Category: NHL

The Washington Capitals visit a slumping Vancouver Canucks squad on Saturday night.

The pregame narrative: Alex Ovechkin keeps marching closer in his quest to top Wayne Gretzky’s goal record. I’m betting he adds to his lamp-lighter total on Sunday. Additionally, I’m bullish on Jakob Chychrun’s point prop in a plus matchup.

Check out my Capitals vs. Canucks props for Jan. 25.

Capitals vs. Canucks prop picks

Best bet: Ovechkin to score 1+ goals (+137)

Ovechkin being an elite goalscorer this late in his career is awe-inspiring.

The Great Eight continues to burn goaltenders with his wicked shot. He has 22 goals in 32 games despite fracturing his fibula earlier this campaign.

There’s been no discernable drop-off in his play since returning. Ovi has seven goals in 14 contests since coming back to the lineup on Dec. 28.

He found the net in his most recent contest and there’s reason to believe another marker is on the way.

The Canucks have one glaring weakness this season and that’s goaltending.

They own the second-worst save percentage (.881) in the NHL, according to Natural Stat Trick.

That’s something the NHL’s greatest goalscorer should be able to take advantage of.

Washington’s power play should present some issues for the Canucks in this contest. The Capitals have the 10th-ranked PP and Ovechkin’s lethal shot remains a staple of its success.

Bet on Ovechkin tickling some twine on Saturday.

Key stat: Vancouver has allowed 23 goals across its last six games.

Quick pick

Chychrun to score 1+ points (+100): Where Chychrun goes, offence follows.

Plus-minus has its limitations, but Chychrun is tied for sixth across the league in the category (+21). Simply put, good things happen offensively when he’s on the ice.

That’s something I care about when betting on a player to score a point.

I also care about point production and he’s supplying that, too. The rearguard has 32 points in 43 contests and has been very effective lately.

Chychrun has 11 points in 14 games over the last month of the season.

He skates on Washington’s top power play and is second on the team in ice time per game (20:50).

He’ll see plenty of action and should be able to take advantage of Vancouver’s miserable goaltending situation.

Picks made at 12:04 p.m. ET on 01/25/2025.

The Battle of Ontario renews on Saturday night when the Toronto Maple Leafs visit the Ottawa Senators in the nation’s capital.

The pregame narrative: Bobby McMann is thriving on Toronto’s power play and is a nice pick to record a point. Morgan Rielly, meanwhile, no longer skates on PP1 and is a fade candidate. Thirdly, I’m backing Claude Giroux to find the score sheet for Ottawa.

Check out my Maple Leafs props vs. Senators for Jan. 25.

Maple Leafs props vs. Senators

Best Bet: McMann to score 1+ points (-118)

McMann has been rolling since snapping a six-game pointless streak on Jan. 16 and it’s not difficult to see why.

The Maple Leafs winger was elevated to the team’s top power play. Toronto’s man advantage isn’t elite by any stretch (21.7%, T-15th), but this does provide McMann with an increase in offensively-friendly opportunities.

He’s playing with a trio of elite talent while up a man. McMann is chumming it up with Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner and William Nylander on PP1.

The matchup is worth highlighting, too, as Ottawa’s penalty kill isn’t anything special. The Sens rank an underwhelming 18th on the PK (78.3%).

McMann’s recent uptick in point production makes him worth backing at this price.

Key stat: McMann has four points in his last four games.

Quick pick

Rielly under 1.5 shots (-130): Rielly’s removal from PP1 makes him a quality fade candidate across the prop board.

The Maple Leafs blueliner isn’t having a particularly effective season offensively. He has 22 points in 49 contests and his outlook is diminished by the recent special teams shuffling.

No longer running point on the power play significantly dampens his chances of topping this prop. Rielly has recorded two-plus shots in just two of his last 10 games.

This wasn’t a line Rielly was clearing with much frequency even before the shake-up. Rielly has one shot or fewer in 27 outings this season.

Ottawa doesn’t surrender many pucks on goal. It’s ceding the 10th-fewest shots per game (27.2).

Giroux to score 1+ points (+100): Giroux isn’t the elite playmaker he once was, but he’s still capable of providing offence.

The versatile veteran has 30 points in 48 games. His production is up recently, as he has six points in his last eight contests.

Giroux’s placement in Ottawa’s lineup is what makes him an especially appealing pick. He plays with Brady Tkachuk and Shane Pinto on the second line while skating on the top power play.

Toronto is struggling to keep the puck out of the net, allowing three-plus goals in seven consecutive contests.

Picks made at 10:42 a.m. ET on 01/25/2025.