NHL betting schedule breakdown & rest mismatches: Nov. 18-24

Rest is a key factor when handicapping NHL games, so hockey bettors should make studying the NHL schedule a daily habit. It’s not just about what’s happened—it’s about what’s coming up. That’s why each week, we break down the schedule and highlight any rest advantages or disadvantages teams may have.

The table below shows how home-ice advantage was affected by rest last season:

Rest Diff	Games	Home Win %	Implied Odds
Home >	373	59.0%	55.9%
Home =	690	53.8%	55.0%
Home <	249	47.8%	50.8%

Here’s how rest has affected home-ice advantage this season:

Rest Diff	Games	Home Win %	Implied Odds
Home >	89	61.8%	64.6%
Home =	143	53.1%	57.5%
Home <	54	51.9%	52.9%

Monday, November 18th

We kick off the week with a six-game slate, mostly featuring mismatches. Dallas, Edmonton, Colorado, and Boston are heavy favorites, while Washington and Detroit are smaller favorites.

The Capitals make sense as smaller favorites since they’re playing a rested Utah team in the second half of a back-to-back. Similarly, the Red Wings are playing their third game in four days.

Dallas (-450) is the biggest moneyline favorite, facing a rested Ducks team. Colorado stands out as the only favorite with more rest than its underdog opponent. Meanwhile, Columbus, on a seven-game road losing streak, is also playing its third game in four days.

Other	Rest Days	Visitor	Home	Rest Days	Other
3/4	1	CBJ	BOS	1
	2	COL	PHI	1
	1	EDM	MTL	1
	2	ANA	DAL	1
2/2	0	WSH	UTA	2
3/4	1	DET	SJS	1

Tuesday, November 19th

Tuesday is only slightly busier than Monday, with seven games on the schedule. Edmonton faces Ottawa in the second half of a back-to-back, while Chicago hosts Anaheim for its own back-to-back. Both Ottawa and Anaheim will come in with two days’ rest. Beyond that, there aren’t many notable rest mismatches. However, St. Louis and Vancouver will both be playing their third game in four days.

Other	Rest Days	Visitor	Home	Rest Days	Other
2/2	0	EDM	OTT	2
	2	TBL	PIT	2
	2	MIN	STL	1	3/4
	2	FLA	WPG	2
2/2	0	ANA	CHI	2
	2	NYI	CGY	3
	1	NYR	VAN	1	3/4

Wednesday, November 20th

Wednesday offers another calm before the storm, with just five games on the schedule. The Toronto Maple Leafs and Los Angeles Kings will each have three days off heading into home games against the Vegas Golden Knights and Buffalo Sabres, respectively. Both opponents will come in with two days’ rest. Vegas will head to Ottawa to face the Senators after its game in Toronto. Carolina will have a one-day rest advantage over Philadelphia but will also play again on Thursday. The remaining teams are on equal rest, though Wednesday’s game in St. Louis marks the first half of a back-to-back for the San Jose Sharks.

Other	Rest Days	Visitor	Home	Rest Days	Other
	2	VGK	TOR	3
	2	CAR	PHI	1
	1	SJS	DAL	1
	2	NSH	SEA	2
	3	BUF	LAK	3

Thursday, November 21st

Thursday’s slate features 10 games, with three teams carrying over from Wednesday. Ottawa and St. Louis will both have one day off when they host Vegas and San Jose, respectively, though it will mark the fourth game in six days for the Blues. Meanwhile, the New Jersey Devils will be well-rested as they host the tired Hurricanes. Elsewhere, Edmonton returns home from a three-game Eastern Conference road trip to play its third game in four days. However, it’s not a true rest mismatch. The remaining games feature teams on equal rest.

Other	Rest Days	Visitor	Home	Rest Days	Other
	2	UTA	BOS	2
2/2	0	VGK	OTT	1
	1	NYI	DET	2
2/2	0	CAR	NJD	4
	2	COL	WSH	2
	1	TBL	CBJ	2
2/2	0	SJS	STL	1	4/6
	1	FLA	CHI	1
	1	NYR	CGY	1
	1	MIN	EDM	1	3/4

Friday, November 22nd

Winnipeg kicks off a six-game road trip on Friday in Pittsburgh, with both the Jets and Penguins coming in after two days of rest. Buffalo will have one day off before traveling to Anaheim to face the Ducks, who will be on two days’ rest after returning from a two-game road trip. Three of the four teams in action on Friday will play again on Saturday.

Other	Rest Days	Visitor	Home	Rest Days	Other
	2	WPG	PIT	2
	1	BUF	ANA	2

Saturday, November 23rd

Saturday is packed, with 30 teams in action throughout the day. As usual, the Flyers will play in the early slot, holding a one-day rest advantage when they host the Chicago Blackhawks. The rest of the early games involve teams on equal rest, but the matchups get more intriguing later in the day.

Montreal enjoys a three-day rest advantage at home against Vegas, which will be playing its third game in four days. Similarly, the Vancouver Canucks have a two-day rest edge over the Ottawa Senators on the road.

The Penguins, Sabres, and Jets will all be playing their second game in as many days. Meanwhile, the Hurricanes visit the Blue Jackets for their third game in four days, and the Oilers face the Rangers at Rogers Place in what will be their fourth game in six days.

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

Sunday, November 24th

Hockey fans should soak it all in on Saturday because Sunday features just one game. Utah heads to Toronto after playing in Pittsburgh, taking on the Maple Leafs, who will have a three-day rest advantage. After this matchup, the Maple Leafs get two more days off to prepare for road games against the Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning.

Other	Rest Days	Visitor	Home	Rest Days	Other
2/2	0	UTA	TOR	3