After a thrilling Saturday night of hockey action featuring six games going into overtime, we have another eventful day of NHL betting with eight games on tap, including 13 teams playing on the tail end of a back-to-back.
We're hunting for betting value in this packed schedule as we break down the NHL odds and bring you our best NHL picks and predictions for Sunday, January 31.
NHL Picks for Today
Columbus Blue Jackets vs Chicago Blackhawks
The only contest today featuring a pair of teams that didn't play last night, the Columbus Blue Jackets and Chicago Blackhawks last played on Friday with Columbus eking out a 2-1 victory.
That low-scoring game is nothing new for either team, with Chicago ranking 22nd in the league with 2.56 goals per game and Columbus 25th with 2.44 gpg.
The Blue Jackets aren't exactly generating scoring opportunities either, ranking just 28th in the league in expected goals for per 60 minutes in 5v5 hockey. That's a problem they seem well aware of as they traded for Patrik Laine, but the former Jets sharpshooter is not expected to skate with the team until tomorrow, which leaves them once again weak up front. Thankfully the Jackets have a strong defensive system and a good goaltender to boot in Joonas Korpisalo, who has a 2.17 GAA and a .936 save percentage this season after a terrific playoff run last year.
The Blackhawks might have also found their goaltender after Malcolm Subban and Collin Delia floundered in that role earlier in the season. Rookie Kevin Lankinen (who you might remember as the guy who backstopped Finland to a World Championship gold medal in 2019) has played very well with a 2.16 GAA and a save percentage of .930 across five starts.
The Blue Jackets are 11-2-1 to the Under in their last 14 road games, while the Blackhawks are 5-1 to the Under in the previous 6 contests at home. With the Under also cashing in five of the last six meetings between these teams, back it again on Sunday.
PREDICTION: Under 5.5 (-110)
Ottawa Senators vs Edmonton Oilers
The Ottawa Senators have looked like the worst team in the league, losing seven straight after their season-opening win. And they haven't been losing close contests either, they've been getting annihilated, losing their last five by a total score of 26-7.
But, in what might seem like a complete shocker, we like the Sens to pull off the upset win tonight. Edmonton is coming off a hard-fought OT win against the Leafs last night, while Ottawa is coming off two days' rest.
The Oilers have shown plenty of flaws this season, and when Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid don't light up the scoreboard, the rest of their supporting cast struggles to contribute. They also have one of the league's worst defenses and may choose to start Troy Grosenick in nets.
The 31-year-old goalie was moved to the active roster yesterday and has only two career NHL games and they both came seven years ago. The Oilers will either have to give Grosenick the nod or play an exhausted Mikko Koskinen for the second night in a row and the 11th time in 19 days.
We like the young Sens to snap their losing streak with an upset win tonight.
PREDICTION: Ottawa +175
Colorado Avalanche vs Minnesota Wild
The Avs buried the Wild last night by a final score of 5-1. One of Colorado's goal scorers in that contest was Mikko Rantanen, who is now tied for second in the league with seven tallies.
The winger might not get as much love as teammate Nathan MacKinnon, but he has been one of the league's most reliable goal scorers for years. Rantanen has scored 57 goals in his last 125 regular-season games going back to 2018, and scored goals in four of his last six games to close last season – when the Avs got bounced in the conference quarterfinals against a tight-checking Dallas Stars team.
Rantanen has also found the back of the net in seven of his last eight games this year. With his anytime goals prop set at +155 and forgettable journeyman Cam Talbot between the pipes for the Wild, we're banking on another goal tonight.
PREDICTION: Mikko Rantanen to score a goal (+155)
Top NHL Consensus for Today
Want to know who today's biggest NHL betting and consensus bets are right now? Check out our top NHL consensus picks.
Yesterday's picks: 1-2 (-1.36 units)
Season record to date: 14-26-2 (-12.87 units)
NHL Betting Card for January 31
- Columbus/Chicago Under 5.5 (-110)
- Ottawa (+175)
- Mikko Rantanen to score a goal (+155)
NHL Parlays
Did you know that if you parlayed today’s NHL betting picks, you could win $123.88 on a $10 bet?
Use our NHL parlay calculator to create your own parlays and see their potential payouts.
Where Can I Bet on the NHL?
You can bet on NHL odds at every online and casino sportsbook, including NHL moneylines, puck lines, Over/Under totals, and a ton of NHL prop odds. Head over to our best-suggested sportsbooks for the top spots to bet on NHL odds in your area.
