Tonight's packed NHL slate features 13 compelling matchups, with several intriguing betting opportunities emerging from key trends and matchups.
Our NHL best bets spotlight the red-hot Tampa Bay Lightning looking for revenge against Anaheim, while the surging St. Louis Blues aim to extend their impressive home winning streak against a struggling Calgary Flames team that's lost seven straight on the road.
From defensive battles to potential high-scoring affairs, our expert NHL picks break down the most promising plays across moneylines, spreads, and totals for what promises to be an action-packed evening on the ice.
NHL Best Bets
| Game | Time | Pick |
|---|---|---|
  | 7:00 PM | Tampa Bay Lightning -1.5 (-115) |
  | 8:00 PM | St. Louis Blues Moneyline (-130) |
  | 8:00 PM | Nashville Predators -1.5 (+110) |
Lightning vs. Ducks
Thursday, Jan 16
7:00 PM
Amalie Arena, Tampa, FL
Tampa Bay boasts an impressive 13-6-1 record at Amalie Arena this season, showcasing their dominance on home ice.
The Lightning are motivated to avenge their recent loss to Anaheim and have historically dominated this matchup, winning eight of nine before their recent loss.
Anaheim's road record of 9-10-3 indicates vulnerability away from home, and they've lost four of their last five games overall.
The Lightning's offensive capabilities suggest they can capitalize against a Ducks team that has struggled defensively on the road.
Tampa Bay's return home after a tough loss to Boston positions them well for a bounce-back performance with their full offensive arsenal.
Blues vs. Flames
Thursday, Jan 16
8:00 PM
Enterprise Center, Saint Louis, MO
The St. Louis Blues have shown remarkable consistency at home, winning four of their last five games on home ice, displaying a clear home-ice advantage.
The Flames are currently struggling on the road with seven consecutive losses, indicating serious away performance issues that could continue in this matchup.
St. Louis has demonstrated offensive prowess recently, scoring nine goals in their last three games while maintaining solid special teams performance with an 18% power play conversion rate.
The Blues' defensive unit has been particularly effective lately, allowing only five goals in their last three games, suggesting strong defensive stability.
Calgary's offensive struggles are evident with just eight goals in their last three games, coupled with their 30th-ranked penalty kill unit, making them vulnerable against the Blues' special teams.
Predators vs. Blackhawks
Thursday, Jan 16
8:00 PM
Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, TN
The Predators face one of the NHL's weakest teams in the Blackhawks, who allow 3.45 goals per game.
Nashville's offensive weapons, including Filip Forsberg and Jonathan Marchessault, are well-positioned to exploit Chicago's defensive vulnerabilities.
The Predators' defensive pairing of Roman Josi and Brady Skjei has been effective at creating turnovers and limiting opposing shots.
Chicago's struggling offense, averaging just 2.55 goals per game, faces a significant challenge against Nashville's defensive structure.
The Predators' home-ice advantage combined with their superior roster quality suggests a potential multi-goal victory.
