Jackson Kerbl

The Edmonton Oilers host the Seattle Kraken on Monday night.

The pregame narrative: Connor McDavid returns to action tonight after serving his three-game suspension. I’m backing him to produce on the power play, while fading Seattle’s Vince Dunn and Matty Beniers.

Check out my Kraken vs. Oilers prop picks for Jan. 27.

Kraken vs. Oilers prop picks

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Best bet: McDavid over 0.5 power-play points (+135)

McDavid is back and poised to have a strong performance following the suspension for cross-checking Vancouver’s Conor Garland.

McDavid gets added motivation tonight in a plus matchup for the Oilers to begin with.

The Richmond Hill native paces the Oilers with 20 power-play points in just 43 games this season.

He’s the main reason for Edmonton’s seventh-ranked power play, scoring nearly 25% of the time.

According to Natural Stat Trick, the Oilers have rank fifth in expected goals per 60 (3.3).

Key stat: The Kraken own the 11th-worst penalty kill in the NHL (76.8%).

Quick picks

Dunn under 0.5 points (-157): With such a high-powered offence full of star players, the Oilers’ defence gets overlooked.

• They rank 7th in goals allowed/game: 2.7
• 4th in shots allowed/game: 26.4
• Take the seventh-fewest penalties: 6.8 minutes/game

Dunn’s offensive production has diminished this season, and he’s also no stranger to the injury bug. The former St. Louis Blue has missed 20 games already this season.

He has just three points in his last 10 games and hasn’t fared much better against the Oilers in his career.

In 20 games, Dunn has just nine points versus the Pacific division rivals.

Beniers under 1.5 shots (-130): Since his Calder winning season in 2022-23, Beniers has struggled mightily.

Beniers has just 27 points in 50 games this year, preceded by a brutal 37-point campaign last season.

The former 2nd overall pick has cashed this bet in eight of the last nine games.

I like that trend to continue tonight in a tough matchup against one of the best all-around teams in the NHL.

Picks made at 4:15 p.m. ET on 01/27/2025.

The San Jose Sharks host the Penguins Penguins on Monday night.

The pregame narrative: Two teams in the bottom seven of the NHL standings square off on Monday night. I’m betting on Mikael Granlund and Jake Walman to find the scoresheet. I also have a fade play on William Eklund.

Check out my Penguins vs. Sharks prop picks for Jan. 27.

Penguins vs. Sharks prop picks

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Best bet: Granlund over 0.5 points (-150)

Granlund’s play has been consistent throughout the season in a rebuilding year for San Jose.

He leads the Sharks in assists (29), points (43) and power-play points (15).

The Penguins have been dreadful this season, especially in the defensive end.

• They rank 31st in goals allowed/game: 3.6
• 29th in shots on goal allowed/game: 31.0
• Allowed nine goals against in the last two games

The over has hit in three straight meetings between these teams, with a combined goal total of 28 over that stretch.

Key stat: Granlund has seven points in his last seven games.

Quick picks

Eklund under 1.5 shots (+110): Eklund is having a solid season thus far. In just his second full year in the NHL, he’s recorded 37 points in 47 games.

A big step up from his rookie campaign, recording just 45 points in 80 games.

His 11.9% shooting percentage is right around his career average (11.8%), but the number of shots he’s taken has decreased.

Eklund has gone over 1.5 shots only one time in his last six games.

Even with the plus matchup for the young Swede, I like this spot for a fade opportunity.

Walman over 0.5 points (+118): Walman seems to have finally found a home with San Jose.

The 28-year-old has been on three different teams in four seasons in the NHL.

He got drafted by the St. Louis Blues before getting traded to the Detroit Red Wings, and finally, signed with the Sharks this off-season.

Walman has already passed his career high in points this season with 28 in 39 games.

The Toronto native quarterbacks San Jose’s No. 1 power-play unit, where he’s recorded six points.

He leads all Sharks skaters in time on ice (22:44), too.

Picks made at 1:10 p.m. ET on 01/27/2025.

Five games are on tap for Monday’s NHL slate.

