NHL Best Bets and Player Props for January 20th
Summary
Monday’s NHL schedule features two home teams aiming to reverse recent trends. Dallas, despite a three-game losing streak, is favored to defeat the hot Boston Bruins due to a superior goaltending edge with Jake Oettinger and a more complete team structure at home. Separately, the Columbus Blue Jackets, riding a four-game win streak, are expected to defeat the Ottawa Senators. Columbus benefits from opening a homestand and facing Ottawa’s struggling goaltending, which should allow their high-volume shooting attack to succeed in a likely high-scoring game.
Monday’s slate features two games where home teams are trying to flip their recent narratives. Dallas looks to snap a three-game skid against a hot Boston squad that’s been scoring in bunches but might be overachieving on finishing.
Columbus opens a five-game homestand riding four straight wins against an Ottawa team that creates offense but can’t keep the puck out of their own net. Both matchups should come down to goaltending edges and situational spots.
Best Bets Quick Summary
- Dallas Stars ML (-165)
- Blue Jackets ML (-104)
Boston Bruins at Dallas Stars – 7:30 PM
Two teams walking into American Airlines Center in completely different headspaces.
Boston is rolling with six straight wins, scoring in bunches, and getting contributions from every line. Dallas has hit a wall—three straight losses where they’ve managed just one goal per game. But zoom out, and you still see a strong home team with one of the league’s more complete profiles and a goalie you can trust to settle things down when the game gets tight. If you’re tracking momentum shifts and team trends, the latest NHL odds offer great insight heading into this matchup.
Best Bet – Dallas Stars Moneyline (-165)
The price isn’t pretty—Dallas is expensive for a team on a three-game skid. But there are concrete reasons the Stars still make the most sense here.
The goaltending edge leans hard toward Dallas—Jake Oettinger’s simply the more reliable, steady presence, especially at home. In a game that feels like a one-goal margin, that difference matters—especially if it’s 2–2 late and both sides are pressing for the winner.
Even during this losing stretch, they’re not getting shelled or giving up ugly goals in bunches. They’re keeping games manageable and just not finishing their chances. That’s a team ready to break through against a quality opponent, not a team spiraling into chaos.
Boston’s six-game heater includes some nights where everything went in. They’re playing well, no question, but they’ve also had games where they scored way more than their underlying chances suggested. That kind of hot finishing doesn’t always travel on the road against a structured team with elite goaltending.
Projected Score: Dallas 3, Boston 2 (empty net makes 4-2 possible)
Player Props to Consider
David Pastrnak Over Shots on Goal
Pastrňák has been a shot machine with 39 shots over his last 10 games. He plays massive minutes, drives Boston’s offense, and if the Bruins are chasing at any point, he’s the guy firing from everywhere.
Roope Hintz Over Shots on Goal
Hintz has been one of Dallas’ most consistent volume shooters with 32 shots in his last 10 games while playing heavy minutes. Even during Dallas’ cold stretch, he’s still generating attempts and getting pucks on net. If Dallas is trying to get back to basics and simplify their offense, it starts with Hintz shooting.
Ottawa Senators at Columbus Blue Jackets – 7:00 PM
This game has all the makings of a chaotic, high-event mess—goals, momentum swings, and goaltending that won’t bail anyone out.
Ottawa and Columbus come in with identical records, but they’ve gotten there in completely different ways. The Senators can drive play and create chances. When they’re rolling, they control long stretches and look capable of beating anyone. The problem? They can’t keep the puck out of their own net, especially on the road.
Columbus is riding momentum with four straight wins and opening a five-game homestand with real positive energy around the team. They’ve been playing fast, generating shot volume, and looking like a group that expects good things to happen when they get pucks on net.
Best Bet – Columbus Blue Jackets Moneyline (-104)
This price is the entire story. Columbus at basically a pick’em is impossible to ignore given the matchup.
Ottawa is likely starting Leevi Meriläinen, who’s been struggling badly with an .842 save percentage in recent action. That’s the kind of number that turns routine shots into goals and routine leads into third-period collapses. Columbus doesn’t need to generate elite chances—they just need volume, and Meriläinen will give them a few soft ones if they keep pressuring.
Columbus has the better situational setup: more rest, home ice, and the energy of kicking off a long homestand. They’ll be motivated to start strong.
The Blue Jackets are generating offense the simple way—shot volume and net-front chaos. They’re not relying on miracle finishes or perfect execution. They’re putting pucks on net and letting things happen, which is exactly the right approach against shaky goaltending.
I expect a messy game with goals coming in bunches and neither team really locking things down defensively. Columbus wins because they’re home, they’re hot, and Ottawa’s goaltending is a disaster waiting to happen.
Projected Score: Columbus 4, Ottawa 3
Player Props to Consider
Kirill Marchenko Over Shots on Goal
Marchenko has 35 shots in his last 10 games, and he’s been scoring lately. Against Ottawa’s shaky goaltending and tendency to give up chances off the rush, he’s one of the Blue Jackets’ best shoot-first threats.
