NHL Picks Today: Saturday, January 24
Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Columbus Blue Jackets
The Lightning enter tonight's game in solid form. They have won 14 of their last 15 games, defeating even the top-caliber Avalanche by two goals. During their strong play, they have achieved revenge against the Panthers and Kings. After losing to both teams, they beat both teams by multiple goals. Tampa Bay lost its previous game against Columbus, which will ensure that they take the Blue Jackets, who are hovering a few games above .500, seriously.
Expect a low goal total from the Blue Jackets, who have failed to exceed a goal in either of their last two games. Tampa Bay, meanwhile, has held each of its last three opponents to one goal. With its defense playing so well, Columbus struggling to score goals, Tampa Bay owning the third-best goal-scoring offense, and Columbus ranking in the bottom half in goal-scoring defense, the Lightning will secure another win and achieve vengeance once again.
Montreal Canadiens vs. Boston Bruins
Montreal enters tonight's affair in a solid bounce-back spot, having won its last six games that followed a multi-goal defeat. Boston’s recent tendency to win might make the Bruins look formidable, but they have been playing bad goal-scoring offenses. Recently, they have faced one offense that ranks top-15 in scoring and allowed three goals. When the Bruins were losing more games, they were having to face teams like Buffalo and Ottawa that do a great job of scoring.
Montreal’s offense ranks sixth in goal-scoring. Accordingly, the Canadiens will overwhelm a Boston goal-scoring defense that hasn’t been challenged in a while and that hasn’t shown the ability to overcome such challenges in the past five weeks. The Bruins have given up nine goals in their last two games and will be outscored by a Montreal team that has held them to six goals in their last three meetings.
Los Angeles Kings vs. St. Louis Blues
The Kings don’t deserve to be road favorites in tonight's game. Currently sitting at 20-16-13, they have rarely won since they were 14-8-7 on December 8. More recently, they have lost four of their last five and six of their last eight. The only counter to this line of thought would be if the Blues were a bad enough team to justify the expectation that the Kings will face an easy enough test tonight to get another win.
While the Blues generally are a bad team, the key is that they are far from being one at home. St. Louis has won its last four home games, even beating the high-caliber Hurricanes by three goals and edging the Lightning, who have arguably been the NHL’s best team for some time now. The Blues are playing top-notch hockey at home, making them fantastic home dogs against a feeble Los Angeles team.
| Matchup | Pick | Odds | Confidence Level | Sportsbook |
| Lightning vs. Blue Jackets | Lightning ML | -121 | Highest | BetOnline |
| Canadiens vs. Bruins | Canadiens ML | +104 | Highest | Heritage |
| Kings vs. Blues | Blues ML | +120 | Highest | Bovada |
Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Columbus Blue Jackets
The Lightning enter tonight's game in solid form. They have won 14 of their last 15 games, defeating even the top-caliber Avalanche by two goals. During their strong play, they have achieved revenge against the Panthers and Kings. After losing to both teams, they beat both teams by multiple goals. Tampa Bay lost its previous game against Columbus, which will ensure that they take the Blue Jackets, who are hovering a few games above .500, seriously.
Expect a low goal total from the Blue Jackets, who have failed to exceed a goal in either of their last two games. Tampa Bay, meanwhile, has held each of its last three opponents to one goal. With its defense playing so well, Columbus struggling to score goals, Tampa Bay owning the third-best goal-scoring offense, and Columbus ranking in the bottom half in goal-scoring defense, the Lightning will secure another win and achieve vengeance once again.
Montreal Canadiens vs. Boston Bruins
Montreal enters tonight's affair in a solid bounce-back spot, having won its last six games that followed a multi-goal defeat. Boston’s recent tendency to win might make the Bruins look formidable, but they have been playing bad goal-scoring offenses. Recently, they have faced one offense that ranks top-15 in scoring and allowed three goals. When the Bruins were losing more games, they were having to face teams like Buffalo and Ottawa that do a great job of scoring.
Montreal’s offense ranks sixth in goal-scoring. Accordingly, the Canadiens will overwhelm a Boston goal-scoring defense that hasn’t been challenged in a while and that hasn’t shown the ability to overcome such challenges in the past five weeks. The Bruins have given up nine goals in their last two games and will be outscored by a Montreal team that has held them to six goals in their last three meetings.
Los Angeles Kings vs. St. Louis Blues
The Kings don’t deserve to be road favorites in tonight's game. Currently sitting at 20-16-13, they have rarely won since they were 14-8-7 on December 8. More recently, they have lost four of their last five and six of their last eight. The only counter to this line of thought would be if the Blues were a bad enough team to justify the expectation that the Kings will face an easy enough test tonight to get another win.
While the Blues generally are a bad team, the key is that they are far from being one at home. St. Louis has won its last four home games, even beating the high-caliber Hurricanes by three goals and edging the Lightning, who have arguably been the NHL’s best team for some time now. The Blues are playing top-notch hockey at home, making them fantastic home dogs against a feeble Los Angeles team.
