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Free NHL Picks Today for Thursday, January 28th, 2021

We have 14 NHL games on the schedule for Thursday January 28th, and these are our betting picks and predictions.

Free NHL Picks Today for Thursday, January 28th, 2021
Picks & Predictions
Thu 28th January 2021

After only two games on yesterday, we’ve got a stack of games on today, so get excited! Who will come out on top?

Find all of our free NHL picks for the scheduled game below.

Pittsburgh Penguins @ Boston Bruins – 7:00 PM ET

The Pittsburgh Penguins saw their four-game winning streak snapped when they lost to Boston in overtime on Tuesday, 3-2. However, the team has recorded points in five straight games and are 4-2-1 overall. Pittsburgh trailed 2-0 in this contest, but rallied to tie the score, recording the equalizer with a little over three minutes left in the contest.

However, with 11 seconds left in overtime they gave up the game-winner. Casey DeSmith continues to be solid in the net, posting a 2.76 GAA, but has a mediocre .871 save percentage. Sidney Crosby still leads the team in points with seven and is the team leader in goals (3) and assists (4) as well.


With the victory, Boston moved to 4-1-1. They are a perfect 3-0 at home. The Bruins are getting outstanding goaltending, allowing just 12 goals this season and have a +6 goal differential, the best in the East Division.

Tuukka Rask has been getting better with each start, reducing his GAA to 2.13 with a .905 save percentage. Jaroslav Halak has been an outstanding backup, posting a 1.44 GAA and a .938 save percentage. Brad Marchand leads the team with four goals, five assists, and nine points.

NHL Pick – Boston Bruins (-125)
NHL Spread – Pittsburgh Penguins +1.5 (-244)
Game Totals Pick – Under 5.5 (+105)

New York Rangers @ Buffalo Sabres – 7:00 PM ET

The New York Rangers continue to struggle, losing their last four games, dropping them to 1-4-1. The most recent loss was to Buffalo on Tuesday, where the teams exchanged goals through the first two periods before Jack Eichel scored the game-winner a little less than eight minutes into the second.

Goal scoring has been an issue for the Rangers, who have just 15 this season. Artemi Panarin leads the team in points with six. His two goals are tied for the team lead. Goaltending has been solid for New York. Alexandar Gerogiev (2.66 GAA) and Igor Shesterkin (2.98) have alternated games and both have looked pretty good early on. Both have save percentages under .900.


With the victory, Buffalo moved to 3-3-1. They have been the model of consistency, scoring 21 goals while allowing 21. The goaltending for the Sabres has been solid, behind Linus Ullmark who has a 2.42 GAA and a .912 save percentage. Carter Hutton has a 2.65 GAA. Eichel leads the team in scoring with eight points. Victor Olofsson leads Buffalo with three goals.

NHL Pick – New York Rangers (-110)
NHL Spread – New York Rangers -1.5 (+209)
Game Totals Pick – Under 6.0 (-110)

Philadelphia Flyers @ New Jersey Devils – 7:00 PM ET

Philadelphia beat New Jersey on Tuesday, 5-3. That moved the Flyers to 4-2-1 on the season. They have allowed 25 goals while scoring 25 goals. Philadelphia got two goals from James vsn Riesdyk and a goal and two assists from Igor Provorov in the victory.

Three Flyers players are tied for the team lead in points with eight each, which includes Travis Konecny, who also leads the team in goals with five. Kevin Hayes and Jakub Voracek also have eight points. Brian Elliott has been great in net, posting a 1.98 GAA and a .938 save percentage. Carter Hart has been mediocre to this point, posting a 4.18 GAA and five starts.


With the loss, New Jersey dropped to 3-2-1. They have scored 14 goals while allowing 16. Jack Hughes is the team’s leading scorer was seven points. He is tied for the team lead in goals with three. Ty Smith has six points and leads New Jersey with five assists.

The Devils are getting solid goaltending starting with Mackenzie Blackwood who has a 1.90 GAA and a .948 save percentage. Scott Wedgwood has split time with Blackwood and has a 2.70 GAA and a .914 save percentage.

NHL Pick – Philadelphia Flyers (-161)
NHL Spread – Philadelphia Flyers -1.5 (+318)
Game Totals Pick – Over 5.5 (-130)

New York Islanders @ Washington Capitals – 7:00 PM ET

New York lost to Washington on Tuesday, 3-2. That dropped the Islanders to 3-3-0 on the season. New York has had outstanding goaltending, allowing just 11 goals the season. However, their offense has been abysmal, netting just 11.

