Will the Senators post a road victory in Columbus on Tuesday night? Can the Wild and Canadiens combine for enough scoring to get over the 6.5-goal threshold? Will the Jets bounce back from their loss to the Blackhawks when they take on the Blues at 8:00 p.m. ET? Our Tuesday NHL Best Bet Jan. 20 column offers selections for all three games.
NHL Best Bet: Senators -107 (at Blue Jackets)
📊 Why this pick?
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The hockey consensus data shows public support for Ottawa on the moneyline at ~61%, making them the slight favorite.
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Ottawa has been a consistently competitive club this season and their goaltending has been solid enough to keep games close — which matters when betting a tight moneyline like this one.
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Columbus remains inconsistent and the Senators’ defensive structure can frustrate teams that struggle to establish possession long enough to generate high-danger chances.
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A moneyline pick at -115 is within the acceptable risk threshold (favorite isn’t more than -150), giving good value.
💡 Bettors can lean on Ottawa here to grind out a win in a tight Eastern Conference battle.
NHL Best Bet: Wild/Canadiens over 6.5
📊 Why this totals play?
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Consensus shows ~84% of bets are on the OVER 6.5 in this matchup — a strong majority.
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Minnesota games often feature a good pace and offensive contributions from players like Kirill Kaprizov and co., while Montreal has shown it can put up goals sporadically and give up a fair number defensively.
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Mid-season matchups like this, where both teams generate chances and have a little defensive inconsistency, often cross the 7-goal mark.
💡 If you like scoring games, this over is backed by both betting trends and style of play.
NHL Best Bet: Jets -121 (vs. Blues)
📊 Why this pick is sharp:
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CBS Sports lines show the Jets right at -150 on the moneyline, putting them at the upper acceptable limit for our favorite pick criteria.
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Winnipeg has been decent at home this year and when they have their goaltending locked in, they can suppress goals and win close games.
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St. Louis has been inconsistent on both ends of the ice, increasing the likelihood the Jets cash at home.
💡 This is a straight, pure moneyline play on a club expected to win and priced just inside the preferred range.
Tuesday NHL Best Bets Jan. 20
- Ottawa Senators -115
- Wild/Canadiens over 6.5
- Winnipeg Jets -121