NHL Best Bets & Picks: Mammoth vs Islanders, Canadiens vs Hurricanes – Expert Game Previews
The National Hockey League (NHL) rings in 2026 with eight games on the slate, including a pair of matinee games. The Utah Mammoth and New York Islanders meet at 3 p.m. EST on NHL Network, while the Winnipeg Jets and Toronto Maple Leafs meet at 7 p.m. EST in the second end of the network's doubleheader.
We'll provide single plays and parlay opportunities you could potentially pair with Thursday's College Football Playoff action, NBA and/or NCAA basketball action. Good luck with all of your plays, and Happy New Year! 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.
Utah Mammoth 
at New York Islanders 
The Mammoth (18-19-3) and the Islanders (22-14-4) tangle at UBS Arena in Elmont, N.Y., with a 3 p.m. EST puck drop on NHL Network.
It's a matinee game on Long Island, so might we get a little bit of partying from these teams the night before as they ring in the new year? It's pure speculation, but it might be a late night somewhere, even if the players just watch TV at the team hotel or home. It could mean a sluggish start to the game on Thursday afternoon.
Utah suffered a 4-3 loss against the Nashville Predators on Monday as a moderate favorite (-140) as the Over (5.5) cashed. And Utah is just 1-3-0 in four games, while the Under has cashed in four of the past six games.
On Monday, JJ Peterka opened the scoring with a power-play goal, and Mikhail Sergachev and Dylan Guenther scored even-strength goals, but it wasn't enough support for Vitek Vanecek, who stopped just 22 of 26 shots against the Preds. Guenther also chipped in with an assist, and he was the only player with two points for Utah.
The Islanders posted a 3-2 victory in a shootout as heavy favorites (-285) last time out in Chicago on Tuesday, cashing the Under (5.5) for the eighth consecutive game. The Isles are 3-1-0 in the past four games, and they've been involved in five one-goal games in the past eight outings since Dec. 13.
We're likely to get a matchup of Vanecek (2-9-1, 2.92 GAA, .879 save percentage) against David Rittich (10-4-2, 2.27 GAA, .917 save percentage, 2 SO) for the home side. The journeyman Rittich has been on fire in December, going 4-2-1 with a 1.83 GAA and .937 save percentage with a shutout in seven starts.
Let's back the Islanders to get the job done, and we'll go low on the total, as Utah has hit the Under frequently lately, while New York can't stop hitting low in December.
Islanders ML (-137 at BetRivers Sportsbook)
Montreal Canadiens 
at Carolina Hurricanes 
The Canadiens (21-12-6) and Hurricanes (24-12-3) meet at the Lenovo Center in Raleigh, N.C., on ESPN+ at 7 p.m. EST.
Montreal picked up a 3-2 victory in overtime at Florida on Tuesday, as the Canadiens continue to have a stranglehold over the two-time defending Stanley Cup champions for some reason. However, things haven't gone as well against the Canes.
Montreal has won the past two home meetings with Carolina, but the Hurricanes have won eight of the past 10 meetings since March 31, 2022, with Carolina going a perfect 5-0-0 in the past five at Lenovo Center, outscoring Montreal 23-7, winning each of those meetings by at least two goals.
The Canadiens are 4-0-2 in the past six games, playing into overtime or a shootout in three of the past four outings, while the Over is 3-1-0 in the span.
Sam Montembeault returned to the crease in Florida, and he led the team to the OTW with 28 saves on 30 shots, allowing one power-play goal. He was sent to the Laval Rocket of the AHL for a conditioning period, returning for his first NHL action in three weeks. He didn't look rusty, and he looked very prepared and ready to go.
Montembeault (6-6-1, 3.52 GAA, .863 save percentage) could get the start in Raleigh, and he is projected to face Brandon Bussi (13-1-1, 2.08 GAA, .912 save percentage, 1 SO), who has been just a touch better in December with a 6-0-1 mark, 2.05 GAA and .916 save percentage. in seven starts.
The Canadiens suffered a 5-1 loss against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday night, and it is just 2-3-1 in the past six games, although Carolina is 4-1-0 in the past five games on home ice.
Let's back the Hurricanes on the moneyline and go low on the total in what should be a strong goaltending matchup.
Hurricanes ML (-210 at BetRivers Sportsbook)
Don't make any bets on your favorite sports betting apps without first consulting the latest NHL odds.
Parlay Strategy and Super Parlay Picks for NHL Betting Slates
2-Leg NHL Sides Parlay (+153 BetRivers Sportsbook)
- Islanders ML (-139) vs. Mammoth
- Hurricanes ML (-215) vs. Canadiens
