It’s been tough sledding on these picks to begin the week, if I’m being honest. However, I’m still banging the drum on NHL props today and still love the five-game slate.
Jesper Bratt should see more ice with Nico Hischier still out, the Kings’ offense will continue to struggle, and a late game could see some goals.
These are my three favorite NHL player props for Wednesday, January 29.
NHL prop picks and best bets for January 29
Bratt o2.5 SOG (+122 at FanDuel)
Kings team total u2.5 (-114 at FanDuel)- 🏒 Keller + Schmaltz + Crosby + Rust o0.5 points each (+350 at bet365)
Today’s NHL prop picks and best bets
Jesper Bratt Over 2.5 shots on goal (+122 at FanDuel)
Since December 28, the New Jersey Devils have had the same point percentage as the Chicago Blackhawks. It’s been an ugly 14-game stretch for New Jersey, which is without its top goaltender, and captain Nico Hischier will not play again today.
That means Jesper Bratt and the top line are going to be playing big minutes and could be chasing the game despite being a decent home favorite. Bratt totaled six shots (eight attempts) vs. the Philadelphia Flyers on Monday, and the winger has gone Over this mark four straight games.
His time on ice is going to get a boost, and a negative game script wouldn’t surprise me. With a second line of Dawson Mercer, Timo Meier, and Stefan Noesen, the Bratt/Hughes line is going to get all the good matchups as the home team.
Bratt’s Over 2.5 SOG market is on the rise as it was +130 this morning and could fall to +105.
Kings team total Under 2.5 (-116 at FanDuel)
The Los Angeles Kings might be getting Drew Doughty back tonight, but this offense has been in the dumps for a while now, and getting three goals on the road vs. the Florida Panthers is going to be tough.
The Kings have scored two or fewer goals in five straight games and own the worst shooting percentage in hockey over the last 10 games at 7%. That is not an outlier percentage as on the year, the Kings are shooting at a 7.5% clip, which also ranks dead-last. Low-scoring games have been their M.O. of late as the Kings have scored two or fewer goals in nine of their last 10 games but have collected seven points and seen closing totals of 5.
These two teams just saw each other two games ago, where the Panthers won 2-1 in L.A. Sergei Bobrovsky will get the start but both of Florida's goalies have been good of late so there are no concerns there. The main concern is Florida playing its first game back from the West Coast, but that could turn this game into another sluggish, low-event affair.
Clayton Keller + Nick Schmaltz + Sidney Crosby + Bryan Rust Over 0.5 points each (+350 at bet365)
The Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Utah Hockey Club game features the highest total of the night at a flat 6. The Pens have one of the league’s worst goalie situations and are playing the last game of a seven-game road trip. Utah can score tonight, and this top line is going to get a big run as the secondary scoring has been distant, which has led to some line changes in the middle six.
Utah’s offense will also get a big boost today with the return of heavy-minutes defenseman Mikhail Sergachev.
Speaking of secondary scoring, the Pens have none. Evgeni Malkin is out and the second line consists of Kevin Hayes, Anthony Beauvillier, and Michael Bunting. The Crosby line is going to see 20+ minutes yet again.
It’s an easy double-double stack of Clayton Keller + Nick Schmaltz + Sidney Crosby + Bryan Rust, but the triple-triple also correlates with adding Rickard Rakell and Logan Cooley to +750.
NHL odds today
Here are the full NHL odds for all of today’s matchups.
Not intended for use in MA.
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