Category: NHL

Five games are on tap in the NHL on Wednesday night.

The pregame narrative: The Utah Hockey Club hope to avoid a three-game skid when they host the Pittsburgh Penguins. I’m backing Barrett Hayton to pick up a point against a struggling defence. I also have player props on Jonathan Marchessault and Sam Bennett.

Check out my NHL prop picks for Jan. 28.

NHL prop picks

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Best bet: Hayton over 0.5 points (+140)

I’m fading Pittsburgh’s defence and goaltending more than anything with this pick.

It’s been a rough season for the Pens as they rank towards the bottom in most defensive categories.

• 31st in goals allowed/game: 3.6
• 29th in shots allowed/game: 30.9
• Fourth-most high-danger goals against per 60: 1.65, according to Natural Stat Trick

After a sluggish start to the season, Hayton has picked up his game since the new year with 10 points in 12 games.

These teams met on Nov. 23, where Utah came out on top in a 6-1 bloodbath.

Key stat: Hayton has recorded six points in the last four games.

Quick picks

Bennett over 2.5 shots (+120): Bennett’s Panthers take on the Los Angeles Kings in a tough matchup. Los Angeles has been one of the more dominant teams on the defensive side this season.

Normally, this would be a classic fade spot, however, Bennett’s play has been encouraging lately so I’m backing him.

He’s cleared this mark in seven straight contests and eight of his last 10.

The Panthers also rank third in the NHL in shots on goal per game (31.1).

Marchessault over 2.5 shots (-130): I’m riding another hot hand known for shooting a ton.

Marchessault is one of only 10 players who have recorded 2,000 shots on goal since the 2016-17 NHL season, per Statmuse.

Despite the lack of offence this season, Nashville still shoots the fifth-most in the league (30.2 shots/game).

The former Golden Knight has cleared this mark in five straight games and eight of the last nine.

Picks made at 11:30 a.m. ET on 01/29/2025.

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The New York Rangers host the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday night.

The pregame narrative: Carolina aims to extend its win streak to three against the divisional foes. I’m backing Mikko Rantanen and Adam Fox in the shots department while fading Chris Kreider.

Check out my Hurricanes vs. Rangers props for Jan. 28.

Hurricanes vs. Rangers prop picks

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Best bet: Rantanen over 2.5 shots (-136)

Rantanen did just about everything but find the scoresheet in his game first with the Hurricanes.

The Finn had five shots in 18:54 and a +1 rating in the 3-2 overtime loss to the New York Islanders on Saturday.

I love his matchup tonight against the Rangers who rank T28th in shots allowed/game (30.9).

New York is known to be a little careless in its own zone this season. They allow the third-most high-danger chances per 60 (12.86), per Natural Stat Trick.

Everyone knows Rantanen’s star power. But it’s always nice to make a good impression in a new setting — which is why he should smash this mark tonight.

Key stat: Carolina ranks No. 1 in shots per game (32.0).

Quick picks

Fox over 1.5 shots (-118): The Hurricanes have a hard-nosed defence led by head coach Rod Brind’Amour, but I’ve liked what I’ve seen out of Fox’s play lately.

The former Norris Trophy winner has a combined nine shots in his last two games, and cleared this line in three of five, with five points over that stretch.

His shooting percentage has been a career-low this season (3.6%), with 37 of his 40 points coming via assist. He’s shown more promise lately with his amount of shots increasing.

The Rangers also rank seventh in shots per game (30.0).

Frederik Anderson is in goal for Carolina and has been lights out this season (5-1-0, 2.15 GAA). New York will have to pepper him early and often to throw him off his game.

Kreider under 0.5 points (-148): Kreider is having a season from hell, with trade rumours being circulated around him for months now.

The 33-year-old has just 17 points in 41 games and is on pace for the lowest offensive output (28 points) since his rookie season.

The Hurricanes rank in the top 10 in every major defensive category. And as previously mentioned, have a hot goaltender in the crease tonight.

Picks made at 3:20 p.m. ET on 01/28/2025.

The Calgary Flames welcome the Washington Capitals in town on Tuesday night.

