Odds, Lines, and Picks for All Five NHL Opening Night Matchups
By Ryan Bolta in NHL Hockey
Published:
- The NHL season begins with five games Wednesday, January 13th, 2021
- The defending Stanley Cup Champion Tampa Bay Lightning are the biggest favorite on opening night
- Here are the odds, lines, and picks for each game
Are you ready for 116 consecutive days of NHL hockey? You better be.
Opening night features five games, including both the defending Stanley Cup champions and an original six rivalry. Here are the odds, lines, and picks for each game to help you start the season on a winning note.
NHL Opening Night Odds
| Team | Moneyline | Spread | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pittsburgh Penguins | +100 | +1.5 (-275) | O 6 (-107) |
| Philadelphia Flyers | -117 | -1.5 (+220) | U 6 (-114) |
| Team | Moneyline | Spread | Total |
| Montreal Canadiens | +118 | +1.5 (-230) | O 6.5 (-103) |
| Toronto Maple Leafs | -136 | -1.5 (+188) | U 6.5 (-118) |
| Team | Moneyline | Spread | Total |
| Chicago Blackhawks | +185 | +1.5 (-137) | O 6.5 (+100) |
| Tampa Bay Lightning | -225 | -1.5 (+116) | U 6.5 (-121) |
| Team | Moneyline | Spread | Total |
| Vancouver Canucks | +107 | +1.5 (-265) | O 6 (-114) |
| Edmonton Oilers | -124 | -1.5 (+210) | U 6 (-107) |
| Team | Moneyline | Spread | Total |
| St. Louis Blues | +125 | +1.5 (-225) | O 5.5 (-120) |
| Colorado Avalanche | -148 | -1.5 (+185) | U 5.5 (-103) |
Odds taken Jan. 12th from DraftKings
Pittsburgh Penguins vs Philadelphia Flyers
Both the Penguins and Flyers were listed at -110 on the moneyline when these odds opened but that’s no longer the case. Pittsburgh is now even money and that’s great value in the opening game of the NHL season. Star center Sidney Crosby has played exactly four games since March the 10th of 2020.
The first game of the 2020-21 campaign is set to include two of the highest scorers in season-openers among active players in @penguins teammates Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby.
📺: Pittsburgh at Philadelphia, 5:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN, SN1
More #NHLStats: https://t.co/05wufHGa5V pic.twitter.com/ca6g89ar8o
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) January 12, 2021
We haven’t seen the 33-year old veteran this rested in a long time. Trust Pittsburgh to get on the board with a victory in game one thanks in large part to a big performance from their captain.
The Pick: Pittsburgh Penguins Moneyline (+100)
Montreal Canadiens vs Toronto Maple Leafs
The Maple Leafs have the best odds to win the Stanley Cup in the North Division and, for good reason. Toronto added six new pieces to their opening night roster but the reality is their success rides on the shoulders of Auston Matthews. All indications are the training wheels are off, and he is going to see a ton of ice-time this season. Head coach Sheldon Keefe will even use Matthews on the penalty kill to try and steal more minutes from his highest paid player.
Auston Matthews can become the first player in NHL history to begin his career by scoring in his team’s season-opening game in five straight campaigns.
More #NHLStats: https://t.co/Ls9KzItz98 pic.twitter.com/AMvCR3j1Xa
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) January 11, 2021
Look for Matthews to have a big opening night on a line with Mitch Marner and the newly acquired Joe Thornton. The offense that line provides will be more than enough to make a wager on the moneyline a winner.
The Pick: Toronto Maple Leafs Moneyline (-136)
Chicago Blackhawks vs Tampa Bay Lightning
The defending Stanley Cup champion Lightning start their title defense against the Blackhawks. Call it even on the injury front as both teams are missing a key player with Jonathan Toews out for Chicago and Nikita Kucherov missing for Tampa Bay.
THIS IS OUR TIME
YOUR TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING ARE STANLEY CUP CHAMPIONS!!!!! pic.twitter.com/1trZdj2JPf
— x – Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) September 29, 2020
Most defending champions start slowly, and that’s after a full off-season of partying. With such a short turnaround, it’s almost expected the Lightning could limp out of the gate. Trust the Blackhawks to keep the opener close and enjoy the fact an underdog on the puck line is only going to cost you -137.
The Pick: Chicago Blackhawks +1.5 (-137)
Vancouver Canucks vs Edmonton Oilers
Reigning MVP Leon Draisaitl and superstar teammate Connor McDavid combined for 207 points last season. They are expected to face free agent signing Braden Holtby, who ranked 47th out of 55 qualified goalies in goals-against average last season. It’s an early-season mismatch for two of the league’s most gifted offensive players.
Mike Smith's new @nhl @EdmontonOilers @grantfuhr #Joeymoss #goaliemask chk out the video and back story https://t.co/By1tvRwtyx pic.twitter.com/Rlm2JdImIO
— David Arrigo (@darrigoart) January 12, 2021
That’s not to say the Oilers are a sure thing, they have their own problems. Injuries have their defensive lineup looking suspect heading into the opener. Ethan Bear, Caleb Jones, and Slater Koekkoek are all on different pairings. That’s to say, one of those three players will be on the ice at all times, which gives the Canucks deep group of forwards a chance of potting some easy goals as well. Instead of trying to decide which team is in more trouble in their own end, take the over and cheer for offense from both sides.
The Pick: Over 6.0 (-114)
St. Louis Blues vs Colorado Avalanche
Let’s not overthink this pick. The Blues begin life without Alex Pietrangelo traveling to Colorado to face Nathan MacKinnon and one of the NHL’s trendiest picks to win the Stanley Cup. Take the Avalanche on the moneyline, and don’t think twice.
It will be interesting to see how defensive-minded the Avalanche will be this season with such a high-octane offensive attack.
The Pick: Colorado Avalanche (-148)
Sports Writer
Ryan has been working at TSN for over eleven years, and is now a lead writer and content producer at That's Hockey. Over the years, he's launched and hosted TSN's first NCAAF podcast, The College Football Show, and been featured on the likes of TSN 1050, Sportscentre, and That's Hockey 2Nite.
