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.
