As the NHL season heats up, tonight's slate features several intriguing matchups with compelling betting opportunities, highlighted by the red-hot Dallas Stars taking on the Colorado Avalanche and the surging Winnipeg Jets hosting the struggling Calgary Flames.
Our NHL best bets and picks focus on teams showcasing strong defensive performances, with multiple clubs riding impressive under trends and demonstrating lockdown goaltending.
From value plays on road underdogs to well-researched total predictions, we've analyzed key statistics and recent performance data to bring you the most promising betting opportunities of the night.
NHL Best Bets
| Game | Time | Pick |
|---|---|---|
  | 4:00 PM | Dallas Stars ML (+115) |
  | 8:00 PM | Vegas Golden Knights -1.5 (-110) |
  | 10:00 PM | Under 5.5 Goals (-130) |
Avalanche vs. Stars
Saturday, Jan 18
4:00 PM
Ball Arena, Denver, CO
The Dallas Stars have been one of the hottest teams in the NHL, winning 8 of their last 10 games including impressive performances on the road.
Their defensive prowess has been particularly noteworthy, allowing just 9 goals in their last 5 games while maintaining consistent offensive production averaging 3.4 goals per game.
The Avalanche, despite their talented roster, have shown inconsistency lately with a 3-3 record in their last 6 games and struggling to generate consistent offense beyond their top stars.
Historical matchups favor the Stars, who won the only meeting this season with a 5-3 score, demonstrating their ability to outperform Colorado.
The Stars' balanced approach of stifling defense and reliable scoring makes them a strong value play as underdogs in this matchup.
Blackhawks vs. Golden Knights
Saturday, Jan 18
8:00 PM
United Center, Chicago, IL
Vegas has established themselves as one of the NHL's elite teams, ranking 4th in goals scored and 7th in goals against.
The Golden Knights have been particularly impressive on the road, winning 8 of their last 11 away games while demonstrating consistent offensive production.
Chicago sits near the bottom of the league in both offensive and defensive metrics, ranking 30th in goals for and 31st in goals against.
The goaltending matchup heavily favors Vegas with Adin Hill posting a solid 2.54 GAA compared to Chicago's Petr Mrazek at 3.25 GAA.
Vegas has won 14 of their last 19 overall games, showing their dominance against weaker opponents.
Kraken vs. Kings
Saturday, Jan 18
10:00 PM
Climate Pledge Arena, Seattle, WA
The Kings have been one of the league's best defensive teams, leading the NHL in goals against with Darcy Kuemper posting exceptional numbers.
Kuemper has been nearly unbeatable in January with a 0.80 GAA and .971 save percentage across five starts.
The Kraken have struggled offensively, scoring more than two goals in just two of their last seven games.
Both teams have strong penalty-killing units, with the Kings ranking 6th in the league at 82.8%.
The under is 5-1 in the Kings' last six games overall and 4-1 in their previous five meetings with the Kraken.
