As the early NHL slate comes to a close, that’s where the real fun begins. On the other side of the continent, there’s a whole lot of hockey to be played.
So activate your strobe lights and blast “Levels” by Avicii so loud your neighbors file a complaint, because we have another edition of NHL Late-Night Best Bets.
Let’s dive into my NHL best bets, predictions and picks for Wednesday, January 21.
NHL Late-Night Best Bets for Wednesday, January 21
| Game | Time (ET) | Pick |
|---|---|---|
  | 9:00 p.m. | |
  | 9:30 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. | ||
Ducks vs. Avalanche
As the Ducks’ social media team eloquently put it: rumors of their demise have been greatly exaggerated.
And all it needed was me to get on a roll of fading them!
I’ve loved the Ducks all season, and was wondering if or when they would pick up steam this season and get back to the dominance they portrayed at the beginning of the season.
After starting the calendar year of 2026 on a five-game losing streak, Anaheim has won four in a row with wins against the Stars, Rangers and back-to-back overtime wins against the cross-town rival Kings.
Well, now Wild Wing finds himself in the Rockies, taking on the Avalanche, who are on a warpath.
Colorado lost to the Predators at home on Friday in regulation – its first regulation loss at home all season. So to counter it, the Avs demolished the Capitals at home 5-2.
The Avalanche are the best team in the NHL and playing at home may just well be a recipe for disaster for the Ducks.
But the Ducks have been solid – even on the losing streak they found themselves in, posting a 51.75 xGF% and 2.76 xGA/60 at 5-on-5 play – good enough to hang with the best of 'em.
The one outlier was Lukas Dostal, who looked unrecognizable during that stretch. However, Dostal has seemed to regain his mojo and is playing like the goaltender we’re used to seeing.
However, I don’t feel great about the Avalanche losing another one at home in regulation in such a short amount of time, so here’s what I’m going to do.
I did this last week when the Predators beat the Avs, and I'm going to press my luck here tonight.
I’m riding with the Ducks to cover the puck line here. Colorado’s moneyline is way too lopsided, and the Ducks can extend games into overtime. I think this’ll be closer than expected and at plus-money, I like the Ducks to keep it close.
Pick: Ducks +1.5 (+110)
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Penguins vs. Flames
You know, every time the Penguins feel like they’re on the cusp of a rebuild, they prove why they’re led by some of the greatest of all time in Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang.
Because Pittsburgh is in the thick of it – third in the Metropolitan Division and coming off an impressive win against the Kraken in the PNW on Monday.
However, we shouldn’t rule out the Flames either.
Calgary, for all the problems it has, is just six points out of playoff positioning, and it’s on the backs of the exceptional goaltending of Devin Cooley and Dustin Wolf.
The last time these two teams squared off was a few weeks ago in Pittsburgh, where the Flames uncharacteristically won on the road and beat the Pens 2-1.
However, there’s only so much that a pair of goaltenders can do.
The Flames have been statistically the worst 5-on-5 team in the month of January, posting a 40.78 xGF% and a 3.47 xGA/60.
Special teams have also saved their bacon, with a 6.51 expected goals on the power play in the past 10 games, as well as the leading goal differential while on the penalty kill.
So it’s not all that bad.
But Pittsburgh has been exceptional at 5-on-5, and Stuart Skinner, out of all people, has been playing lights out. Not only that, he’s quite familiar with the Flames from his time as an Oiler.
I like Pittsburgh to win straight up. There’s decent value here.
Pick: Penguins ML (-115)
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Islanders vs. Kraken
The Islanders are on the final game of their season-long West Coast seven-game road trip, and they’re coming off a huge win in Vancouver, beating the Canucks 4-3.
A lot of what New York has been able to do has been on the back of its goaltending. Ilya Sorokin is playing like the best goaltender in the NHL right now, with David Rittich playing like one of the best backups.
I’m led to believe that Sorokin will be the starter, but if not, I see no obstacle with Rittich taking the net.
Reason being? The Kraken are just not good.
They had themselves a decent run to kick off the new year, but now they’re back to their usual ways of losing. They’ve been defeated in six out of their last seven, and although they’re a decent team at home, I think the Isles are better on the road.
New York’s ability to stay afloat during this trip was the key indicator of how its season would pan out.
The Islanders aren’t the greatest 5-on-5 team, but their skill players make that much of a difference. Matthew Schaefer, Mathew Barzal and now Cal Ritchie are looking like a dynamite trio, and Anthony Duclair is one of the hottest players in the league right now.
I’m going to take the Isles moneyline here.
Pick: Islanders ML (-110)
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Capitals vs. Canucks
This was a game that I had a hang-up on, but after diving in, I’m starting to feel a little more comfortable with my pick.
Let’s get the easy part out of the way: the Canucks are a mess. Eleven straight losses, eight straight in regulation.
It’s hard to feel bullish on this team. Elias Pettersson, who was once recognized as a star, has seemingly faded out and become a shell of his old self, and the one real positive on this team is Filip Hronek.
The goaltending is a lost cause, as Thatcher Demko is out for the season, and Kevin Lankinen is the league’s most expensive backup.
Not just that, Marco Rossi seems like he’ll be out of action until after the Olympics.
So, this can go one or two ways.
The Capitals, who are coming in after getting smoked by Colorado, can walk all over the Canucks, or this could be a case where we see a high-scoring game.
Let’s also point out that the Caps have been riding a major struggle bus, losing seven out of their last 10.
Yet, I don’t see a world where the Canucks win, but maybe all they need is for me to fade them to get back on track.
Defensively, Vancouver is the third-worst in the league and in the past 10 games, are sixth worst on the penalty kill.
Washington hasn’t been a prize either (which is shocking on the power play), but it’s still a threat with Alex Ovechkin looming with his ripper of a shot, or Tom Wilson playing in front of the net.
I’m going to back the Capitals in regulation here. Famous last words.
Pick: Capitals 3-Way Line (+100)
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