Ten games are featured on Thursday night’s loaded NHL slate.
The pregame narrative: Zach Werenski is one of the hottest players in the NHL, and the Columbus Blue Jackets have a plus matchup tonight, at home, against the Seattle Kraken. I like him to record a power-play point. Additionally, I’m backing Cam Fowler and Connor Brown to get on the score sheet.
Check out my NHL prop picks for Jan. 9.
NHL prop picks
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Best bet: Werenski over 0.5 power-play points (+185)
Don’t look now, but the Blue Jackets hold the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference after finishing dead last a season ago.
They’ve won six of their last nine contests, averaging over four goals per game in that stretch. A large part of the recent success is their performance at home this season.
- Home: 13-5-3, +17 goal differential
- Away: 5-12-3, -24 goal differential
Columbus’ offence has been ranked in the top 10 for the bulk of the season, but the power play has caught fire recently, with Werenski leading the charge.
Werenski tallied 15 points in his last nine games. Seven of which have come on the man-advantage.
The former eighth-overall pick is on pace to smash his single-season points record (57) set last year and he’s averaging nearly three minutes per game on the power play.
Key stat: Werenski leads the Blue Jackets in points (46) and power-play points (19).
Quick picks
Fowler to score 1+ points (+123): Sticking to the scoring defenceman theme, I’m taking Fowler to produce against his old team.
Not exactly a pure revenge spot, as parting ways with Anaheim was mutual, but I still expect this one would be circled on Fowler’s calendar.
Fowler has thrived in his new home scoring nine points in 12 games with the Blues, after a measly four points in 17 games with the Ducks.
The Windsor native is pacing a point per game in his last nine with an astonishing 22.2 SH% over that stretch.
The Ducks allow the most high-danger chances per 60 in the league (14.1), according to Natural Stat Trick. They also own the 26th-ranked penalty kill (73.7%).
Brown to score 1+ points (+133): Connor Brown recently got the promotion to Edmonton’s first line, playing with Connor McDavid and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins.
He’s taken advantage of the opportunity, recording six points in his last seven games. That comes after a supremely sluggish 13 points in 33 games to start the year.
It’s no secret the Pittsburgh Penguins have struggled defensively all season.
- Last in goals allowed/game (3.62)
- Last in high-danger goals/allowed per 60 (1.78)
- 29th in shots allowed/game (31.4)
I anticipate Brown to receive opulent opportunity to get on the scoresheet playing with a couple of the league’s premier playmakers.
Picks made at 2:32 p.m. ET on 01/09/2025.
