Expert NHL Betting Picks Today: Saturday, January 17

Written by

Daniel Dobish

Published on January 17, 2026

Sync Your League

Get RotoWire's custom analysis to choose the best team for you before the season and in-season.

Sync unlimited leagues
Custom reports based on your team
Access premium tools specific to your league

NHL Best Bets & Picks: Wild vs Sabres, Rangers vs Flyers & More – Expert Game Previews

The National Hockey League (NHL) has 13 total games on the schedule for Saturday, including a matinee game at 12:30 p.m. EST on NHL Network between the Minnesota Wild and Buffalo Sabres. We'll be focusing on the early window for Saturday's games.

We'll provide single plays and parlay opportunities you could potentially pair with NBA and/or NCAA basketball action. Good luck with all of your plays! Let's get started.

Top up your bankroll thanks to sportsbook promos like this BetMGM bonus code offering $1,500 in bonus bets.

For the latest NHL Odds, including NHL Futures and NHL player props, visit RotoWire's NHL Betting page. For up-to-date NHL player news and NHL Injury Report info, head to RotoWire's NHL Lineups page. You can find more picks at Bookies.com/picks. Here are our NHL Best Bets today, featuring expert NHL picks for an action-packed slate of games.

Minnesota Wild at Buffalo Sabres

The Wild (26-13-9) and Sabres (26-16-4) meet at KeyBank Center in Buffalo on Saturday at 12:30 p.m. EST on NHL Network.

These teams met Nov. 29 in the Twin Cities, with the Sabres coming away with a 3-2 win in a shootout as the Under (6.5) cashed. That's par for the course, as the Under has cashed in six straight meetings since Jan. 28, 2023. While these teams meet just twice per season, that's still an impressive trend to consider.

Minnesota is on an Over run lately, though, cashing high in three in a row, and seven of the past eight, giving up four or more goals in three straight. The Wild are 0-2-1 in the past three outings, and 1-3-2 in the past six contests.

The Sabres, on the flip side, have won two in a row and five of the past six outings, going for exactly five goals in each of the victories. Since Dec. 9, Buffalo is a scorching 15-2-0 in 17 games, cashing the Over in six in a row.

We're going to back the Sabres on home ice and go high on the total, going against the series trends.

Sabres ML (-108 at BetRivers Sportsbook)
Over 6 (-120 at Bet365 at Caesars Sportsbooks)

Don't make any bets on your favorite sports betting apps without first consulting the latest NHL odds.

New York Rangers at Philadelphia Flyers

The Rangers (20-22-6) and Flyers (22-16-8) meet at Xfinity Mobile Center in Philadelphia at 1 p.m. EST on ESPN+ in the second of four season meetings between these rivals.

These teams met at Madison Square Garden on Dec. 20, with the Rangers coming away with a 5-4 win in a shootout. Artemi Panarin had two goals in that victory, while Travis Sanheim and Trevor Zegras had power-play goals for the Flyers. Rodrigo Abols also had a shorthanded goal in the losing effort.

The Flyers limp in on a four-game losing streak, while going 0-4-1 in the past five outings. Philly has been outscored 23-8 in the four-game skid, with the Over going 3-1 in the span.

The Rangers are also on a four-game slide, while going 0-4-1 in the past five contests. New York is also 1-6-2 in the past nine outings, so someone is going to be a much-needed win. The Rangers have coughed up 27 goals in the past four games, including eight or more goals in two of the past three.

Igor Shesterkin (lower body) is out indefinitely, and his absence has been damaging to New York, as Jonathan Quick no longer has it. The 39-year-old Quick is 0-4-1 with a 5.78 GAA and .786 SV% in four January starts and five appearances. And, he hasn't won in 10 starts since Nov. 7 in Detroit.

Let's back the Fly Guys and go high on the total, since neither side can seem to stop anybody.

Flyers ML (-130 at DraftKings Sportsbooks)
Over 5.5 (-140 Bet365 and Caesars Sportsbooks)

Toronto Maple Leafs at Winnipeg Jets

In the second end of a day-night NHL Network doubleheader, the Maple Leafs (23-16-8) and Jets (19-22-5) meet at 7 p.m. EST.

The Maple Leafs were 8-0-2 in 10 games from Dec. 23-Jan. 12, but they ran out of steam in Utah, getting drummed 6-1 by the Mammoth. It fought hard in a wild 6-5 OTL in Vegas against former buddy Mitch Marner. The Over has cashed in three in a row, as the improved goaltending duo of Dennis Hildeby and Joseph Woll is suddenly mortal again.

The Jets have Connor Hellebuyck back and healthy again for the past month, and he is slowly trying to round back into his Vezina form again. The Jets have won four in a row, outscoring the opposition 20-10, as the Over is 3-0 in the past three games, and 7-1 in the previous eight contests.

After allowing four goals in each of the first three starts of January, Hellebuyck is 3-0-0 with a 3.01 GAA and .898 SV% in his past three contests.

The Leafs have dominated this series, going 7-1 in the past eight meetings, including a crazy 6-5 victory at Scotiabank Arena as moderate favorites (-135) on New Year's Day as the Over (5.5) easily cashed. The Over has hit in three straight meetings, with an average of 9.3 GPG in that span.

Let's certainly go high, and based on Toronto's dominance in the series, go lightly on the Leafs.