NHL January 27, 2026

Here's one that might surprise you. Nashville is a slight road favorite at TD Garden, sitting at -115 while Boston checks in at -110. That's essentially a coin flip, but the fact that the Predators are getting that respect on the road tells you something about how well they've been playing. Nashville's 24-23-4 record doesn't exactly scream powerhouse, but they've been a much better team than their record suggests over the past few weeks. Juuse Saros remains one of the league's most underrated goaltenders, capable of stealing games single-handedly, and his .918 save percentage on the road this season is elite for a traveling netminder.

Boston at 30-20-2 has had an inconsistent stretch despite a solid overall record. The Bruins' home ice hasn't been the fortress it was in previous seasons, and they're running Joonas Korpisalo in net tonight. That's a significant downgrade from what this franchise was used to in the crease. Korpisalo has been serviceable but far from spectacular, and facing a Nashville team with legitimate offensive firepower through the likes of Filip Forsberg and the playmaking of Roman Josi from the blue line is a tall order. Boston's power play has cooled off recently, and their 5-on-5 expected goals numbers have dipped below league average over the past ten games.

The 6.5 total feels right for this matchup. Both teams can score, and neither goaltender inspires the kind of confidence that suggests a tight defensive battle. Nashville's transition game can create chaos for Boston's defensemen, particularly on the rush where the Predators' speed gets them behind opposing blue lines. Saros versus Korpisalo is the kind of goaltending edge that bettors should pay attention to, because when these two are both average, it's going to come down to which skater group generates more high-danger chances.

The Predators' penalty kill has been solid all season, ranking in the top ten, which matters against a Boston team that leans on its man advantage. Nashville also brings a physicality that can wear down opponents in the second and third periods. TD Garden will be loud, but this Predators team doesn't seem to care about hostile environments. They've actually been a better road team than home team for most of the year, which is a rare and telling stat.

Winnipeg comes into this one in absolute freefall. The Jets are 20-24-7 and just got demolished 5-1 by the Red Wings in their last outing. That's the kind of performance that makes you question the competitive spirit of the roster. Connor Hellebuyck, who had knee surgery earlier this season and has been working his way back, is listed to start tonight, and the Jets desperately need their Vezina-caliber goaltender to provide the kind of stability that's been completely absent from this team. Mark Scheifele's 25 goals and 36 assists are elite individual numbers, but he's been carrying this offense essentially alone, and that's not sustainable against a Devils team with legitimate defensive structure.

New Jersey at 27-22-2 is the rightful home favorite at -125. The Devils have been building momentum, and Timo Meier's 13 goals and 14 assists have provided the secondary scoring this team needed. Their transition game is lethal, with Jack Hughes orchestrating the offense and Nico Hischier providing two-way reliability down the middle. Jake Allen gets the start in net, and while he's not a world-beater, he's been solid enough at home where the Devils' defensive system tightens up considerably. New Jersey's penalty kill has been above average, and they don't give opponents many second-chance opportunities thanks to their aggressive clearing game.

The 5.5 total is the lowest on the board tonight, and it makes sense. Allen tends to keep games close, and Hellebuyck, when engaged, can be the best goaltender on the planet. The problem for Winnipeg is everything happening in front of their goalie. The Jets' defensive zone breakouts have been sloppy, and they're turning the puck over in their own end at a rate that would make any coach pull his hair out. New Jersey, meanwhile, thrives on forcing turnovers and attacking in transition. If the Devils get their forecheck going early, the Jets' fragile confidence could crumble fast.

Keep an eye on special teams here. Winnipeg's power play has been decent, but their penalty kill has been a liability, and the Devils can capitalize on the man advantage through Hughes and Meier. Scheifele is always dangerous on the power play, so the Jets aren't without teeth. But when you factor in the 5-1 blowout loss still fresh in Winnipeg's locker room and a road trip against a Devils team playing well at the Prudential Center, this is a spot where the home team should control the pace from the opening faceoff.

Vegas brings Mitch Marner to Montreal, and you know the Bell Centre crowd is going to have feelings about this one. Marner, who joined the Golden Knights in July 2025, has been everything Vegas hoped for and more. His playmaking ability has elevated an already talented forward group, and alongside Jack Eichel and the rest of the Vegas top six, the Knights' offensive potential is scary. Adin Hill gets the start in goal, and he's been consistent enough to keep Vegas competitive on the road, though his numbers away from T-Mobile Arena haven't been as sharp as his home splits.

