NHL betting schedule breakdown, rest mismatches: Feb. 3 – Feb. 9
This is the final week before the NHL pauses for the 4 Nations Face-Off from Feb. 12-20. Until then, teams must push through their remaining games, with some facing a more condensed schedule than others. This article breaks down the next seven days and highlights the biggest rest mismatches.
The table below shows how home-ice advantage was influenced by rest last season:
| Rest Diff | Games | Home Win % | Implied Odds |
| Home > | 373 | 59.0% | 55.9% |
| Home = | 690 | 53.8% | 55.4% |
| Home < | 249 | 47.8% | 50.8% |
Here’s how rest has impacted home-ice advantage this season:
| Rest Diff | Games | Home Win % | Implied Odds |
| Home > | 248 | 59.7% | 56.2% |
| Home = | 427 | 54.8% | 55.0% |
| Home < | 167 | 47.3% | 52.1% |
Monday, February 3rd
The week starts quietly with just one game as Nashville hosts Ottawa. The Predators will be playing their third game in four days, while the Senators begin a back-to-back. Nashville will have three days off following this game. This matchup might also be the first game back for goaltender Linus Ullmark.
| Other | Rest Days | Visitor | Home | Rest Days | Other |
| 1 | OTT | NSH | 1 | 3/4 |
Tuesday, February 4th
Tuesday is one of two 14-game slates this week. Ottawa faces a well-rested Tampa Bay team in the first of two meetings over three days, while Columbus plays its fourth game in six days against a surging Buffalo squad looking for its third straight win. The Blue Jackets are aiming for their fourth consecutive victory.
Several teams, including Florida and Calgary, will be playing their third game in four days against opponents coming off two days’ rest. Meanwhile, the Islanders and Red Wings are in similar spots but facing teams with just a one-day break. The biggest rest mismatch is Montreal vs. San Jose, as the Sharks will have been off for four days while the Canadiens had just one.
| Other | Rest Days | Visitor | Home | Rest Days | Other |
| 2 | MIN | BOS | 2 | ||
| 4/6 | 1 | CBJ | BUF | 1 | |
| 2/2 | 0 | OTT | TBL | 2 | |
| 1 | NJD | PIT | 2 | ||
| 3/4 | 1 | FLA | WSH | 2 | |
| 1 | VGK | NYI | 1 | 3/4 | |
| 2 | EDM | STL | 1 | ||
| 2 | CAR | WPG | 2 | ||
| 2 | TOR | CGY | 1 | 3/4 | |
| 1 | PHI | UTA | 1 | ||
| 1 | COL | VAN | 1 | ||
| 1 | DAL | ANA | 1 | ||
| 3/4 | 1 | DET | SEA | 1 | |
| 1 | MTL | SJS | 4 |
Wednesday, February 5th
All three road teams on Wednesday—Boston, Edmonton, and Montreal—will be playing the second half of back-to-back games against well-rested opponents. The Rangers host the Bruins after a two-day break, while Chicago and Los Angeles return from three-day breaks to face the Oilers and Canadiens.
| Other | Rest Days | Visitor | Home | Rest Days | Other |
| 2/2 | 0 | BOS | NYR | 2 | |
| 2/2 | 0 | EDM | CHI | 3 | |
| 2/2 | 0 | MTL | LAK | 3 |
Thursday, February 6th
Thursday features nine games, but every team will be on equal rest with just one day off, making it a light night in terms of schedule advantages. However, Calgary and Florida will be playing their fourth game in six days, while Ottawa plays its third game in four days.
| Other | Rest Days | Visitor | Home | Rest Days | Other |
| 3/4 | 1 | OTT | TBL | 1 | |
| 1 | VGK | NJD | 1 | ||
| 1 | WSH | PHI | 1 | ||
| 1 | UTA | CBJ | 1 | ||
| 4/6 | 1 | FLA | STL | 1 | |
| 1 | CAR | MIN | 1 | ||
| 1 | COL | CGY | 1 | 4/6 | |
| 1 | TOR | SEA | 1 | ||
| 1 | VAN | SJS | 1 |
Friday, February 7th
Most road teams will be well-rested on Friday, except for Colorado, which plays the second half of a back-to-back in Edmonton. The Oilers won’t be fresh either, as this will be their third game in four days. Pittsburgh and Dallas will have a one-day rest advantage over their opponents, while Nashville will have a two-day edge against Chicago.
| Other | Rest Days | Visitor | Home | Rest Days | Other |
| 2 | PIT | NYR | 1 | ||
| 2 | NYI | WPG | 2 | ||
| 3 | NSH | CHI | 1 | ||
| 2/2 | 0 | COL | EDM | 1 | 3/4 |
| 2 | DAL | LAK | 1 |
Saturday, February 8th
Saturday’s 14-game slate features several teams playing back-to-back games, including Pittsburgh, the Rangers, Chicago, Nashville, the Islanders, Los Angeles, and Dallas. Among them, Nashville and Los Angeles face the biggest rest mismatches.
Additionally, three teams—Montreal, Detroit, and Boston—will have rest advantages over their opponents, while Ottawa plays its fourth game in six days against Florida.
| Other | Rest Days | Visitor | Home | Rest Days | Other |
| 1 | NJD | MTL | 2 | ||
| 1 | TBL | DET | 3 | ||
| 1 | UTA | CAR | 1 | ||
| 1 | VGK | BOS | 2 | ||
| 4/6 | 1 | OTT | FLA | 1 | |
| 2/2 | 0 | PIT | PHI | 1 | |
| 2/2 | 0 | NYR | CBJ | 1 | |
| 2/2 | 0 | CHI | STL | 1 | |
| 1 | TOR | VAN | 1 | ||
| 3 | BUF | NSH | 0 | 2/2 | |
| 2/2 | 0 | NYI | MIN | 1 | |
| 1 | SEA | CGY | 1 | ||
| 3 | ANA | LAK | 0 | 2/2 | |
| 2/2 | 0 | DAL | SJS | 1 |
Sunday, February 9th
Super Bowl Sunday wraps up the week with just two games before the NHL breaks for the 4 Nations Face-Off. Washington will have a two-day rest advantage over Utah, while Montreal hosts Tampa Bay in a game between two fatigued teams.
| Other | Rest Days | Visitor | Home | Rest Days | Other |
| 2/2 | 0 | UTA | WSH | 2 | |
| 2/2 | 0 | TBL | MTL | 0 | 2/2 |