Four games are on tap for the NHL’s Wednesday night slate.
The pregame narrative: Two teams with Stanley Cup aspirations square off in Denver, where I’m backing Nikolaj Ehlers to notch a point for the Winnipeg Jets. I also have fades on Boston’s Morgan Geekie and New Jersey’s Dougie Hamilton.
Check out my NHL prop picks for Jan. 22.
NHL prop picks
Go to full NHL betting markets.
Best bet: Geekie under 0.5 points (-155)
Geekie has been a nice depth piece for the Bruins’ forward group.
Since coming over from the Seattle Kraken, he’s recorded 61 points in 119 games for the B’s.
I mention those numbers because that isn’t top-line production, even though that’s where he currently plays in the lineup.
You can get this price on Geekie mainly because of his linemates, David Pastrnak and Pavel Zacha. But Geekie only plays a little over 15:00 a night and skates on Boston’s No. 2 power-play unit.
New Jersey ranks in the top 10 in nearly every defensive category. This isn’t exactly the slump-busting opponent Geekie is looking for:
- 5th in goals allowed/game (2.53)
- 3rd in shots allowed/game (25.6)
- 8th in penalty kill (82.1%)
Key stat: Geekie has recorded just two points in seven career games versus the Devils.
Quick picks
Hamilton under 2.5 shots (-114): Hamilton’s offensive numbers are down across the board this season.
Two years removed from his 74-point campaign, Hamilton is on pace for just 50 points this year.
He’s taking fewer shots and his 4.3% shooting percentage is a career low, after back-to-back seasons with a shooting percentage of 8.0% or greater.
Hamilton’s regression is the backbone of this pick, but the matchup plays a role, too.
Boston still has a stifling defence that takes away time and space. Four of its six starting defencemen are 6-foot-3 or taller.
This bet has cashed in six straight games.
Ehlers over 0.5 points (-157): Ehlers has been humming lately, and I want in on the fun.
The Great Dane has 13 points in his last 12 games and is averaging a point per game this season.
He’s also scoring on 14.0% of his shots, which is 2.2 percentage points above than his career average (11.8%).
Ehlers plays on the top unit of the league’s No. 1 power play, which has a 32.1% success rate.
Although Colorado’s goaltending issue has improved with the addition of Mackenzie Blackwood, it still ranks toward the bottom of the NHL at 3.1 goals allowed per game (19th).
Picks made at 11:30 a.m. ET on 01/22/2025.