Semyon Varlamov has a 1.00 GAA through four starts. He gave up two goals in the loss to Washington, the most he has allowed this season. Mathew Barzal leads the team in points with six and is the team’s leading goal scorer with three. Two players have recorded four points this season.


With the victory, Washington moved to 4-0-3. They have recorded at least one point in every game this season and have been an offensive power with 25 goals. They have allowed 23. Nicklas Backstrom is off to a fast start for the Capitals, leading the team in goals with four and in points with eight.

John Carlson has five assists for Washington and seven points overall. Vitek Vanecek has been solid and net with a 2.70 GAA and a .918 save percentage. His backup has not been as good, as Ilya Samsonov has a .868 save percentage.

NHL Pick – Washington Capitals (+128)
NHL Spread – Washington Capitals +1.5 (-449)
Game Totals Pick – Under 5.5 (-135)

Tampa Bay Lightning @ Carolina Hurricanes – 7:00 PM ET

Tampa Bay returned to the ice for the first time since losing to the Columbus Blue Jackets last Saturday, 5-2. They are now 3-1-0 with 15 goals scored and 10 goals allowed. Andrei Vasilevskiy has been in net for all four of the Lightnings’ games, recording a 2.24 GAA and a .920 save percentage. Steven Stamkos is the leading scorer was six points. Eight different players on Tampa Bay have at least three points through the first four games.

Carolina will be returning to the ice for the first time since January 18 when they defeated Nashville, 4-2. With just three games under their belt, they are 2-1-0, last in the Central Division. However, they have played four last games then division leading Columbus. Carolina is getting exceptional goaltending, allowing just six goals.


Petr Mrazek has a 1.53 GAA and a .912 save percentage. His backup, James Reimer, has an impressive .939 save percentage. Carolina is led in scoring by Andrei Svechniokov who leads the team with three goals and five points.

NHL Pick – Tampa Bay Lightning (-145)
NHL Spread – Tampa Bay Lightning -1.5 (+286)
Game Totals Pick – Over 5.5 (-130)

Florida Panthers @ Columbus Blue Jackets – 7:00 PM ET

Florida defeated Columbus in a shootout on Tuesday, 4-3. The Panthers trailed twice in this game, including a 3-2 deficit with just three seconds left, but Patric Hornqvist tied the score to force overtime where the Hurricanes won in a shootout.

Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 19 of 22 shots for Florida. He has a 3.35 GAA and a .879 save percentage. Hornqvist is tied for the team lead in points with Carter Verhaeghe with five each. Hornqvist leads the team in goals with four.


Columbus is 2-2-3 and their seven points are tops in the division. Columbus has scored 18 goals this season, but has allowed 22. The Blue Jackets are led by Alexander Texier and Oliver Bjorksrand who each have six points.

Texier is the leading goal scorer with four. Joonas Korpisalo has started four games in net for Columbus, posting a 2.45 GAA and a .928 save percentage. Elvis Merzlikins has seen plenty of action, however, appearing in three games with a 3.34 GAA and a .891 save percentage.

NHL Pick – Columbus Blue Jackets (-115)
NHL Spread – Florida Panthers +1.5 (-272)
Game Totals Pick – Over 5.5 (-120)

Calgary Flames @ Montréal Canadiens – 7:00 PM ET

Calgary lost their second straight game to Toronto on Tuesday, 4-3. That dropped the Flames to 2-2-1. Calgary is getting exceptional production out of their offense, who have 16 goals through five games. Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan lead the team in points with seven. Gaudreau has four goals to lead the club.

Seven different players have at least three points through the first five games. Jacob Markstrom has been a workhorse early on, starting all five games. He has a 2.62 GAA and a .911 save percentage.


Montréal won their second game in a row with a 5-2 victory over Vancouver on Saturday, moving to 4-0-2. Carey Price was solid in net, stopping 23 of 25 shots. Price lowered his GAA to 3.14 and now has a .893 save percentage.

Jake Allen has actually been the better of the two goaltenders, posting a 2.01 goals-against average and a .907 save percentage. The Canadians are the top scoring team in the NHL with 29 goals.

Tyler Toffoli leads the team in points with eight and in goals with five. Jeff Petry follows close behind with seven points. Six different Montréal players already have at least five points.