The pregame narrative: The St. Louis Blues try to get back on track after losing two straight against the Vancouver Canucks. I’m backing Dylan Holloway to record 1+ points, Jack Hughes to produce on the power play and Dylan Larkin shots prop.

Check out my NHL prop picks for Jan. 27.

NHL prop picks

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Best bet: Holloway over 0.5 points (-143)

It seems like a change of scenery is all Holloway needed to find his groove at the NHL level.

After just 18 points in 89 games to start his career with the Edmonton Oilers, Holloway has 37 points this season in 50 games.

He finds himself playing first-line minutes alongside Brayden Schenn and Jordan Kyrou. He also plays on the No. 1 power-play unit.

The Vancouver Canucks rank 24th in goals allowed/game (3.17) and according to Natural Stat Trick, the Canucks have the second-lowest high-danger save percentage in the NHL (77.15%).

Key stat: Holloway has 13 points in his last 12 games.

Quick picks

Hughes over 0.5 power-play points (+175): Hughes has cemented himself as one of the league’s young superstars.

It’s hard to believe he’s in his sixth season in the pros at just 23 years old.

Hughes has 57 points in 51 games this year with New Jersey, including 25 on the man advantage. Both are pacing all Devils skaters.

The Orlando native has three power-play points in his last five games. He is the main facilitator on the NHL’s second-ranked power play, operating at 28.7%.

Larkin over 2.5 shots (-130): The Los Angeles Kings pose a tough matchup for Larkin and the Red Wings, but I have reason to believe the captain will prevail in the shots department.

Larkin has 148 shots this season and is on pace to pass his 246 career 82-game average.

He’s cleared this line in six straight games and seven of the last eight.

The Kings are favoured to win tonight, so I like the game script in this one for Larkin to pepper shots on goal to get back in the game.

Picks made at 11:10 a.m. ET on 01/27/2025.

The Chicago Blackhawks host the Tampa Bay Lightning on Friday night.

The pregame narrative: The Lightning hope to come out of Friday’s contest with two points and maintain their wild-card position in the Eastern Conference. I’m backing Tampa forwards Nikita Kucherov and Brandon Hagel while fading the Hawks’ Teuvo Teravainen.

Check out my Lightning vs. Blackhawks props for Jan. 24.

Lightning vs. Blackhawks prop picks

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Best bet: Hagel over 2.5 shots (-143)

Hagel has become one of the more underrated players in the NHL even after making the Canadian 4 Nations team, coached by a familiar face in Jon Cooper.

The Saskatoon native is coming off back-to-back 60-point seasons, including his first 30-goal campaign in 2022-23.

His 133 shots this season are on pace to smash his 173 career 82-game average.

The Blackhawks rank 30th in shots allowed/per game (31.2) and allow the most high-danger goals per 60 (1.74), according to Natural Stat Trick.

Key stat: Hagel has cleared this mark in five of the last six games.

Quick picks

Kucherov over 0.5 power-play points (-130): Father time is undefeated, but Kucherov is aging just fine.

After a marvellous 144-point season a year ago, the now 31-year-old is putting up similar numbers, pacing just below that mark.

Kucherov reached the 70-point mark last game against the Montreal Canadiens and leads Tampa with 27 power-play points.

Chicago allows the fourth-most goals/game (3.43), including ample high-danger opportunities, as previously mentioned.

The Lightning own the sixth-ranked power play (26.7%) and score the most goals/game in the NHL (3.61).

Teravainen under 0.5 points (-130): I’ve yet to mention that the Hawks have trouble on offence as well.

• 31st in goals/game: 2.6
• 32nd in shots/game: 25.1
• T21st in shooting percentage: 10.3%

Teravainen and company will try to score on the 10th-ranked goaltending tandem, with a season team goals-against average of 2.83.

The Finn has just 33 points in 47 games this season in his first year with Chicago.

Picks made at 2:40 p.m. ET on 01/24/2025.

Four games are on tap for Friday’s NHL slate.

The pregame narrative: The New York Islanders are hosting the Philadelphia Flyers but I’m fading the home team’s Kyle Palmieri to record a point. I also have bets on Josh Morrissey and Pavel Dorofeyev.

