The NHL season rolls on with a selection of highly anticipated games this week, with Canadian fans being given a lot to look forward to. Interestingly, three of the four divisions in the NHL now have established leaders who are looking to break away from the teams below them, while the Pacific Division hangs on a knife edge.
We share our NHL betting predictions for games between the 20th and 26th of January 2025 on this page, with coverage of the Montreal Canadiens against the Tampa Bay Lightning, the Edmonton Oilers against the Buffalo Sabres, and the all-Canadian affair between the Ottawa Senators and the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Game 1: Tampa Bay Lightning @ Montreal Canadiens
- Date: Tuesday 21st of January 2025
- Time: 7:00 pm EDT
- Our Pick: Tampa Bay Lightning -1.5 Puck Line
We’re starting off this week of NHL betting predictions with an encounter in the Atlantic Division between the Montreal Canadiens and the Tampa Bay Lightning. The team from Tampa Bay sits higher in terms of points and have also played fewer games than their Canadian opponents.
When looking at the form of both teams, the Tampa Bay Lightning are favored once again, sitting at a win streak of 2 at the time of writing. The Canadiens did manage to win their last game in a tight OT affair against the Rangers, however, they were slaughtered 7-3 before that by the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Another point to mention is the sheer offensive prowess of the Tampa Bay Lighting, who currently lead the Atlantic Division in terms of goals scored. Brayden Point and Jake Guentzel have been finding the back of the net for fun in recent weeks and should this trend continue, we think the Tampa Bay Lightning will topple the Montreal Canadiens in convincing fashion, which is why we’re backing them at -1.5 in this one.
Game 2: Buffalo Sabres @ Edmonton Oilers
- Date: Saturday 25th of January 2025
- Time: 4:00 pm EDT
- Our Pick: Edmonton Oilers -1.5 Puck Line
Next up is the game between the Edmonton Oilers and the Buffalo Sabres, in a match that could certainly be the one to watch this week. Despite a slip-up against the Canucks last week, the Oilers are still having an impressive season as they occupy a prime position in the Pacific Division. The team from Edmonton are currently locked in a fierce battle with the Golden Knights for the top spot in this division, which is something that Kris Knoblauch will be using to hype up his squad before this particular encounter gets underway.
As for the Buffalo Sabres, they’ve had a dismal season, currently sitting at rock bottom of not just the Atlantic Division, but the NHL as a whole. While the chances of them making the Stanley Cup playoffs are unrealistic, to say the least, they will still be looking to play spoiler in this game.
When you combine the fact that the Sabres have nothing to lose against the high-scoring nature of the Oilers, we can sense a high-scoring affair that ends comfortably in favor of the Edmonton team, taking them to overcome the -1.5 puck line.
Game 3: Toronto Maple Leafs @ Ottawa Senators
- Date: Saturday 25th of January 2025
- Time: 7:00 pm EDT
- Our Pick: Over 5.5 Goals
The third and final game we will be covering for this week is the Ottawa Senators vs the Toronto Maple Leafs in an all-Canadian clash that many fans will be eagerly awaiting. Both teams are on a win streak of 2 at the time of writing, with the Maple Leafs looking to create breathing room for themselves at the top of the Atlantic Division by registering a win here. The Senators, on the other hand, will be hoping that this game really kickstarts their charge into the top three in the same division.
While this game isn’t the most influential right now, it could have long-term implications that neither team will ignore. The Toronto Maple Leafs, as they often do, are likely to come out of the gate hot while the Senators may opt for a more passive approach. Either way, we think both teams will give this match a good go and when you combine this with the fact that 6 of their last 8 head-to-heads have resulted in 5.5 goals, we’re backing the same to happen again on Saturday evening.
How Many Games Does Each NHL Team Play This Week?
There are a total of 54 games in the NHL this week, with Saturday the 25th featuring the most games at 13, closely followed by Thursday the 23rd with 11 matches.
In terms of teams, there are thirteen teams that are tied for the busiest this week, including the Colorado Avalanche, the Florida Panthers, the Ottawa Senators, and the Vegas Golden Knights, who will all be taking to the ice four times this week. It’s also worth mentioning that the New Jersey Devils are the only team to play less than 3 games this week, as they are only scheduled to play twice.
Here’s a look at how many games each team in the NHL will play between the 20th and the 26th of January 2025:
| Team | Number of Games This Week |
| Anaheim Ducks | 3 |
| Boston Bruins | 4 |
| Buffalo Sabres | 4 |
| Calgary Flames | 3 |
| Carolina Hurricanes | 4 |
| Chicago Blackhawks | 3 |
| Colorado Avalanche | 4 |
| Columbus Blue Jackets | 4 |
| Dallas Stars | 3 |
| Detroit Red Wings | 3 |
| Edmonton Oilers | 3 |
| Florida Panthers | 4 |
| Los Angeles Kings | 3 |
| Minnesota Wild | 4 |
| Montreal Canadiens | 3 |
| Nashville Predators | 3 |
| New Jersey Devils | 2 |
| New York Islanders | 3 |
| New York Rangers | 3 |
| Ottawa Senators | 4 |
| Philadelphia Flyers | 3 |
| Pittsburgh Penguins | 3 |
| San Jose Sharks | 4 |
| Seattle Kraken | 3 |
| St. Louis Blues | 3 |
| Tampa Bay Lightning | 4 |
| Toronto Maple Leafs | 3 |
| Utah Hockey Club | 4 |
| Vancouver Canucks | 3 |
| Vegas Golden Knights | 4 |
| Washington Capitals | 3 |
| Winnipeg Jets | 4 |
How to Bet on the NHL Online with BetVictor
If you want to bet on the NHL online, here’s a straightforward guide you can use to get started:
1. Sign in to your BetVictor account. If you’re not registered, simply click or tap on the green ‘Sign Up’ button in the top right corner and fill in the various fields that appear. From here, you can verify your details and make a deposit to bet on the NHL online with real funds.
2. Head to the sports betting page and click on ‘Hockey’.
3. From the ‘Competitions’ tab, select ‘NHL’.
4. This will bring up a list of upcoming games, allowing you to find and click the one you’d like to wager on.
5. Tap on your desired selection to add it to the bet slip.
6. Type in a stake size that matches your preferences and confirm the bet!
Here at BetVictor, we have comprehensive coverage of the NHL betting tips, offering hockey odds and betting markets for all games throughout the season. Each game can be found on the in-play betting page as soon as it gets underway, too, allowing you to follow the action as it unfolds on the ice.
Before making a wager, you could also consider checking out the offers page. It’s loaded with bonuses, many of which can be used on sports betting markets, including the NHL picks mentioned on this page!
Our betting picks for games between the 20th and 26th of January 2025 include the Tampa Bay Lightning -1.5 against the Montreal Canadiens, the Edmonton Oilers -1.5 against the Buffalo Sabres, and over 5.5 goals in the clash between the Ottawa Senators and the Toronto Maple Leafs.
There are thirteen teams that all play 4 matches this week, including the Boston Bruins, the Colorado Avalanche, the Ottawa Senators, and the Winnipeg Jets.
The best place to bet on the NHL online is right here at BetVictor. We offer hockey odds for all NHL games and there are plenty of bonuses over on our offers page that are available to both new and existing customers!
