Expert NHL Best Bets and Predictions for Thursday, January 25
Last night was pure heartbreak. The Winnipeg Jets played a solid game and probably deserved to win, but they couldn’t find a way to beat Ilya Samsonov. The Chicago Blackhawks Team Total was too good to be true, and it’s such a shame because it felt good with how well Joey Daccord was playing in goal for the Seattle Kraken. However, tonight is a new night, and there are plenty of games across the league to choose from for my NHL best bets.
The Philadelphia Flyers come into Detroit on a three-game losing streak. Goaltending has been a massive issue for the Flyers in these three games. They have allowed a combined 18 goals in those losses. Sam Ersson has gotten the start in the last two straight games. Ersson will most likely get the nod once again tonight. In those last two starts, he has skated to a .846 save percentage with a 4.14 goals against average.
During the losing streak, the Flyers are allowing 6.00 goals against per game, and their penalty kill is at a horrendous 62.5%.
On the flip side, the Detroit Red Wings are 7-2-1 in their last 10 games. Their captain, Dylan Larkin, has been on fire in those games, scoring six goals with six assists.
Since the new year, the Red Wings have been scoring 3.30 goals per game and their power play has been clicking at 31.0%.
Alex Lyon should be getting the nod for the Red Wings tonight. In his last seven starts, Lyon is 6-2-1 with a 2.85 goals against average and a .919 save percentage.
I expect Detroit to keep it rolling on home ice tonight.
NHL Best Bets: Detroit Red Wings ML -125 (play to -140)
The New York Islanders have now played two games under their new head coach, Patrick Roy. Despite losing their last game, I thought the team played excellent. I believe they will keep the good vibes going as they head into Montreal tonight. This game has a little extra meaning to it as well. It’s always special when Roy returns to the city where he won two Stanley Cups, so the guys should play a little extra hard for him tonight.
Similar to the Flyers, the Canadiens are also on a three-game skid. A lot of that has to do with the inability to keep the puck out of their own net. In those three games, they have allowed 19 goals against and Sam Montembeault is getting his first start since allowing eight goals on 30 shots against on January 20th.
Montembeault is 2-2-1 in his last five games with a 3.69 goals against average and a .902 save percentage, but he isn’t the story of tonight’s game regarding goalies. Semyon Varlamov is expected to get his first start since January 2nd, when he was injured in Colorado. Varlamov is 6-4-2 with a .918 save percentage and a 2.78 goals against average.
The Islanders will continue playing inspired hockey under their new coach, and the Canadiens are currently in a bad slump. I like the Islanders to come out on top.
Bet: New York Islanders to win in regulation -105 (play to -115)
I’m aware this is a risky play, but the Ottawa Senators vibes are starting to turn a little bit. The Senators are 4-1-1 in their last six games, and they’re 2-0-0 since Shane Pinto has returned to the lineup.
Boston is coming off of a loss last night at home against the Carolina Hurricanes and are playing the second night of a back-to-back tonight in Ottawa. The Bruins have been playing almost as well as anyone in the NHL, but this is a good spot for the Senators.
Ottawa’s power play has been struggling lately, but the team is scoring the fourth-most goals per game in the NHL over the last 10 days, averaging 4.17 goals per game.
Joonas Korpisalo is 2-0-1 in his last three starts. He boasts a 1.62 goals against average with a .935 save percentage, so now is a good time to believe in the Senator’s goaltending.
I’ve believed in the Senators all season despite their horrendous start. if they find a way to win, this game could turn their season around.
NHL Best Bets: Ottawa Senators ML +114 (play to +100)
2023-24 record: 78–87 (-27.81 units)
