NHL Picks Today: Saturday, January 31
Montreal Canadiens vs. Buffalo Sabres
Montreal might look like a great bet if you consider its last game, a 7-3 win over Colorado. But beating the Avalanche really isn’t impressive right now. In their last five games, the Avalanche have only beaten a sliding Toronto team. Each of Colorado’s last three losses has now come by three or four goals.
Crucially, the Canadiens’ success in their last game positions them in a let-down spot tonight. In the game following one in which they scored six or more goals in regulation, they are 0-4-1. Even if they weren’t in a let-down spot, they are facing a Buffalo team that has won five games in a row, with all five wins coming by multiple goals. Expect the Sabres to stay hot tonight.
Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Vancouver Canucks
The Maple Leafs are favored purely because, over the course of the season, they have been clearly superior to Vancouver. Recently, however, they have been worse. Unlike Vancouver, they have not won a game in regulation since January 10.
Currently, Toronto is suffering a six-game losing streak. Its defense, in particular, has struggled, allowing a combined total of 22 goals in their last four games. The Maple Leafs’ goalkeeping has been subpar, and their defensemen have looked slow. The entire team looks unprepared for the start of games. With the playoffs seeming ever more unlikely, effort and focus are lacking. The result for Toronto is four straight defeats by three or more goals. Vancouver, meanwhile, just beat Anaheim. Expect the Canucks to build off that win tonight.
| Matchup | Pick | Odds | Confidence Level | Sportsbook |
| Canadiens vs. Sabres | Sabres ML | -129 | Highest | Heritage |
| Maple Leafs vs. Canucks | Canucks ML | +132 | Highest | Bookmaker |
Montreal Canadiens vs. Buffalo Sabres
Montreal might look like a great bet if you consider its last game, a 7-3 win over Colorado. But beating the Avalanche really isn’t impressive right now. In their last five games, the Avalanche have only beaten a sliding Toronto team. Each of Colorado’s last three losses has now come by three or four goals.
Crucially, the Canadiens’ success in their last game positions them in a let-down spot tonight. In the game following one in which they scored six or more goals in regulation, they are 0-4-1. Even if they weren’t in a let-down spot, they are facing a Buffalo team that has won five games in a row, with all five wins coming by multiple goals. Expect the Sabres to stay hot tonight.
Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Vancouver Canucks
The Maple Leafs are favored purely because, over the course of the season, they have been clearly superior to Vancouver. Recently, however, they have been worse. Unlike Vancouver, they have not won a game in regulation since January 10.
Currently, Toronto is suffering a six-game losing streak. Its defense, in particular, has struggled, allowing a combined total of 22 goals in their last four games. The Maple Leafs’ goalkeeping has been subpar, and their defensemen have looked slow. The entire team looks unprepared for the start of games. With the playoffs seeming ever more unlikely, effort and focus are lacking. The result for Toronto is four straight defeats by three or more goals. Vancouver, meanwhile, just beat Anaheim. Expect the Canucks to build off that win tonight.