Free NHL Picks Today for Thursday, January 27th, 2022

Free NHL Picks Today for Thursday, January 27th, 2022
Thu 27th January 2022

We are loving the action throughout this impressive NHL season so far. As we move past the mid way point in the season, each division’s ladder has already become well formed. Despite this, every single win or loss can have a significant impact on where each team will finish at the end of the season, so it is important that you don’t miss any of the action!

Here at SportsTips, we are just as keen on the NHL as you are! We spend each and every day going through the best games and previewing them for you. Our experts offer up their free NHL picks, which means that you not only get enjoyment out of watching some intriguing games, but also make extra cash while doing so!

Look below to find our free NHL picks, as we preview the best five games on today’s schedule. 

Carolina Hurricanes @ Ottawa Senators – 7.00PM ET

The Carolina Hurricanes have a quick one game road trip when they take on the Ottawa Senators. The Hurricanes have won four of their last five games, and this brings their season record to 28-9-2. The Senators are currently on a two game winning streak after beating the Blue Jackets and Sabres.

Denis Kirilov 

The Carolina Hurricanes will travel to Ottawa on Thursday to face off the Senators in what promises to be a one-sided game. The two teams have quite the opposite fate this season as the Hurricanes are 5th in the Eastern Conference with lots of games in hand, while Ottawa trails back in 15th place with just 29 points from 36 matches. The Senators have been struggling throughout the majority of the campaign, but they have managed to pick up two straight victories ahead of their meeting with Carolina. They defeated the likes of the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Buffalo Sabres who had no answer to their fantastic display of defence. 

The Hurricanes, on the other side, are surely among the top performing teams this season. Despite being 5th in the East, they are still considered a huge favourite to surprise everybody and win the Stanley Cup. The team from Raleigh, Carolina, will be looking to become even more consistent in their road matches as this will be their ticket to an early Playoffs spot. The Hurricanes have lost their last game away from home as they were defeated 4-7 by the New Jersey Devils. However, I am willing to trust them this time, choosing them to cover their spread against the Senators. 

Denis’ NHL Pick: Carolina Hurricanes -1.5 (-104)

Tony Battalio

One of the best teams in the National Hockey League will be traveling to Canada to play one of the worst teams in this one. As the Carolina Hurricanes will meet the Ottawa Senators on Thursday evening. The Hurricanes are coming into this game as one of the favorites in a stacked Eastern Conference. They are currently 28-9-2 through their first 39 games of the season as they prepare for this one. The Hurricanes have won four of their last five games on the season and they currently sit in third place of the Atlantic Division, as they will continue to look to string wins together to move up in the standings.


The Ottawa Senators are having a very tough year up until this point. As they come into this game with a lousy record of 13-20-3 on the season, they are a full ten games below the .500 mark through their first 36 games. Ottawa has won their last two games on the year however, it has come against less than stellar competition like the Buffalo Sabres, who they beat 5-0 and the Columbus Blue Jackets who they beat 2-1. As for the result of this game, I look for that mini winning streak to be snapped as I have the Carolina Hurricanes picking up the victory over the Ottawa Senators on the road.

Tony’s NHL Pick: Carolina Hurricanes (-265)

Jeffery Thomas

The Carolina Hurricanes have been scoring at a great clip in their past 5 games, netting at least 4 in each contest, winning 4 of those 5. Each of those wins were with Anderson in net, with the lone loss coming when they went with the inexperienced LaFountaine. With their #1 defense and Anderson in net, they have a chance in every game they play. The Canes sit 3rd in the Metro, only 2 points behind the first place New York Rangers. The Senators will be hosting this one and are also coming in feeling good about their recent performance, having won 2 straight, including a 5-0 shutout victory against the Sabres in their last outing. However, they will be without All-Star selection Drake Batherson for this one, as he suffered an ankle injury that will keep him out until mid February. The Senators sit with a record of 13-20-3 and are in 7th place in the Atlantic Division. 