Montreal at -102 is essentially a pick'em at home, and the Canadiens have been frisky at the Bell Centre lately, going 6-2 in their last eight home games. Sam Montembeault has emerged as a legitimate starting goaltender, and his confidence between the pipes has grown with every start. The Habs' young core, led by Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield, plays with a speed and tenacity that can give any team problems, especially on home ice where the crowd pushes them to play beyond their talent level. Montreal's forecheck has been aggressive, and they're generating scoring chances at an impressive rate at even strength.

The over has cashed in six of Montreal's last nine games against Vegas, and that historical trend makes sense given the styles at play here. Vegas wants to play fast and create odd-man rushes, while Montreal's young legs mean they're happy to turn this into a track meet. The 6.5 total feels about right, but the over has a real shot given both teams' willingness to play an up-tempo, transition-heavy game. Neither goaltender is likely to post a shutout in this environment, and when the Bell Centre gets rocking, the game tends to open up.

The moneyline is razor-thin (VGK -118 / MTL -102), which suggests the market sees this as a true toss-up with a slight edge to Vegas's superior roster depth. Marner's presence gives the Knights an edge in high-leverage situations, particularly on the power play where his vision and passing are world-class. But Montreal's home-ice advantage is real, and the Habs' penalty kill has been feisty enough to neutralize opposing power plays. This has all the makings of a back-and-forth game that could go either way.

Dallas at 27-11-9 is one of the most well-constructed rosters in the NHL, and the Stars are heavy road favorites tonight at -162. Jake Oettinger has been outstanding this season, and when he's between the pipes, Dallas's already suffocating defensive system becomes nearly impenetrable. The Stars don't beat you with flash; they grind you down with structure, physicality, and an ability to limit high-danger chances that makes them a nightmare for opposing offenses. Jason Robertson and Roope Hintz provide the offensive pop, while Miro Heiskanen anchors a blue line that controls the pace of play like few others in the league.

Here's where the trends get interesting: Dallas is 4-11 in their last 15 games overall, which seems to contradict their record. But context matters. The Stars have gone 5-1 in their last six games specifically against St. Louis, which tells you this is a matchup that Dallas has figured out. The Blues at home have been decent, going 4-1 in their last five at Enterprise Center, and Joel Hofer has shown flashes of becoming a reliable starting goaltender. But St. Louis's roster simply doesn't match up with Dallas's depth, particularly on the defensive end where the Blues' zone exits have been problematic.

The 5.5 total is telling. The under has hit in six of Dallas's last seven games and six of St. Louis's last seven against the Stars. That convergence of under trends makes this one of the more confident under spots on the board. Both teams play a structured game, and Oettinger against Hofer is a goaltending matchup that could keep this in the 2-3 goal range. Dallas doesn't need to score four or five goals to win; they're perfectly comfortable grinding out a 3-1 or 2-1 victory.

The Central Division implications here are significant. Dallas is firmly in playoff position, while St. Louis is fighting for its life. The Blues' competitiveness at Enterprise Center has been their saving grace this season, and the home crowd will bring energy. But Dallas's experience, defensive structure, and goaltending advantage make them the better team in this matchup by a comfortable margin. The Stars' discipline on the road is a major asset, as they rarely take unnecessary penalties and force opponents to beat them at even strength, where Dallas's 5-on-5 Corsi numbers rank among the league's elite.

Minnesota at -245 is the heaviest favorite on the board tonight, and honestly, it might not be steep enough. The Wild at 29-14-10 have been one of the NHL's most consistent teams this season, and Xcel Energy Center is one of the toughest buildings to play in. Kirill Kaprizov continues to do things that defy logic, and his combination of skill, speed, and hockey IQ makes him a legitimate Hart Trophy candidate. Matt Boldy has provided excellent secondary scoring, and the Wild's balanced attack means you can't just shut down one line and survive. Their defensive structure is airtight, and Filip Gustavsson has been outstanding in net all season.

Chicago at 21-23-8 is in the thick of a rebuild, and it shows, particularly on the road against elite competition. The Blackhawks just got torched 5-1 by Florida in their last game, and back-to-back road games in hostile environments are brutal for a young team still learning how to compete at this level. Connor Bedard is the crown jewel of the rebuild and he's capable of jaw-dropping individual plays, but one star player can't overcome the depth gap that exists between these two rosters. Chicago's defensive structure breaks down too frequently, and their goaltending tandem has been league-average at best.

