ScoresandStats.com Latest Sports Previews

Tampa Bay heads west to open the new year against the Kings at Crypto.com Arena on Thursday, January 1, with a 7:00 PM start on ESPN+. The Lightning are 23-13-3 and playing like a team that expects to be there in April, while Los Angeles is 16-13-9 and trying to climb in the Pacific with a home game that actually matters in the standings. The market has the Kings favored at home, which is a nod to their defensive profile and the way they can squeeze games into low-event scripts. Tampa is the kind of opponent that can still win those, though. This handicap comes down to who controls 5v5 pace and whether the Lightning’s blue line injuries force them

Montreal opens 2026 on the road in Raleigh, visiting Carolina at the Lenovo Center on Thursday night at 7:00 PM with ESPN+ carrying the broadcast. The Canadiens are 21-12-6 and playing confident hockey right now, while the Hurricanes are 24-12-3 and sitting on top of the Metro, even after a rough result in their last outing. The market has Carolina priced like the superior team at home, which makes sense given their shot-volume identity and the way they can smother opponents shift after shift. The bet is whether Montreal’s special teams and finishing can hold up against that pressure, especially with both lineups dealing with key absences. These are the current betting lines, and bettors should monitor updated NHL odds

Houston heads to Brooklyn playing efficient basketball and trending up offensively. The Rockets are pushing for a fourth straight win and have rediscovered their early-season shooting form. Even without Alperen Sengun on Monday, Houston shot 59 percent and built a comfortable lead against Indiana. Sengun is probable to return, which restores their interior hub and playmaking from the post. Brooklyn is steadier than its early-season record suggests, but Monday’s loss to Golden State exposed familiar issues. The Nets allowed heavy fourth-quarter efficiency and sent the Warriors to the line too often. That combination erased an early lead and stalled a recent three-game win streak. For wider slate context, visit the NBA previews hub. Houston opened -4.5 and the number has

Detroit heads into Pittsburgh for a Thursday night matchup at PPG Paints Arena on January 1 at 7:00 PM, streaming on ESPN+. The Red Wings are 24-14-3 and sitting on top of the Atlantic, while the Penguins are 17-12-9 and trying to keep pace in a crowded Metro. This market is tight for a reason. Detroit has been the more consistent team over the full season, but Pittsburgh is priced as a small home favorite and they’re capable of scoring in bunches when the power play gets rolling. If you’re betting this one, you’re mostly choosing which team’s strengths show up more: Detroit’s defensive commitment and structure, or Pittsburgh’s special teams and high-end shot creation. These are the current betting