The Canes are one of the most well rounded teams in the league, with a top 4 offense and defense. We should expect them to own far more of the play in this contest and have another impressive output on offense. The Batherson loss will be a big blow to the Sens, who would have already been outmatched so I like the Canes to take care of business in this one. The blown lead in their last game will be fresh on their minds and they will not want a repeat of that, so they will keep their foot on the gas throughout. 

Jeffery’s NHL Pick: Carolina Hurricanes (-265)

New Jersey Devils @ Tampa Bay Lightning – 7.00PM ET

The New Jersey Devils kick off a three game road trip on Thursday night when they hit the road and take on the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Devils have a season record of 15-21-5, and they are currently on a two game losing streak. The Lightning have won five of their last six games, and their only loss came against the Ducks, 1-5.

Denis Kirilov

The New Jersey Devils will try to surprise the defending champions, the Tampa Bay Lightning, in their home, Amalie Arena, on Thursday night. The Devils’ performance this season is far away from being impressive as they find themselves in 12th place in the East with just 35 points from 41 games. They have lost five out of their last six matches which is yet another concerning sign for them. Despite defeating the Carolina Hurricanes a couple of days ago, the team struggles to remain consistent throughout more than three games which turns out to be crucial for their chances at advancing to the Playoffs. On top of that, the Devils have lost their last three matches away from home which further suggest that they are way out of rhythm at the moment. 

The Tampa Bay Lightning made a harsh transition into 2022 as they lost three consecutive games around New Year’s Eve. However, ever since then the team has been incredible, winning 7 out of their last 9 matches. This makes me think that the Lightning are deservedly 2nd in the Eastern Conference with 61 points from 43 games. They have some small issues within their defence, but I don’t think this will matter against the Devils in Amalie Arena. I will trust the fact that the team from Tampa is looking healthy as there are plenty of injuries for the Devils and I will pick the Lightning to cover the spread for this entertaining match on Thursday. 

Denis’ NHL Pick: Tampa Bay Lightning -1.5 (-124) 

Tony Battalio

The second game of the evening for the featured Thursday slate is much like the first game. As one of the weaker teams in the National Hockey League is facing off with one of the better teams in the National Hockey League. As the New Jersey Devils travel south to Florida to take on the Tampa Bay Lightning in this one. The New Jersey Devils come into this game with a record of 15-21-5 on the season as they are 11 games below .500 through their first 41 games of the season. They have lost their last two games as well so they will be looking to break that losing streak with a victory in this one. 
fanduel sign up bonus

The Tampa Bay Lightning had a slower start to the season than most people would’ve expected. However, now that the season has crossed the halfway point this Tampa Bay team looks more and more like the team that has won the last two Stanley Cup trophies. They come into this game with a record of 28-10-5 through their first 43 games on the season. As for the result of this game, I look for the Lightning to add another victory as I expect them to beat the New Jersey Devils at home.

Tony’s NHL Pick: Tampa Bay Lightning (-330)

Jeffery Thomas

The Devils will be trying to snap a two game losing streak in this one when they face the defending champion Lightning. Their most recent loss was a 1-5 defeat to the Dallas Stars, a game that was practically over in the first period as they quickly went down 0-3. It’s been a struggle for the Devils all season as they have a record of 15-21-5, and much of that can be attributed to a putrid offensive attack that averages only 2.85 goals per game. Tampa Bay is returning home following a 7-1 drubbing of San Jose. That win moved their record to 7-2-0 in their last 9 and they sport an impressive 14-4-3 record at home on the year. These teams met on November 20, with the Devils being the victors in that contest, 5-3. It took a 4 goal third period to erase a 1-3 deficit to pull off that win. 

