Best NHL Bets Today | NHL Picks, January 26

Anaheim Ducks vs Colorado Avalanche

Over 6.5 Goals -105 (FanDuel)

The Anaheim Ducks will take on the Colorado Avalanche for the first time this season. This will not be a thrilling matchup, but there will be a lot of goals scored. Bet on the over. 

The Ducks are having a horrendous season and are the second-worst team in the Western Conference (after the Chicago Blackhawks). They have a 14-29-5 record and usually only beat other poor teams. Their last two games are a perfect example of this. Anaheim beat the Arizona Coyotes 5-2 on Tuesday but lost to the Buffalo Sabers 6-3 on Saturday. Their offense will not be electric this game, but it will score three goals. The Ducks are only averaging 2.4 goals per game but have scored 18 in their previous five games (3.6 average). 

On the other side, the Avalanche are underperforming after their Stanley Cup victory last season and only averaging 3.04 goals per game. However, Colorado has maintained most of their goal-scoring weapons. The Avalanche may have an averaging scoring attack, but they play much better against average or subpar teams (like the Ducks). I expect their offense to come out hot today and score four or five goals against a Ducks squad with incompetent defensemen and struggling goaltenders. Bet on the over.

Philadelphia Flyers vs Minnesota Wild

Flyers +1.5 -130 (FanDuel)

The Philadelphia Flyers will travel to Minneapolis and take on the Minnesota Wild for the first time this year. The Wild beat the Flyers in both of their matchups last season, but the Flyers can flip the script this year. Neither of these teams is particularly high-scoring, so this may not be the most exciting game. Both of their offenses are often slow, so I expect the Wild to only win by one goal. Bet on the Flyers +1.5.

The Flyers missed the Playoffs last year and will likely miss the Playoffs again this year. They are eight points out of the second Wild Card spot and will only be able to sneak in if they start turning their season around now. Offensively, Philadelphia is one of the worst teams in the league and only averages 2.78 goals per game. To put that into context, only five teams have worst offenses than the Flyers. In addition, the Flyers only average 2.2 goals per game over their previous five games. They will score two goals tonight, but that will be it.

The Minnesota Wild are playing well this season, but their offense is underperforming. They average 3.09 goals per game and only have one 20+ goal scorer (Kirill Kaprizov). They have three other players (Mats Zuccarello, Joel Eriksson Ek, Matt Boldy) that can also care, but as a collective, the Wild do not do too much offensively. Minnesota, like Tampa Bay, has also been slow on the offensive end over their last five games; The Wild are only averaging 2.6 goals per game in that period. They will score three goals this game and win behind their strong defense. Bet on the Flyers +1.5.

Pittsburgh Penguins vs Washington Capitals

Capitals Moneyline -111 (FanDuel)

The Pittsburgh Penguins will make the short trek to Washington to face the Capitals for the second time this season. The Penguins destroyed the Capitals 4-1 when they first faced each other in early November. However, the Capitals will strike back and tie the series in this game. Bet on the Washington moneyline.

The Penguins are having a decent season and sit in the first Wild Card spot with 56 points. They have a few strong offensive players (Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Jake Guentzel), but their defense could be better, and they just lost star goaltender Tristan Jarry after the All-Star break. Pittsburgh will be forced to depend on backup Casey DeSmith and Dustin Tokarski until Jarry returns. DeSmith has had his troubles this year and allows over 3.3 goals per game. Tokarski is not in a much better position. The 33-year-old has only played in two games this season (and 76 in his career), so it is safe to say he is unproven. Pittsburgh will not be in a great position, regardless of who gets the start.

The Capitals may be without Alex Ovechkin, Tom Wilson, Nicklas Backstrom, and T.J. Oshie in this game. They are all listed as day-to-day, so it is hard to say who will be suiting up. Regardless, they will leave this game victorious. Washington plays quite well at home and comes into this game with a 13-8-3 record at the Capital One Arena. They also have significantly better goaltenders than the Penguins currently possess. This will be a hard-fought battle and a close game, but Washington will squeak it out. Bet on the Capitals.

Buffalo Sabres vs Winnipeg Jets

Over 6.5 goals -115 (FanDuel)

The Buffalo Sabres will battle with the Winnipeg Jets for the second and final time this season. Buffalo faced Winnipeg two weeks prior and lost 4-2. They will look to even it out in this game and take one from the Jets. Both teams have electric and exciting offenses, so this game will be a high-scoring one. Bet on the over.

The Sabres have the NHL’s second-best offense and score an absurd 3.83 goals per game. They also had two 5+ goal games in the last week, so it is safe to say they are showing no signs of slowing down. However, Buffalo will be going up against a tougher Jets’ defense, so I do not expect them to score five goals once more. That being said, I expect them to score four.

The Jets' offense is not nearly as strong as the Sabres,’ but it is above average. They score almost 3.3 goals per game but should have many opportunities in this game. The Jets are going up against a Sabres team that allows 3.4 goals per game on 32.8 shots. Winnipeg will have plenty of opportunities to score and put at least three pucks in the back of the net. Bet on the over.