NHL Odds, Picks & Predictions: Monday (1/12)

We’ve got a nice nine-game slate on the docket for this evening, including some great betting edges to pursue. Here are my favorites.

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Monday’s NHL Best Bets & Picks

New Jersey Devils @ Minnesota Wild

The Devils (22-21-2) come skidding into Minnesota to face the Wild (26-11-9), who remain one of the hottest teams in the NHL. New Jersey’s biggest problem is scoring, as they average only 2.56 goals per game; unfortunately for them, one of Minnesota’s biggest strengths is preventing goals, ranking third in fewest allowed per game at 2.65. The Devils will have Jacob Markstrom in net. In his last start, the 35-year-old ate all nine goals the Islanders poured in during their 9-0 drubbing. The Wild will counter with Jesper Wallstedt and his .926 save percentage and 2.28 GAA. There is a vast chasm between these two teams currently, so let’s take the puck line to start our week.

Pick: Wild -1.5 (+154)

Florida Panthers @ Buffalo Sabres

Welp. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. And the Buffalo Sabres (24-15-4) simply ain’t broke right now. They are 9-1 in their last 10 games, and while they play .500 hockey on the road, they are 14-5-2 at home. Florida (23-17-3) isn’t necessarily broke, but they certainly aren’t playing like the defending champs because of injuries and underperformance. The Sabres have covered the spread in seven of their last nine victories, an impressive feat for a team that looked helpless at the start of the season. In addition, eight of the last 10 H2H matchups have gone UNDER the total. I like the puck line better, but both are in play.

Pick: Sabres -1.5 (+220)
Pick: UNDER 6.5 (-119)

Nikita Kucherov Over 1.5 Points (+118)

There are few players with Nikita Kucherov’s consistency. He is in fourth place in points (65) with only Macklin Celebrini breaking up the regular three-headed points monster of him, MacKinnon, and McDavid. Kucherov also does it in bunches. He has scored 2+ points in 12 of his last 15 games, including eight in a row and four points against this same Flyers team two days ago. Comparatively, the odds on 2+ points for MacKinnon are -141, and for McDavid are -157. Kucherov is mispriced. Jump on it.