The NHL continues its all-or-nothing schedule today with just two games on the card (13 yesterday and 15 tomorrow). It’s slim pickings for NHL player props but there is always something to bet on!
I like the Sabres to keep the offense rolling vs. the awful goalie stable in Pittsburgh, while the Hurricanes continue to be overvalued despite not even being a .500 team over the last 30 days.
These are my two favorite NHL picks for Friday, January 17.
NHL prop picks and best bets for January 17
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Tuch + Cozens + Rust + Rakell o0.5 points each (+800 at bet365)
Golden Knights TT o2.5 + Eichel o0.5 points (+115 at bet365)
Picks made on 1-17 at 12:30 p.m. ET.
Today’s NHL prop picks and best bets
Prop bet #1: Alex Tuch + Dylan Cozens + Bryan Rust + Rickard Rakell Over 0.5 points each
The Pittsburgh Penguins just waved their best goalie Tristan Jarry and will be relying on Alex Nedeljkovic and Joel Blomqvist down the stretch. It might be the worst goalie situation in hockey right now as neither tender has a GAA below 3.40 on the season. Pittsburgh has the No.30 GAA over the last 30 days and Buffalo is a great target for some line stacks.
Ryan McLeod has moved to the top line but it’s the Buffalo Sabres second line that I want to get greedy within a good matchup. Alex Tuch and Dylan Cozens correlate together on PP2 and across the ice, the stack of Bryan Rust and Rickard Rakell make this a double-double at +800 at bet365. H/T to follower Ryan Persaud on X for pointing out the great price. I’ll bet a half-unit on this play.
You can get cute and add in JJ Peterka and Sidney Crosby to boost this to +1,600, but the +800 for four points is the sweet spot in a game that is expecting scoring as the total has moved from 6 to 6.5.
Prop bet #2: Golden Knights team total Over 2.5 + Jack Eichel Over 0.5 points
I really think the Carolina Hurricanes are consistently overrated by the books/market. This team has been below .500 over the last 30 days and is struggling to be consistent in scoring and on the power play. The goaltending has been hit or miss, however, Freddy Andersen is returning, but it will be Pyotr Kochetkov tonight vs. the Vegas Golden Knights who are healthy now with the return of Jack Eichel.
Kochetkov has given up three goals in four straight starts and in six of his last seven. Carolina sits as a -165 home favorite with a total of 5.5 which means that Vegas' team total of 2.5 is at a decent place, paying -130 to the Over. It’s a good bet alone, but adding Jack Eichel for a point to the mix pushes it to +115 (adding Mark Stone is +165).
Coach Bruce Cassidy said he is going to mix lines up today so it’s safer just to add Eichel who is better than a point-per-game skater. If Vegas gets three or more goals, he will probably contribute.
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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