The -1.5 puck line at +105 (basically even money) tells you the market fully expects Minnesota to win this by multiple goals. The Wild's home record has been dominant, and they don't lose to teams like Chicago at Xcel Energy Center very often. Minnesota's Corsi and Fenwick numbers at home are elite, and they control possession to such a degree that opponents spend entire periods hemmed in their own zone. The Blackhawks' inability to sustain offensive zone time against good teams is their Achilles heel, and Minnesota is exactly the kind of team that punishes you for every neutral zone turnover.

The 6.5 total is interesting given Minnesota's dominance. The Wild can score in bunches, but they also play a disciplined defensive game that can limit opponents to two goals or fewer. Chicago's ability to contribute to the over depends entirely on whether they can generate transition offense against a team that rarely allows clean zone entries. If Minnesota gets an early lead, which feels likely given the talent disparity, this could turn into a defensive masterclass from the Wild while they protect the lead.

The late-night window features Alex Ovechkin's Capitals as road favorites in Seattle, and the trends surrounding these two teams are absolutely wild. Washington is 1-5 in their last six games overall, which is an ugly stretch, but they're 5-1 in their last six head-to-head meetings with the Kraken. So while the Caps have been struggling, they've had Seattle's number, and sometimes familiarity and matchup advantages override current form. Ovechkin continues his relentless pursuit of Wayne Gretzky's all-time goal record, and every game matters in that chase. Logan Thompson starts in goal, and his season has been a revelation for a Washington team that needed goaltending stability.

Seattle at 2-5 in their last seven games is in a rough patch of their own. The Kraken have struggled to generate consistent offense, and their defensive structure has leaked goals at an alarming rate during this skid. Philipp Grubauer gets the start, and his confidence is fragile right now. When Grubauer is battling the puck, Seattle's defense falls apart behind him because they're spending too much time trying to protect a goaltender who's struggling instead of playing their system. The Kraken's home-ice advantage at Climate Pledge Arena has been neutralized by this losing streak, and the building's energy has shifted from excitement to anxiety.

The 5.5 total has some interesting undertones. The over has hit in four of Washington's last five games, but the under has cashed in six of Seattle's last seven against the Capitals. That head-to-head under trend, combined with Washington's road woes (1-4 in their last five away games), creates a complicated picture. The Caps aren't scoring as freely on the road, and Seattle's offense has dried up during their skid. This could be a low-event game where both teams play conservatively, particularly if it's close heading into the third period.

Washington at -142 feels like the right side despite their overall struggles, purely because of how dominant they've been against Seattle specifically. Thompson in goal gives the Caps a chance in any game, and Ovechkin's ability to create something from nothing on the power play is the kind of X-factor that can decide close games. Seattle needs to break out of their funk, but doing it against a team that's owned you historically is a tough ask. The Kraken at +120 offer value on paper, but form and head-to-head history suggest Washington grinds out a tight one.

San Jose as a road favorite in Vancouver is one of the more eyebrow-raising lines on Tuesday's slate. The Sharks have made serious strides this season, and the addition of Macklin Celebrini has given this franchise a foundational piece to build around. San Jose's rebuild has accelerated faster than anyone expected, and their aggressive style of play has generated results against teams that underestimate them. At -130, the market is saying the Sharks are the better team right now, and that's a statement that would have been laughable two years ago.

Vancouver at +110 as a home underdog is a sign of just how far the Canucks have fallen from their Pacific Division contender status. The Canucks have struggled with consistency this season, and their defensive structure has been leaky. Thatcher Demko's health has been a constant question mark, and when he's not at his best, Vancouver's blue line gets exposed. The team's offensive talent, led by Elias Pettersson and Quinn Hughes, is undeniable, but the supporting cast hasn't pulled its weight. Road trips to Rogers Arena used to feel like entering a buzzsaw; now it feels more like a competitive game against a team searching for its identity.

The 6.5 total suggests this game could be a shootout, and given both teams' defensive inconsistencies, that feels appropriate. San Jose plays a fast, aggressive style that generates a lot of shots and chances but also leaves them vulnerable on the counter. Vancouver, when clicking offensively, can score with anyone in the Pacific Division. The question is whether the Canucks' defense can tighten up enough to slow down a Sharks team that's been generating high-danger chances at an impressive rate. Neither team is known for their defensive discipline, which makes the over a popular spot.

There's a Pacific Division stakes element here that elevates the intensity. Both teams are trying to establish themselves as legitimate playoff contenders, and head-to-head results within the division carry extra weight in the standings. San Jose's road game has been one of their surprises this season, playing with a fearlessness that reflects their young roster's lack of historical baggage. Vancouver needs to find a way to recapture the home-ice advantage that once made Rogers Arena a fortress. This late-night game could be one of the more entertaining on the entire board.