It’s clear in this matchup that the Tampa Bay Lightning are the better team by far. In fact, they are one of the best teams in the league and should dominate this game from start to finish, with that November 20th matchup fresh on their minds. They will get up early, but not let history repeat itself as they will hold on and clear the puck line in this matchup. Take the Leafs to keep things rolling on home ice by 2 or more goals. 

Jeffery’s NHL Pick: Tampa Bay Lightning -1.5 (-124)

Vegas Golden Knights @ Florida Panthers – 7.00PM ET

The road trip continues on for the Vegas Golden Knights as they take on the Florida Panthers, who themselves kick off a two game homestand. The Golden Knights have won two of their last three games, and this takes their season record to 25-15-3. The Panthers have won three of their last games, including a win last time out, 5-3, against the Jets.

Denis Kirilov

The Vegas Golden Knights will travel to Florida on Thursday to face the high-flying Panthers who are looking to demolish yet another team in their FLA Live Arena. The Panthers have won 7 straight games at home as they managed to score 9 goals on two occasions. Great defensive teams like the Tampa Bay Lightning, the Calgary Flames, and the New York Rangers couldn’t withstand their fantastic offense. It seems that they might have reached an early peak in their performance, but to be fair, I would say they are just too good to be handled. 

The Vegas Golden Knights have lost their winning momentum with a defeat in their last match against the Carolina Hurricanes, 3-4 OT. The team was forced to play six consecutive narrow matches that went all the way down the wire and this has surely affected their endurance recently. Now, they will face the Panthers who are looking strong, topping the Eastern Conference with 63 points. On the other hand, the Golden Knights are 5th in the West with 53 points and the same number of games played. In my opinion, the Panthers are quite superior, especially at home, and I will definitely have them as the final winner in this promising clash of titans on Thursday in the NHL. 

Denis’ NHL Pick: Florida Panthers (-178)

Tony Battalio

The Vegas Golden Knights come into this game sitting in the driver’s seat of the Pacific Division. They are currently 25-15-3 through their first 43 games of the season. They will be looking to knock off one of the top teams in the league in this one as they travel to the east coast to take on the Florida Panthers. Vegas is currently on a one game losing streak after losing to the Carolina Hurricanes in their last game. This will be the third game of their ongoing road trip as they are currently 1-1-0 through the first two games of the trip.


The Florida Panthers come into this game as one of the top teams in the league. By many they are considered to be the top contender to dethrone the Tampa Bay Lightning and stop them from three peating as Stanley Cup champions. Through their first 43 games of the season the Panthers have a record of 29-9-5 on the season. They are currently in first place in the Atlantic Division. They are on a one game winning streak after beating the Vancouver Canucks in the finale of their road trip. As for the result of this game, I expect the Panthers to pick up another victory as I have them beating the Vegas Golden Knights.

Tony’s NHL Pick: Florida Panthers (-178)

Jeffery Thomas

The Florida Panthers will look to build on their league best home record when they host the Vegas Golden Knights on Thursday night. Their home record is 21-3 while the Golden Knights have an admirable road record of 12-5-1. This is a marquee matchup of two of the league’s best teams, as Vegas is first in the Pacific Division with 53 points and Florida is tops in the league with 63. The Vegas Golden Knights lost a tough one to Carolina on Tuesday, 3-4 in overtime, after roaring back from a 1-3 deficit in the third period. For Florida, it was a very solid performance in their last contest, taking care of the Winnipeg Jets 5-3 on the road. 

I was a little confused by this price when I first saw it and wouldn’t be surprised if it jumped up significantly by the time the game starts. We have the best team in the league opening as only -140 favorites at home where they dominate and that may give you pause and make you wonder what do the books know that we don’t. But instead I’m going to take advantage of this because I just love backing the Cats who just seem to win every game, and even when they’re down you never lose hope because of their ability to score at will. I know Vegas has won 7 of their last 8 road games, but if you look at it closer, they have only had 3 road games since the end of the Christmas break, which was a month ago, so it’s not a real indication of their recent road performances. I’m going to hammer the Panthers on Thursday night as it is impossible to pick against them when playing at home.