NHL Pick – Montréal Canadiens (-130)
NHL Spread – Montréal Canadiens -1.5 (+188)
Game Totals Pick – Over 6.0 (-110)

Los Angeles Kings @ Minnesota Wild – 8:00 PM ET

Los Angeles won their second game in a row and third in the last four when they defeated Minnesota on Tuesday, 2-1. Suddenly the Kings are right in the thick of things in the West Division with a 3-2-1record. The team has scored 22 goals and allowed 21.

Calvin Petersen was exceptional in net for Los Angeles, stopping 32 of 33 shots.  It will likely be Jonathan Quick in net on Thursday. Quick is 2-0-2 and four starts with a 3.15 GAA and a .898 save percentage. Anze Kopitar is ranked in the top five in scoring with 10 points, including nine assists.


With the loss, Minnesota dropped to 4-3-0. They are tied with Los Angeles for third place in the division. Rookie Kaapo Kahkonen was the hard luck loser on Tuesday, stopping 19 of 21 shots. Cam Talbot will likely return to the net on Thursday.

He has a 2.34 GAA and a .925 save percentage. Three Minnesota players are tied for the team lead in points with six, including Joel Eriksson who leads the team with four goals. Jordan Greenway and Kirill Kaprizov each have a goal and five assists. 

NHL Pick – Minnesota Wild (-161)
NHL Spread – Los Angeles Kings +1.5 (-200)
Game Totals Pick – Under 5.5 (-130)

Detroit Red Wings @ Dallas Stars – 8:00 PM ET

Detroit lost to Dallas on Tuesday and overtime, 2-1. Thomas Greiss was the hardl uck loser, allowing two goals on 22 shots. That dropped Detroit to 2-4-1. Setting aside Greiss’ start, goaltending has been a serious issue for Detroit as they have

allowed 22 goals.

However, the offense has not been much better, recording just 13. The -9 goal differential is the worst in the division. Greiss lowered his goals-against average to 2.54. Dylan Larkin is the team’s leading scorer with six points. Bobby Ryan has four goals to lead the club.


Dallas has been absolutely ridiculous since finally being able to take to the ice. It took until January 22 for them to play their first game, but they are 3-0 with 12 goals scored and just three allowed. The +9 goal differential is the second best in the NHL.

The Stars are getting outstanding goaltending from Anton Khudobin, who has a 0.99 GAA and a .958 save percentage. The Stars netminder has stopped 69 of 72 shots he has faced this year. Through just three games, Joe Pavelski already has eight points, including three goals and five assists. All of those numbers lead the team. John Klingberg also has five assists and six total points.

NHL Pick – Dallas Stars (-200)
NHL Spread – Dallas Stars -1.5 (+125)
Game Totals Pick – Over 5.5 (+115)

St. Louis Blues @ Vegas Golden Knights – 9:00 PM ET

*This game has now been postponed due to COVID-19 health and safety protocols, a new date has not been confirmed at this time*

This contest pits the top two teams in the West Division. St. Louis defeated Vegas in a shootout on Tuesday, 5-4. David Perron had two goals for the Blues in the victory. That gave him three on the season and six total points, tied for second on the team.

Jordan Kyrou is the team leader in points with seven. Brayden Schenn has six points and leads the team with four goals. Jordan Binnington continues to be a workhorse in net, starting six of the team’s seven games. He has a 2.74 GAA and a .913 save percentage.


The Blues are now 4-2-1 while Vegas dropped to 5-1-1. The teams are separated by just two points now. Robin Lehner had his worst start of the season, and now has a 2.95 GAA and a .885 save percentage.

It will likely be that Marc-Andre Fleury will be in goal for the Golden Knights on Thursday. Fleury has a 1.00 GAA and an impressive .951 save percentage. Mark Stone leads the NHL in points with 11, including nine assists, tied for the top mark in the league. Max Pacioretty is the league’s leading scorer with six goals.

NHL Pick – Vegas Golden Knights (-149)
NHL Spread – Vegas Golden Knights -1.5 (+157)
Game Totals Pick – Under 6.0 (-125)

San Jose Sharks @ Colorado Avalanche – 9:00 PM ET

Colorado defeated San Jose on Tuesday, 7-3. Martin Jones was blitzed, allowing five goals on just 19 shots before he was pulled before the halfway mark. That dropped his goals-against average to 3.91 in his save percentage to .871.

It could mean that Devan Dubnyk (3.29) will be in goal on Thursday. The Sharks have allowed 28 goals now while only scoring 22. Tomas Hertl is the team leader in points (7) and is tied for the team lead in goals (3) and assists (4). Logan Couture has six points for the team.


