Last Updated on January 13, 2026 10:55 am by Anthony Rome
Are the Red Wings a good bet to pull off the upset in Boston on Tuesday night at 7:30 p.m. ET? Will the Maple Leafs pull off their own upset when they visit the Mammoth at 10:00 p.m. ET? And are the red-hot Lightning a layup as a road favorite in Pittsburgh at 7:00 p.m. ET? Our Tuesday NHL Best Bets Jan. 13 column offers selections on all three of these matchups.
NHL Best Bet: Lightning -134 (at Penguins)
Why the Lightning Are Worth the Moneyline
Tampa Bay arrives in Pittsburgh red-hot, riding a massive 10-game winning streak and consistently putting up offense across all situations. Nikita Kucherov has been a force, extending his point streak into double figures and leading Tampa’s balanced attack. Brandon Hagel and Brayden Point have contributed consistently, giving Jon Cooper multiple scoring threats to roll — and that’s critical against a Penguins squad that’s been streaky offensively.
Pittsburgh has battled through injuries and inconsistency, with offensive production fluctuating in recent weeks. Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin still drive the top line, but depth scoring beyond that tandem is thin relative to Tampa Bay’s multi-line depth. The Pens have struggled to sustain offensive pressure in close games, while Tampa has shown elite puck possession and transition play.
Key Factors
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Lightning form: 10 straight wins with balanced scoring and goaltending providing confidence.
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Penguins inconsistency: Secondary scoring has lagged — Pens offense ranks well below Tampa’s depth.
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Injuries on Tampa’s D: Victor Hedman recently underwent surgery and remains sidelined, but Tampa’s depth has compensated well and confident goaltending anchors the group.
Expert Take: Lightning win with control of play and scoring depth — backs Tampa Bay on the moneyline at -137.
NHL Best Bet: Red Wings +113 (at Boston)
Why Detroit’s Been Turning Heads
The Red Wings have been one of the most exciting turnaround stories this season. Detroit’s blend of veteran savvy and youthful scoring has steadily lifted them into contenders in the Atlantic Division, and Patrick Kane recently became the latest U.S. star to join the exclusive 500-goal club — a pure confidence booster for a forward group that’s clicking.
Detroit’s goaltending and defensive structure have improved at the right time, allowing them to stay competitive in tight contests and cash underdog moneyline value. Their recent performances show a team that battles hard through adversity and has a knack for timely scoring — perfect for moneyline +113 value.
Key Factors
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Balanced attack: Kane’s milestone presence and secondary scoring from Axel Sandin-Pellikka and Lucas Raymond adds depth.
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Goaltending stabilizing: Detroit’s netminders have quelled high-event games and kept them in striking distance.
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Loose puck battles: Red Wings win skirmishes in the neutral zone and force turnovers — particularly effective against teams that rely on structured breakouts.
Expert Take: Detroit’s recent play and veteran scoring pushes them past a vulnerable opponent for moneyline +113 juice.
NHL Best Bet: Maple Leafs +134 (at Mammoth)
Why Toronto’s Résumé Points to Value
This game on paper has some weirdness to it — a Pacific-type trip for Toronto to take on the Utah Mammoth, a Western Conference squad with a home-ice edge. The Mammoth are actually favored at home per some books, but Toronto has the uphill advantage in skill and historical head-to-head success against Utah. Toronto swept the season series on the strength of dynamic scoring behind Auston Matthews and William Nylander in an earlier meeting.
Matthews remains one of the most dangerous scorers in the league — and his ability to break open tight games makes the Maple Leafs good moneyline value at +134. The Mammoth’s defense has held up at times, but allowing that level of scoring upside can be risky when the Leafs get pace established.
Key Factors
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Head-to-head dominance: Maple Leafs have beaten Mammoth in multiple meetings, showing schemes that exploit Utah’s gaps.
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Star power: Matthews and Nylander drive production and keep Toronto in every offensive zone shift.
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Mammoth injuries: Utah has some key absences on its roster, potentially taking scoring punch off the board.
Expert Take: Toronto’s elite scoring and historical success makes +134 a sweet underdog pick.
Tuesday NHL Best Bets Jan. 13
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Tampa Bay Lightning -137
- Detroit Red Wings +113
- Toronto Maple Leafs +134
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