Jeffery’s NHL Pick: Florida Panthers (-178)

New York Rangers @ Columbus Blue Jackets – 7.00PM ET

Two teams from the Metropolitan Division face off against each other on Thursday night when the New York Rangers hit the road and take on the Columbus Blue Jackets. The Rangers are currently on a two game winning streak, with wins over the Coyotes and Kings. The Blue Jackets are playing on back-to-back nights, and last time out they suffered a major defeat, going down 0-6 to the Flames.

Denis Kirilov

The New York Rangers will try to further improve their record and at the same time worsen the situation for the Blue Jackets who have lost their last three matches at home. Columbus took a serious hit in their last game against the Calgary Flames as they went scoreless and lost by six goals, most of which came in late. The Blue Jackets had some high ambitions in the beginning of the season, but a couple of bad streaks damaged their hopes. The team, however, sits in 10th place in the Eastern Conference with 37 points from 40 matches, which is not so bad. They are still 18 points behind the Washington Capitals who are the last team that qualifies for the Playoffs in the Metropolitan Division for now. 

The Rangers, on the other hand, are looking at a 2-game winning streak in the NHL after defeating the Arizona Coyotes and the Los Angeles Kings. The team has been playing quite better at home than on the road, but they have also had their nice performances thousands of miles away from home. The Rangers have been one of the most conservative teams in the whole League, conceding just 110 goals for 43 matches as they continue to be in the top 3 in the East with 60 points and 28 wins. In my opinion, the team from New York is slightly better than their upcoming opponent, but I will trust that we won’t see that many goals in this game. 

Denis’ NHL Pick: Under 6.5 (-106)

Tony Battalio

The Columbus Blue Jackets will be playing the second game of a back to back in this one as they stay home to take on the Rangers. In the first game of their back to back the Blue Jackets hosted the Calgary Flames and it was a tight game all the way down to the near end of the second period when Calgary went ahead 0-2. The Blue Jackets started off the season as one of the surprisingly hot teams in the league, as the season has progressed however, they have fallen behind a little bit. After last night’s game against the Calgary Flames, Columbus comes into this one with a record of 18-21-1 through their first 40 games of the season. 
fanduel sign up bonus

The New York Rangers come into this game with a record of 28-11-4 through their first 43 games of the season. New York is currently in the driver’s seat of the Metropolitan Division, as they hold a one point lead over the Pittsburgh Penguins at the moment, although the Penguins do have a game in hand. The Rangers will be looking to extend their current two game winning streak as well in this one. As for the result of this game, that is exactly what I expect to happen as I have the New York Rangers picking up the victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets on the road.

Tony’s NHL Pick: New York Rangers (-220)

Jeffery Thomas

The Columbus Blue Jackets are coming into this one on the second leg of a back to back after being embarrassed at home by the Calgary Flames 0-6. They were outshot 23-62 in what was one of their worst performances of the year. Things won’t get any easier as they will now welcome in the Metro Division leading New York Rangers. The Rangers will be on 2 days rest, after taking down the Kings in a shootout 3-2 on Monday. 

The Rangers are the second best in the NHL at keeping pucks out of their net and that’s thanks to goalie Igor Shesterkin. He leads the league in save percentage and second in goals against average. When you combine that with the Blue Jackets recent struggles on offense, it’s pretty simple to see how the Rangers run away with this one. You can also throw in the fact that the Rangers have beaten the CBJ by 2 or more goals in their last three meetings, and with these teams heading in opposite directions, it’s safe to say we could see that trend continue. That I am betting on to happen as this Blue Jackets team is just in a miserable funk right now and the Rangers will take full advantage. 

