NHL fans are treated to a hefty ten-game slate on Thursday.
The pregame narrative: The Winnipeg Jets aim for their fifth-straight victory as they travel to Boston to take on the Bruins. I’m backing forward Gabriel Vilardi to record a point. Elsewhere, I have player prop picks on Connor Bedard and Pavel Dorofeyev.
Check out my NHL prop picks for Jan. 30.
NHL prop picks
Go to full NHL betting markets.
Best bet: Dorofeyev over 0.5 points (-159)
Dorofeyev failed to find the scoresheet when I took this bet last Friday, but I like him to bounce back in tonight’s matchup against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Here is how the Blue Jackets rank in some categories:
- T26th in goals allowed/game: 3.34
- 26th in penalty kill: 74.8%
- 27th high-danger chances/60: 12.6, per Natural Stat Trick
Dorofeyev played just 47 games last year, scoring 13 goals and 24 points. This season, in 51 games, he’s recorded 22 goals and 33 points.
The 24-year-old has made the most of his opportunity to be promoted to Vegas’ No. 1 power-play unit, where he’s potted 10 of his 22 goals. He leads the Knights in PP tallies.
Key stat: Dorofeyev has 12 points in his last nine games.
Quick picks
Vilardi over 0.5 points (-141): This Jets team has been buzzing lately with a scorching hot offence.
A big contributor has been Vilardi and his breakout season with Winnipeg.
The Kingston, Ont. native has already set a new career high in points, currently with 49, and is one goal shying from tying his previous record (23).
In just his second season with the Jets, Vilardi’s been promoted to the top forward line playing alongside Kyle Connor and Mark Scheifele.
Vilardi also plays on the first unit of the league’s No. 1 ranked power play, operating at a 32.6% success rate. He leads the Jets in PP goals with 11.
The former L.A. King has eight points in his last four games.
Bedard over 0.5 points (-132): The Blackhawks are finally starting to come around offensively over the past few weeks.
They scored 17 goals over their last five games, averaging 3.40 goals per game — compared to their 2.62 season average.
Bedard has been leading the charge with 18 points in the last 17 games with a shooting percentage of 18.4% over that stretch.
The former first-overall pick was held off the scoresheet in the last meeting between these teams on Jan. 20, setting up a classic revenge spot.
Picks made at 11:25 a.m. ET on 01/20/2025.
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