The pregame narrative: The Flames try to stay in the Western Conference playoff hunt, going up against one of the league’s best teams. I’m fading Blake Coleman and Connor McMichael while backing Alex Ovechkin.

Check out my Capitals vs. Flames props for Jan. 28.

Capitals vs. Flames prop picks

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Best bet: McMichael under 1.5 shots (+110)

I’m going back to the well with this pick, and at plus-money, it seems like a steal.

This bet hit last Tuesday against the Edmonton Oilers when McMichael recorded one shot on goal.

With all of the Capitals’ offensive success this season, they only average 27.3 shots per game (23rd in the NHL).

McMichael is having a breakout year, already setting a new career high in points (36) just over halfway through the campaign.

The Ajax native plays alongside Ovechkin, diminishing his shooting opportunities, a trade-off I’m sure he’s more than willing to accept.

Key stat: This bet has cashed in seven of the last eight games.

Quick picks

Ovechkin over 0.5 points (-165): I’m willing to take Ovechkin’s point line at this price, considering it probably won’t last.

The Great 8’s shooting numbers are down this season. However, he still has 22 goals in 33 games with a shooting percentage well above his career average (18.5%).

The Capitals offence as a whole has been lights out this year.

• 3rd in goals/game: 3.49
• T10th in power play: 22.6%
• 1st in shooting percentage: 12.8%
• 3rd in high-danger goals/60: 1.66, according to Natural Stat Trick.

The three-time Hart winner has eight points in his last six games versus the Flames.

Calgary’s penalty kill is fourth-worst in the league (71.2%), making this pick all the more enticing.

Coleman under 0.5 points (-141): Logan Thompson is the confirmed starting goalie for Washington tonight. That’s not ideal for anyone on the Flames roster.

Thompson hasn’t allowed more than two goals in a game in five straight outings, and he’s improved his record on the year to 22-2-3. He has played a large role in the Capitals’ Presidents Trophy run.

Coleman has 26 points in 48 games this season, playing on Calgary’s second line and second power-play unit.

He hasn’t fared well against the Caps in his career, just seven points in 17 games.

Picks made at 12:20 p.m. ET on 01/28/2025.

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NHL fans are treated to eight games on Tuesday night.

The pregame narrative: The Tampa Bay Lightning host the dreadful Chicago Blackhawks and I’m backing Tampa’s best player, Nikita Kucherov, to produce on the power play. Elsewhere, I have prop picks on Martin Necas and Brandon Montour.

Check out my NHL prop picks for Jan. 28.

NHL prop picks

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Best bet: Kucherov over 0.5 power-play points (-157)

This is my bread-and-butter prop pick that I refuse to steer away from, no matter how juicy the odds get.

My last Kucherov pick was on Friday, when the Russian superstar recorded three points — all on the man advantage — against this same Chicago squad.

The 31-year-old is now up to 73 points on the season, including 30 on the power play, and he’s showing no signs of regression.

Chicago allows the third-most goals per game (3.45) and the most high-danger goals per 60 (1.73), according to Natural Stat Trick.

Key stat: Tampa Bay’s power play ranks fourth in the NHL (27.9%).

Quick picks

Montour over 2.5 shots (-125): Since his 73-point campaign in 2022-23, Montour’s offensive production has taken a step back.

In the last two years, he’s recorded just 56 combined points. Despite his lack of points, the Kraken defenceman is shooting more in January.

In his last 10 games, he’s averaging 3.0 shots and 22:00 minutes with just one assist to show for it.

Anaheim allows the second-most shots per game (32.4) and expected goals against per 60 (3.57).

Montour has cleared this line in three straight games, tallying 11 shots in total over that stretch.

Necas over 0.5 power-play points (+240): Necas is off to a nice start with his new team.

In his two games with the Colorado Avalanche, he has two points (including one on the power play) and is averaging north of 22 minutes on the first line.

It’s been a seamless transition for the Czech native, and he finds himself in a plus matchup tonight.

The New York Islanders have the league’s worst penalty kill (68.3%).

Picks made at 10:40 a.m. ET on 01/28/2025.

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.