This slate was about control more than chaos. Ottawa turned defense into offense and basically removed Colorado’s shot volume from the game. Columbus got a wild one late even with Travis Konecny scoring three times, and the Islanders kept bullying the Rangers, who were short-handed and even scratched Artemi Panarin for “roster management.”
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Latest NHL Odds & Lines
Before you lock anything in, check the latest NHL odds and lines for moneyline, puck line, and totals. When shot volume collapses in one game and late third-period swings decide another, the board can shift quickly.
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NHL Picks of the Day
For quick-hit leans and matchup angles, start with today’s NHL picks and compare different approaches. I think it helps most on slates where one or two situational notes, like roster decisions, can completely change the game script.
Top Takeaways
- Ottawa held Colorado to a season-worst 18 shots. That’s not just “good defense,” that’s a game script where the opponent can’t even generate enough volume to threaten totals.
- Seven assists from Senators defensemen is the kind of signal bettors care about. When the blue line is creating offense, it usually means the team is spending time in the right end.
- Columbus-Philadelphia swung twice in the final minutes, Konecny tied it late, then Monahan answered a minute later. That’s late execution deciding sides and regulation markets.
- The Islanders-Rangers series has been one-way, 12-2 in goals and 3-0-0 for the Isles. That’s a matchup note, not a single-game note.
- Panarin being scratched for “roster management” matters because it changes New York’s ceiling immediately. Anything beyond that timeline is not confirmed here.
NHL Game Recaps
Colorado Avalanche vs Ottawa Senators Recap: Senators wins 5-2
Ottawa’s defensemen fueled the offense as the Senators beat Colorado 5-2 at home, with the six blueliners combining for seven assists. Tim Stutzle had a goal and an assist, while Ridly Greig, Nick Cousins, Claude Giroux and Brady Tkachuk also scored. Artem Zub posted two assists, and Thomas Chabot, Jake Sanderson, Tyler Kleven, Jordan Spence, and Nick Jensen added helpers.
The betting story is shot volume. Colorado managed a season-worst 18 shots, and James Reimer only needed 16 saves, which tells you how little sustained pressure the Avalanche created. Parker Kelly scored his 11th and Valeri Nichushkin scored for the first time since his New Year’s Eve hat trick, but Colorado couldn’t build enough offense to threaten once Ottawa got control.
Philadelphia Flyers vs Columbus Blue Jackets Recap: Blue Jackets wins 5-3
Sean Monahan scored the go-ahead goal with 3:28 left as Columbus beat Philadelphia 5-3 at home. Travis Konecny scored a hat trick for the Flyers, tying it 3-3 with 4:46 remaining, but Columbus answered quickly when Monahan converted a doorstep feed from Damon Severson.
The timing was everything. Konecny’s third goal felt like it might steal the result, and then a minute later it flipped back. Charlie Coyle had a goal and an assist on the night Columbus commemorated his 1,000th NHL game. Kirill Marchenko scored his team co-leading 19th, Erik Gudbranson added his first, and Mathieu Olivier hit the empty net to seal it as Columbus improved to seven wins in its last eight.
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New York Rangers vs New York Islanders Recap: Islanders wins 5-2
Ondrej Palat scored in his first game with the Islanders and New York never gave the lead back in a 5-2 win over the Rangers in Elmont. Palat also had an assist after being acquired Tuesday along with two draft picks from New Jersey for Maxim Tsyplakov. Simon Holmstrom, Mathew Barzal, Jean-Gabriel Pageau and Emil Heineman also scored for the Islanders.
This one also fits a bigger series pattern. The Islanders are 3-0-0 against the Rangers this season and have outscored them 12-2. Mika Zibanejad and Taylor Raddysh scored for the Rangers, who scratched leading scorer Artemi Panarin due to “roster management.” Newsday reported he will not play before the Olympic break begins Feb. 6, but anything beyond that context is not confirmed here.
NHL Picks and Handicappers
If you’re betting NHL daily, you need more than one angle, because game scripts can flip based on shot volume, special teams, and roster decisions that don’t show up cleanly in season stats. Following multiple sports handicappers helps you compare styles and see which reads consistently match how games actually play out.
If you want extra looks without forcing plays, the free service plays hub is useful for checking what’s being targeted. For fundamentals and staying disciplined through variance, the Bettor’s Handbook is a solid baseline, and the NHL betting guide keeps the focus on what decides results, shot volume, late-game execution, and matchup edges. If you’re scaling up, compare pricing packages and pick what fits your volume.