Jeffery’s NHL Pick: New York Rangers -1.5 (+118)

Nashville Predators @ Edmonton Oilers – 9.00PM ET

The Nashville Predators wrap up their quick two game road trip on Thursday night when they take on the Edmonton Oilers. The Predators have won three games in a row, which includes wins over the Jets, Red Wings and Kraken. The Oilers are on a two game winning streak themselves, and their wins came over the Flames and Canucks.

Denis Kirilov

The Nashville Predators will travel to Canada on Thursday as they will face the Edmonton Oilers in their Rogers Place. The hosts had been one of the best home teams in the beginning of the season, but then some issues arose and their performance took a serious hit sending them outside of the top 10. Right now, the Oilers are 11th with just 42 points from 38 matches and the only thing that keeps them going is the fact that they have a lot of games in hand. Moreover, they managed to defeat two of their closest rivals, the Calgary Flames and the Vancouver Canucks, in their last matches in the NHL. 

The Nashville Predators will try to ride the wave as much as possible. They are undoubtedly the surprise of the season so far as their second place in the West has been unexpected. The team has won its last three matches in the League, cementing their legacy as a consistent roster throughout the campaign. The Predators managed to find their rhythm yet again with victories over the Winnipeg Jets, the Detroit Red Wings, and the Seattle Kraken. However, I think the team from Tennessee will face a hard time against the Oilers who seem to be picking up their pace recently. My pick here goes confidently in favour of the hosts. 

Denis’ NHL Pick: Edmonton Oilers (-125)

Tony Battalio

The Nashville Predators are coming into this game with a record of 27-14-3 through their first 44 games of the season, as they are ten games above the .500 mark. Nashville is currently on a three game winning streak after picking up victories over Seattle, Detroit, and Winnipeg. They will be looking to make it four straight against a recently slumping Edmonton Oilers team. Nashville is currently occupying a playoff spot as they find themselves in the middle of the pack in the Central Division. They will be looking for a big win in this one.


The previously mentioned Edmonton Oilers come into this game with a record of 20-16-2 on the season. It may be fair to say that the Oilers have been a bit of a disappointment so far this season considering they are only two games above .500 and have two of the best players in the entire National Hockey League. Edmonton comes into this game on a two game winning streak after picking up back to back victories over fellow Canadian teams, Calgary and Vancouver. As for the result of this game, I look for them to pick up a third straight win as I have them beating the Nashville Predators at home.

Tony’s NHL Pick: Edmonton Oilers (-125)

Jeffery Thomas

Nashville enters this game as underdogs against the Oilers despite being on a three game winning streak. They came back to beat the Seattle Kraken 4-2. They sit 2nd in the Central Division and the Western Conference as a whole only trailing the Avs. The Oilers are starting to find their winning ways, as they’ve now won 2 straight after not having a win in the month of January. Both wins were in comeback efforts, as they trailed 0-2 in both games before rallying back. They would want to change their method to victory going forward and try to be the ones to score one first, as they are a perfect 10-0-0 in games where they score first. The 10 occurrences of that are also the least in the league. The Predators on the other hand are very strong at gaining early leads as they’ve done it 26 times and hold a 21-4-1 record in said games. That will be an interesting storyline to follow in this game to see how that plays out and who scores first. 

This will be the second meeting of these teams this season, with the Oilers taking the first meeting 5-2 on November 3. It’s a revenge spot for the road team and getting plus money on what I see as the better team is a gift. The Oilers have won a couple in a row, but are just too prone to getting down early and having to rally back and with a team as strong as Nashville you can’t bank on them to keep that up. I’m going with the Preds to take this one in what should be a very entertaining matchup. 

Jeffery’s NHL Pick: Nashville Predators (+104)

If you’re looking for more NHL news, information and predictions, head over to our NHL hub page for all your ice hockey needs!

*Odds and spreads correct at time of writing, courtesy of FanDuel.

SportsTips covers all the latest betting, odds, picks & predictions news when it comes to major American sports like NFL, NBA, MLB & NHL. If you want to stay up to date with the latest information, SportsTips has you covered!