In the midst of a massive sports day, the NHL has graced us with a 10-game jumbo slate on Martin Luther King Day.
Due to the enticing opportunities that both nationally televised games present, I zeroed in on plays for each, as well as two plays for the later puck drops.
Let's dive into my NHL best bets, prediction and pick for Monday, January 19.
NHL Best Bets for Monday, January 19
| Game | Time (ET) | Pick |
|---|---|---|
  | 1:30 p.m. | |
  | 4:00 p.m. | |
  | 7:30 p.m. | |
  | 10:00 p.m. | |
Specific betting recommendations come from the sportsbook offering preferred odds as of writing. Always shop for the best price using our NHL Odds page, which automatically surfaces the best lines for every game. | ||
Sabres vs. Hurricanes
The hype behind the Buffalo Sabres is real.
However, you want to be very careful with the Sabres. You know how for certain teams there’s a proverbial ‘curse?’ Look no further than Western New York.
It seems like just yesterday that the Sabres went on a 10-game winning streak one season, forcing fans and pundits to believe that this was finally the year Buffalo was going to make the playoffs.
And then it didn’t.
But I digress! Because the Sabres are riding a real high, going 16-5-1 since the beginning of December.
However, here is where I’m a little bit concerned (beyond the Buffalo curse).
The Sabres' 5-on-5 play has suffered as of late, playing to a 22nd-ranked 46.05 xGF% and a fifth-worst 3.18 xGA/60. Meanwhile, in December, they were actually playing to a top-10 5-on-5 offense and a top-15 defense.
With this, they’ve managed to benefit from a home-heavy January, where the Sabres hold a 16-6-3 record. But this afternoon, Buffalo will head on the road for a five-game road trip.
Starting against the Hurricanes, who are tied for the best record in the East, with a 17-8-1 record.
I have some holdups on Carolina’s goaltending, but its 5-on-5 play has been amongst the league’s elite – ranking first in offense and fifth in defense.
So we’re going to have ourselves a good ol’ beatdown in Raleigh. Take the puck line in favor of the Canes.
Pick: Hurricanes -1.5 (+125)
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Capitals vs. Avalanche
Our next national television game brings on a battle between the NHL’s leading scorer, Nathan MacKinnon of the Colorado Avalanche, and the all-time leading goal scorer, Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals.
As of January 19, 2026, the Avalanche have a total of one regulation loss at home – and that loss occurred this past Friday in a 7-3 rout from the Predators.
Look, I don’t think the Avalanche’s hot streak was going to continue, and I anticipate a handful more regulation losses happening in Ball Arena.
But not today.
Because the Capitals are as mid as mid can get. They have solid goaltending from Logan Thompson, who was announced to Team Canada for the Olympics, but either he or Charlie Lindgren is going to feel the wrath of an angry and motivated Avalanche squad.
Currently, the total is listed as 6.5, slightly favoring the under, and I can truly see why
Both of these teams haven’t faced each other since November 2024, and historically, the total between both squads can go either way.
In the past 10 occasions where these teams met, the game has reached the over 50% of the time, with the most recent ending in a 2-1 Avalanche victory.
But I have reason to believe that it’ll hit today.
I already think that the Avs are going to go nuclear on the offensive end, so let's focus on the other side of the ice.
As solid as both Scott Wedgewood and Mackenzie Blackwood have been in net for Colorado, I’m still not sold on them as dynamic shutdown netminders.
And Washington has a propensity to put the puck in the net.
Tom Wilson has five goals in his past four games, while Ovechkin has managed to get his licks in, but also been held scoreless in his past three games. There’s a reason why he’s the greatest scorer of all time.
With Colorado’s motivation and a little help from the Caps, I foresee this hitting the over.
Pick: Over 6.5 (-105)
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Wild vs. Maple Leafs
This seems like a really fun game to tail, but in the end I may have to chalk this up to the home team.
The Minnesota Wild are one of the most exciting teams in the NHL – especially after trading for Quinn Hughes.
But there has been a bump in the road to greatness.
The month of January has been incredibly average for the Wild, who barring a catastrophic collapse, seem like a lock for the playoffs. Minnesota has only gone 3-3-2 once the calendar turned.
Most recently, it pulled away a strong win against the Sabres in Buffalo. But given its inconsistencies on the road, and the Toronto Maple Leafs’ utter dominance at home, it seems like the forces are pulling me one way more than the other.
The Leafs are a completely different team at home than they are on the road. And that road discrepancy is what’s preventing them from being a top seed in the Atlantic.
Regardless, I’m going to ride the hot hand here and tail the Leafs where they’re most comfortable.
Pick: Maple Leafs ML (-120)
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Islanders vs. Canucks
New York Islanders captain Anders Lee recently made history for the franchise by becoming the fifth player in franchise history to score 300 goals donning the blue and orange.
But it wasn’t easy to get to this point. Lee had actually been held goalless in the nine games prior to Saturday’s afternoon game against the Flames.
It was clear, though, that Lee wasn’t getting the bounces needed, which happens far too often in this game.
He was among the NHL leaders in the previous 10 games in expected goals, expected goals per 60 minutes, high danger attempts, high danger expected goals, and expected goals on rebound shots.
In turn, he has a poor goals above expected, goals per 60 minutes, and PDO.
You’re never going to get finesse with Lee, as he’s strictly a bruiser who parks himself in front of the net.
But when you have guys like Mathew Barzal. Matthew Schaefer and Emil Heineman, who consistently pepper shots to the net, there’s a whole lot of reason to believe that Lee will be there waiting for the right time to strike.
Meanwhile, New York’s opponent Vancouver Canucks have allowed the eighth most goals off rebounds in the past 10 games, so it’s a great opportunity for Lee to continue the momentum.
Was Saturday a sign of things to come for the captain? The Islanders can only hope.
Pick: Anders Lee Anytime Goal Scorer (+240)
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