NHL betting schedule breakdown, rest edges: Jan. 20 – 26

There’s a lot to consider when handicapping NHL games, like team strength, injuries, and starting goaltenders, but rest is up there in terms of importance. That’s why we break down the schedule and do the homework for you, highlighting the biggest rest mismatches each week.

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 >	210	60.0%	55.9%
Home =	385	54.8%	54.7%
Home <	143	45.5%	52.7%

Monday, January 20th

Monday is Martin Luther King Jr. Day in the United States, and NHL games are scheduled throughout the day, starting with the San Jose Sharks visiting the Boston Bruins at 1 p.m. ET. All but two games will be played between teams on equal rest. The Buffalo Sabres, coming off a two-day break, will try to get back in the win column when they visit the Seattle Kraken, while the Carolina Hurricanes will look for their second straight win against the Chicago Blackhawks in the first half of a back-to-back on the road.

The Vegas Golden Knights return to the friendly confines of The Fortress after going 0-3 on their recent road trip. They’ll host the St. Louis Blues in what will be their third game in four days. Pittsburgh will also play its third game in four days as the Penguins continue a season-long seven-game road trip, taking on the Kings in Los Angeles, who are returning home after their own five-game road trip.

Other	Rest Days	Visitor	Home	Rest Days	Other
	1	SJS	BOS	1
	1	MIN	COL	1
	2	BUF	SEA	1
	1	STL	VGK	1	3/4
	1	TBL	TOR	1
	1	CBJ	NYI	1
	2	CAR	CHI	1
	1	WPG	UTA	1
3/4	1	PIT	LAK	1

Tuesday, January 21st

Four road teams will be playing their second game in two days when they play on Tuesday. The Tampa Bay Lightning will visit the Montreal Canadiens, who will be playing their third game in four days. San Jose will conclude a five-game road trip in Nashville against the well-rested Predators. Carolina will visit the Dallas Stars before returning home for one game. Buffalo will also be in action, taking on the Vancouver Canucks, who will be coming off a two-day break.

Several teams will be playing their third game in four days, like the Ottawa Senators and New York Rangers, who will go head-to-head. Same goes for the Detroit Red Wings, but they’ll be taking on a rested Philadelphia Flyers team. There are also a couple of games featuring teams that’ll have two days’ rest. The Edmonton Oilers will host the Washington Capitals, and the Florida Panthers will visit the Anaheim Ducks.

Other	Rest Days	Visitor	Home	Rest Days	Other
2/2	0	TBL	MTL	1	3/4
3/4	1	OTT	NYR	1	3/4
3/4	1	DET	PHI	2
2/2	0	SJS	NSH	2
2/2	0	CAR	DAL	1	3/4
	2	WSH	EDM	2
2/2	0	BUF	VAN	2
	2	FLA	ANA	2

Wednesday, January 22nd

Florida will continue its four-game Western Conference road trip in Los Angeles on Tuesday. Meanwhile, Boston will make a quick trip to New Jersey to take on the Devils, who will be coming off a two-day break. The Bruins will then head back home to play a rematch with the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday.

Other	Rest Days	Visitor	Home	Rest Days	Other
	1	CBJ	TOR	1
	1	BOS	NJD	2
	1	WPG	COL	1
2/2	0	FLA	LAK	1

Thursday, January 23rd

The Calgary Flames will have the biggest rest advantage (three days) on Thursday when they host Buffalo on its third game in four days. Meanwhile, the Penguins and Kraken will have one-day rest advantages heading into their matchups against the Ducks and Capitals, respectively. Boston and Ottawa will meet in a game that will have big playoff implications, but both teams will be tired. However, the Bruins are worse off in the second half of a back-to-back. Columbus will also be playing back-to-back in Carolina.

Other	Rest Days	Visitor	Home	Rest Days	Other
4/6	1	OTT	BOS	0	2/2
4/6	1	MTL	DET	1	4/6
	1	PHI	NYR	1	4/6
2/2	0	CBJ	CAR	1	3/4
	2	VGK	STL	2
	2	UTA	MIN	2
3/4	1	BUF	CGY	4
	1	VAN	EDM	1
	2	PIT	ANA	1
	1	WSH	SEA	2
	1	NSH	SJS	1	3/4

Friday, January 24th

There are only four games scheduled for Friday but the schedule makes things a bit more interesting. All four home teams have rest advantages, as three of the four road teams will be playing their second game in two days. The Tampa Bay Lightning will have had two days of rest, but their opponent, the Chicago Blackhawks, will be coming off a three-day break.

Other	Rest Days	Visitor	Home	Rest Days	Other
2/2	0	PHI	NYI	3
	2	TBL	CHI	3
2/2	0	VGK	DAL	2
2/2	0	UTA	WPG	1

Saturday, January 25th

Saturday’s slate will feature teams playing on equal rest, for the most part, but there are some notable matchups schedule-wise. The Colorado Avalanche will visit the Boston Bruins following a two-day break, with the home team playing its third game in four days. New Jersey, Toronto, Los Angeles, and Florida will also be well-rested compared to their opponents. Meanwhile, Carolina is playing its fourth game in six days, but they’ll face an Islanders team that played on Friday.

Other	Rest Days	Visitor	Home	Rest Days	Other
	2	COL	BOS	1	3/4
4/6	1	BUF	EDM	1
	1	PIT	SEA	1
	2	NJD	MTL	1
	2	TOR	OTT	1
2/2	0	TBL	DET	1
	2	LAK	CBJ	1	3/4
2/2	0	DAL	STL	1
	1	CGY	MIN	1
4/6	1	CAR	NYI	0	2/2
	1	WSH	VAN	1
	1	NSH	ANA	1
	2	FLA	SJS	1	4/6

Sunday, January 26th

The New York Rangers have a tough matchup on Sunday, as they’ll host Colorado, but the Avalanche will be tired after playing on Saturday. Ottawa might be in the toughest spot, considering it will be its sixth game in nine days, but the Utah Hockey Club won’t exactly be rested either. Same goes for the Florida Panthers, who will finish off a back-to-back set against the Vegas Golden Knights. Calgary and Minnesota will also be playing in the second half of back-to-back games.

Other	Rest Days	Visitor	Home	Rest Days	Other
2/2	0	COL	NYR	2
3/4	1	UTA	OTT	0	6/9
2/2	0	CGY	WPG	1
2/2	0	MIN	CHI	1
2/2	0	FLA	VGK	1	3/4