Jackson Kerbl

Eight games are on tap for Tuesday’s NHL slate.

The pregame narrative: The San Jose Sharks head into Nashville as one of the worst defensive teams in the NHL. I’m backing Predators forward Filip Forsberg’s shots prop along with Nikita Kucherov and Patrick Kane.

Check out my NHL prop picks for Jan. 21.

NHL prop picks

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Best bet: Forsberg over 3.5 shots (-130)

Forsberg has been a rock for Nashville since his rookie season.

He led the team in points last year (94) and is well on his way again this year, pacing the Preds with 42 points in 45 games.

One thing that’s decreased this season has been his shooting percentage.

Forsberg has only gone below 10.0% once in his career — back in 2020-21 (9.3%) — and is threatening to again this year (9.5%).

The percentage has dipped, but the amount of shots has not. He’s averaging 3.51 shots per game this year, which is well above his 3.14 career average from the 12 years prior.

The Swede has cleared this mark in four of the last five games, including 15 shots in his last two contests.

Key stat: The Sharks are tied for 31st in shots allowed per game (32.2).

Quick picks

Kucherov over 0.5 power-play points (-114): I’ve never seen a power-play point line at minus odds, but being that it’s Kucherov, it makes sense.

Kucherov is a wizard on the power play. In my opinion, he snaps the puck around with finesse and speed better than anyone in the NHL. It’s a pleasure to watch.

The Russian Rifle has picked three power-play points in the last three games and leads the Tampa Bay Lightning with 27 power-play points.

Montreal’s Sam Montembeault gets the start for the Habs, which is great news for the Lightning. Tampa avoids one of the hottest goaltenders in the NHL in Jakub Dobes (5-0-0, 1.55 GAA).

Kucherov has 43 career points against the Canadiens in 37 games.

Kane over 0.5 points (+100): After a slow start to the campaign Kane has come on strong.

Sixteen of his 30 points have come in the last 11 games. Before that, he suffered a nine-game pointless streak.

Kane plays on an all-American line with Andrew Copp and Alex DeBrincat that has picked up chemistry in the past few weeks.

The Red Wings take on the Philadelphia Flyers who allow the fifth-most goals per game (3.36) and own the 20th-ranked penalty kill.

Picks made at 11:50 a.m. ET on 01/21/2025.

The Carolina Hurricanes host the Vegas Golden Knights on Friday night.

The pregame narrative: Two of the NHL’s powerhouses square off, both looking to get back in the win column. I’m backing Pavel Dorofeyev to find the score sheet while fading Jack Roslovic. I also have a play on Alex Pietrangelo.

Check out my Golden Knights vs. Hurricanes props for Jan. 17.

Golden Knights vs. Hurricanes prop picks

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Best bet: Roslovic under 0.5 points (-162)

This game isn’t exactly a prop bettor’s dream, which is why I’m leaning toward an under as my best bet.

The Knights and Hurricanes are both top 10 teams defensively.

Roslovic surprisingly leads the Hurricanes in goals (17), despite a -4 rating and just over 14:00 minutes of ice time per game. Linemates Sebastian Aho and Seth Jarvis certainly play a factor in this.

The former first-round pick had a productive December, when he recorded 10 points on 25.0% shooting in 13 games.

Since then, he’s been ice cold.

Through eight games in January, Roslovic hasn’t found the score sheet and owns a -4 rating.

Roslovic is bound to break the streak with the talent around him, but tonight isn’t a promising matchup for him.

Key stat: In 12 career games against Vegas, Roslovic has recorded just two points.

Quick picks

Pietrangelo over 1.5 shots (-125): The shots on goal props have been good to me lately, so I’m sticking to them.

This has been Pietrangelo’s shots total all season, and I’m shocked it hasn’t increased given his recent play.

The Golden Knights’ defenceman has cleared this mark in five of the last six games.

Carolina’s defence is feisty, but I believe Vegas’ offence will give them a good fight.

The Knights rank fifth in shots per game (30.7).

Dorofeyev over 0.5 points (+128): Dorofeyev might be the best player you’ve never heard of.

The 24-year-old Russian has been on a heater in his first full season in the NHL.

He played just 47 games last year, recording 13 goals and 24 points. This season, in 44 games, he has 19 goals and 27 points.

Vegas recognized his talent and moved him to the No. 1 power play, where he’s potted eight of his 19 goals. He leads the Knights in PP tallies.

Dorofeyev has six points in the last two games, including three on the man advantage.

Picks made at 2:30 p.m. ET on 01/17/2025.

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A loaded 13-game Thursday NHL slate is capped off with the Edmonton Oilers facing the Colorado Avalanche.

The pregame narrative: Two of the hottest teams in the Western Conference duke it out in Denver in a primetime slot. I’m taking Connor McDavid to produce on the power play. I also have plays on Leon Draisaitl and Devon Toews.

Check out my Oilers vs. Avalanche prop picks for Jan. 16.

Oilers vs. Avalanche prop picks

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Best bet: Toews under 0.5 points (-159)

Toews has reached the 50-point mark in each of his last three seasons with Colorado. But he’s in jeopardy of hitting that mark this year.

The 30-year-old is on pace for just 40 points, which would be his lowest output since the 2020-2021 season.

Given the offensive prowess of linemate Cale Makar, it makes sense that Toews’ scoring has taken a hit. He’s still regarded as one of the strongest pure defencemen in the NHL, though, and his inclusion on Team Canada’s 4 Nations roster proves that.

In the past 13 games, Toews has gone pointless nine times but has a +12 rating and averages over 26 minutes of ice time.

Key stat: Toews has recorded just three points in nine games against the Oilers as a member of the Avalanche.

Quick picks

Draisaitl over 2.5 shots (-120): Get this number on Draisaitl while you still can.

The German has had three-plus shots in six of his last seven contests. And he’s missed the mark just four times in his last 17 games.

I suspect that Draisaitl’s shot prop will climb to 3.5 — or even 4.5 — in the next week or two.

Edmonton leads the NHL in shots per game (32.3) and has the eighth-best power play (25.0%), which creates more shooting opportunities for Draisaitl.

Colorado also allows the seventh-most shots per game (26.6).

McDavid over 0.5 power-play points (+130): I took this bet yesterday in Edmonton’s clash versus Minnesota, and I feel emboldened to go back to it tonight.

The Wild only took one penalty, but that’s all McDavid needed to bury a goal on the Oilers’ man advantage.

Colorado is the seventh-most penalized team in the league (6.9 minutes/game), and Edmonton’s power play has been lethal this season.

McDavid plays over three minutes per night on the man advantage and paces Oilers skaters with 19 power-play points.

Picks made at 4:10 p.m. ET on 01/16/2025.