Check out my NHL prop picks for Jan. 24.

NHL prop picks

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Best bet: Dorofeyev over 0.5 points (-109)

I made this pick last Friday when the Vegas Golden Knights battled the Carolina Hurricanes — a similar opponent to tonight’s Dallas Stars matchup.

Dorofeyev hasn’t given any reason to steer away from backing him.

He played just 47 games last year, recording 13 goals and 24 points. This season, in 48 games, he has 21 goals and 31 points.

Vegas recognized his talent and moved him to the No. 1 power play, where he’s potted nine of his 21 goals. He leads the Knights in PP tallies.

Key stat: Dorofeyev has 10 points in the last six games, including six on the man advantage.

Quick picks

Palmieri under 0.5 points (-148): The Islanders are not a good hockey team.

To go with the league’s worst penalty kill (67.7%), they also rank poorly in most offensive categories:

• T28th in goals/game: 2.65
• 32nd in power play: 12.5% (laughable)
• 29th in shooting percentage: 9.2%

Palmieri hasn’t fared any better. The former Devil has just three points in his last 10 games and is without a goal since Dec. 23.

He’s been demoted to the Islanders’ No. 2 power-play unit, but at a 12.5% success rate, it probably doesn’t matter where he’s slotted.

Morrissey over 0.5 points (-155): Morrissey is coming off a strong performance on Wednesday in Colorado.

The Calgary native picked up two assists with four shots on goal, playing just over 23:00.

Morrissey has eight points in 10 games in January and is fifth in the league in points for defencemen (42).

He quarterbacks the No. 1 ranked power play in the NHL operating at 31.9%, where 17 of his 42 points have come from.

Picks made at 11:30 a.m. ET on 01/24/2025.

The Vancouver Canucks and Edmonton Oilers battle for the second time this week.

The pregame narrative: The Oilers lost to the Canucks on Saturday and hope to avoid a three-game skid as they welcome their divisional rivals to Rogers Place on Thursday. I’m backing Quinn Hughes and Leon Draisaitl to produce and am fading Jake DeBrusk.

Check out my Canucks vs. Oilers props for Jan. 23.

Canucks vs. Oilers prop picks

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Best bet: Draisaitl over 2.5 shots (-143)

I’ve been on this bet a few times and it’s been printing me money, so I’m going back to the well.

The two-headed monster in Edmonton has shrunk to one with the suspension of Connor McDavid. Draisaitl has been up to the task.

The German sniper has six points in his last three games, including nine shots on goal over that stretch.

The Oilers have been firing pucks on net this season. They rank second in the NHL with 31.9 shots per game.

Draisaitl ranks in the top 20 among all NHL players with 3.17 shots/game.

Key stat: Draisaitl has cleared this line in eight of his last 10 games.

Quick picks

DeBrusk under 0.5 points (-165): Throughout his career, DeBrusk’s strongest ability has been his goalscoring.

DeBrusk paces the Canucks in goals (17) but has been on a cold stretch lately, with just three in his last 18 games.

The Oilers’ defensive numbers have been impressive this season, making this pick all the more enticing.

• 7th in goals allowed/game: 2.74
• 4th in shots allowed/game: 26.1

Vancouver has the second-lowest shots on goal per game (25.3), ahead of only the Chicago Blackhawks.

According to Natural Stat Trick, the Canucks are second-worst in high-danger chances per 60 (9.6).

Hughes over 0.5 power-play points (+165): Hughes is the backbone of the lacklustre ninth-place Vancouver Canucks.

His team ranks among his Canucks teammates:

• 1st in points (51)
• 1st in assists (39)
• 1st in time in ice (25:21)
• 1st in plus-minus (+11)

Despite Vancouver’s woes, their T13th-ranked power play has been sufficient — and it’s led by the reigning Norris Trophy winner.

Hughes paces all Canucks in power-play points (20) and ice time (3:44/game). He has eight more power-play points than the next Canucks player.

Picks made at 2:10 p.m. ET on 01/23/2025.