels steep for a .500 team, but Vancouver is truly in freefall. This is a spot where the home favorite should win comfortably, making the over 6.5 the play of the game.

Seattle makes the cross-country trip to Boston in a fascinating non-conference matchup. The Kraken (21-17-8) have been one of the most interesting stories in the Western Conference - they're 7-1-2 in their last 10 games and playing some of their best hockey of the season. Joey Daccord has been solid in net, and the team defense has tightened up considerably. Seattle is a legitimate playoff contender in the Pacific Division.

The Bruins (24-18-4) are in a bit of a transition period. They're still competitive and have enough veteran talent to make the playoffs, but they're not the juggernaut we've seen in recent seasons. TD Garden remains one of the toughest buildings in hockey, though, and Boston is 14-7-2 at home this season. David Pastrnak continues to be an elite offensive weapon, and the goaltending has been steady if not spectacular.

This is a tough spot for Seattle - playing the second half of back-to-back cross-country games is brutal, and the Bruins don't give you many easy looks. But the Kraken are playing with so much confidence right now that they can hang with anyone. The +150 on Seattle has value given their recent form, though Boston at home is the safer play. The 5.5 total suggests a tight, defensive game, which makes sense given how well both teams have been defending lately.

Central Division rivals clash in Minnesota, and this game has playoff implications written all over it. Winnipeg (30-13-3) has been the class of the Central Division, playing dominant hockey on both ends of the ice. Connor Hellebuyck is back from his knee issue and looking sharp, and the offense led by Kyle Connor and Mark Scheifele has been clicking on all cylinders. The Jets are 13-8-2 on the road - a strong mark for any team.

Minnesota (25-17-4) is fighting for playoff positioning and can't afford to drop games at home against division rivals. The Xcel Energy Center is one of the NHL's most hostile buildings, and the Wild feed off that energy. Kirill Kaprizov has been sensational this season, putting up points at a rate that makes him an MVP candidate. The supporting cast has been solid, though not spectacular.

The -125 on Winnipeg as a road favorite tells you everything about the respect the Jets have earned. They've been the better team all season, and Minnesota's home-ice advantage only levels the playing field slightly. That said, Kaprizov can take over a game single-handedly, and the Wild are desperate for wins. The 5.5 total reflects the tight-checking nature of Central Division rivalries. This should be a grind-it-out affair with the Jets holding a slight edge.

Calgary travels to Chicago as a road favorite, which tells you exactly where these franchises stand right now. The Flames (23-17-6) have been quietly solid this season, playing disciplined hockey and getting just enough offense to win games. Jonathan Huberdeau has found his groove after a rough first season in Calgary, and the goaltending tandem has been reliable. Calgary is 10-9-3 on the road - respectable, though not elite.

Chicago (17-27-3) is in the midst of a painful rebuild, but there are reasons for optimism. Connor Bedard continues to show flashes of generational talent, and the young core around him is developing. That said, the Blackhawks are 7-14-2 at home this season - one of the worst home records in the league. They're simply not equipped to compete with playoff-caliber teams on a consistent basis.

The Flames at -140 on the road is actually fair value. Calgary is the better team by a significant margin, and Chicago's home-ice advantage has been non-existent this season. The 6.0 total reflects Chicago's defensive struggles - they give up goals in bunches. Look for Calgary to control this game and win by multiple goals. The over has appeal here given the Blackhawks' inability to get stops.

Dallas makes the trip to Salt Lake City to face Utah in their first season as an NHL franchise. The Stars (28-15-3) remain one of the Western Conference's elite teams, built on a suffocating defensive system and elite goaltending from Jake Oettinger. Miro Heiskanen is day-to-day with a lower-body issue, which is concerning for a defense-first team like Dallas. Still, the Stars have the depth to absorb that loss for a game or two.

Utah (20-19-6) is navigating their inaugural NHL season with mixed results. The franchise formerly known as the Arizona Coyotes has brought playoff-caliber effort to Salt Lake City, and the fans have responded with tremendous support. Dylan Guenther continues to emerge as a legitimate star, and the team has been competitive in most games. They're 11-9-3 at home - respectable for a first-year franchise in a new market.

Dallas at -145 on the road feels right. The Stars are simply the better team, and they don't give up many goals even when missing key players. Utah will compete hard - that's been their identity all season - but they lack the high-end talent to consistently beat playoff-caliber opponents. The 5.5 total is low, reflecting Dallas's defensive excellence. Under looks appealing in a game where the Stars will control pace.

The Islanders make the trek to Edmonton to face Connor McDavid and the Oilers. New York (20-21-7) has been frustratingly inconsistent this season - they'll look like a playoff team one night and a lottery team the next. The Isles rely on their structured defensive system and the goaltending of Ilya Sorokin, but their lack of offensive firepower limits their ceiling. They're just 8-12-3 on the road this season.

Edmonton (28-15-3) is rolling right now, led by the best player in hockey. McDavid has been otherworldly, putting up video game numbers while dragging his team to wins night after night. Leon Draisaitl remains one of the most dangerous offensive weapons in the league, and the Oilers' power play is historically good. Edmonton is 16-5-1 at home - one of the best home records in hockey.

This is a massive mismatch on paper. Edmonton at -215 is steep juice, but the Oilers have earned it with their dominant home record and elite talent. New York simply doesn't have the firepower to keep up with McDavid and Draisaitl in a track meet. The puck line at +105 for Edmonton is attractive - they've been covering against inferior opponents regularly. The 6.0 total should lean over given Edmonton's explosive offense.

The late-night ESPN headliner brings us a clash of high-powered offenses featuring Mitch Marner's return to his former city. his former city (23-16-7) has been the definition of star-driven hockey this season, with Auston Matthews carrying an enormous offensive load since Marner's July trade to Vegas. The his former team are 9-10-4 on the road - not great, but they've shown they can win in tough buildings. Their biggest issue continues to be defensive consistency and goaltending stability.

Vegas (22-11-12) has navigated an injury-riddled season with remarkable success. The Golden Knights keep finding ways to win even when missing key pieces, and T-Mobile Arena remains one of the most electric buildings in hockey. Jack Eichel has emerged as a legitimate MVP candidate this season, and the supporting cast has been deep enough to withstand significant absences. Vegas is 13-4-6 at home - dominant even by their standards.

The 6.5 total is the highest on the board tonight, and it should be. Both teams can score in bunches, and neither has been consistently elite defensively. Toronto at +112 has value given their star power - Matthews can take over any game. But Vegas at home is tough to fade, especially with Marner now bolstering their offense since the July trade. The Golden Knights' home record suggests they find ways to win close games, and this should be a coin-flip battle between two playoff-caliber squads.