With the victory, Colorado moved to 4-3-0, and their eight points are tied for third in the West Division. Brandon Ssad had two goals and Cale Makar added three assists to lead the team. Philip Grubauer rebounded after a disappointing performance in his previous start to stop 27 of 30 shots.

The Colorado netminder has a 2.17 GAA and a .919 save percentage. Nathan MacKinnon leads the team in points with nine. Mikko Rantanen has six goals to lead the club.

NHL Pick – Colorado Avalanche (-244)
NHL Spread – Colorado Avalanche -1.5 (+109)
Game Totals Pick – Over 6.0 (-120)

Anaheim Ducks @ Arizona Coyotes – 9:00 PM ET

Anaheim defeated Arizona on Tuesday, 1-0. Ducks goaltender John Gibson has been dominant this year and was outstanding in this contest, stopping all 31 shots he faced. For the season, Gibson has started six games and has a microscopic 1.67 GAA and a .948 save percentage.

That was already his second shutout of the season. The victory moved Anaheim to 3-2-2, tied for third in the West Division. It has been outstanding goaltending carrying this team, because they are producing no offense at all, recording just 12 goals, the third fewest in the league. Carter Rowney leads the team in points with four.


The loss was a heartbreaker for Arizona, who dropped into last place in the division at 2-4-1. They got an incredible outing out of Darcy Kuemper but came away with nothing to show for.

Kuemper had his best game of the season, and now has a 2.51 GAA and a .913 save percentage in six starts. Arizona is led in scoring by Conor Garland who has two goals and four assists (6 points). Phil Kessel remains the leading goal scorer with four.

NHL Pick – Arizona Coyotes (-141)
NHL Spread – Anaheim Ducks +1.5 (-229)
Game Totals Pick – Under 5.5 (-135)

Toronto Maple Leafs @ Edmonton Oilers – 10:00 PM ET

Toronto defeated Calgary on Tuesday for their third straight victory, 4-3. The Maple Leafs got a goal and an assist from both Mitchell Marner and Auston Matthews. The victory moved Toronto to 6-2-0, tops in the North Division.

They have scored 26 goals the season while allowing 22. With the two points, Marner now has 12, including five goals and seven assists. Each of those totals leads the team. Matthews is second on the team in points with eight and second on the team in goals with four.


Edmonton lost to Winnipeg on Tuesday, 6-4. That dropped the Oilers to 3-5-0, tied for fourth in the division. Goaltending has been a serious challenge for this team as they have allowed 29 goals the season, second most in the division and the -6 differential is the second worst in the division.

Mikko Koskinen has been in net every minute so far this season for the Oilers, posting a 3.42 GAA and a .900 save percentage. Connor McDavid continues his run for an MVP, leading the team with 12 points. He is also the team leader in goals with five and is tied for the team lead in assists with seven. Leon Draisaitl has 11 points, including seven assists.

NHL Pick – Toronto Maple Leafs (-125)
NHL Spread – Toronto Maple Leafs -1.5 (+244)
Game Totals Pick – Under 6.5 (-115)

Ottawa Senators @ Vancouver Canucks – 10:00 PM ET

Ottawa was facing Vancouver prior to the writing of this article. The Canucks defeated the Senators on Monday, 7-1. Entering Wednesday’s action, Ottawa was 1-4-1, last in the North Division. The team has had a terrible time trying to keep opponents out of the net, allowing 27 goals through the first six games.

Matt Murray was expected to be the No. 1 goaltender, but he has been mediocre to say the least, posting a 4.47 GAA and a .862 save percentage. Nikita Zaitsev leads the team in points with five. Chris Tierney has three of the team’s 15 goals.


With the victory, Vancouver moved to 3-5-0, tied for fourth of the division. They also nearly cut their goal differential in half, reducing it to -7. The Canucks have allowed 34 goals the season, the most in the NHL.

Braden Holtby has a 3.70 GAA and Thatcher Demko has a 4.33 GAA. Demko was in the net for Vancouver on Wednesday, meaning it will likely be Holtby between the pipes on Thursday. Vancouver is led in scoring by Bo Horvat who has 10 points. He also leads the team with five goals.

NHL Pick – Vancouver Canucks (+106)
NHL Spread – Vancouver Canucks -1.5 (+160)
Game Totals Pick – Over 6.5 (+114)

The 2021 NHL season is here! If you want to catch up with all the latest information, make sure you visit our NHL hub page.

*Odds and spreads correct at time of publication, courtesy of Bet365.

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