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Top 3 NHL Best Bets, Odds, Picks & Predictions: Thursday (1/26)

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We have a loaded nine-game slate of hockey on Thursday with some great matchups. Below, I give out my three best bets for Thursday’s NHL slate.

Check out our other top picks for Thursday:

Today’s Best NHL Bets

Follow me on Twitter to get all my plays on days without full write-ups.

Buffalo Sabres (+160) @ Winnipeg Jets (-185) | O/U 6.5 (-115/-105)

The Central Division’s Winnipeg Jets host the Atlantic Division’s Buffalo Sabres in what should be an exciting matchup on Thursday. Buffalo is finally fully-healthy again, which has resulted in its current four-game win streak.

This win streak should continue with the brilliant young netminder, Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, slated to take the crease for the Sabres. Luukkonen’s surface-level stats are deceiving, posting a .897 save percentage (SV%) and 3.34 goals against average (GAA) through 19 starts this season.

However, his recent play is more telling of the caliber of goaltender Luukkonen is developing into. Over his last five starts, he is 4-1 with a .915 SV% and 2.81 GAA.

This stellar play should continue against Winnipeg, a team Luukkonen boasts a .919 SV% against through two career starts. Additionally, Luukkonen should receive plenty of goal support as the Sabres are tied for first in the league in goals scored per game.

While the Jets boast a stronger defense and strong goaltender in Connor Hellebuyck, the price is too long on Buffalo at +160.

Best Bet: Sabres ML (+160 via DraftKings Sportsbook)

St. Louis Blues (-165) @ Arizona Coyotes (+135) | O/U 6.5 (-120/-103)

Another underdog to back on Thursday is the Arizona Coyotes, who host the St. Louis Blues in Thursday’s nightcap. More than anything else, this play is a fade of the Blues, who should not be laying -165 on the road against anyone.

At 5-on-5, St. Louis ranks just 27th in the league in expected goals for per 60 minutes (xGF/60) and 24th in expected goals against per 60 minutes (xGA/60). Backing up this inefficient team is goaltender Jordan Binnington, who has struggled mightily this season.

Through 37 starts, Binnington possesses a .891 SV%. Based on his metrics, positive regression is unlikely for the Blues’ netminder as he ranks 24th among starting goaltenders in goals saved above expected per 60 minutes (GSAx/60) at 5-on-5.

To make matters worse for the Blues, injuries are starting to pile up as they are expected to miss Robert Bortuzzo, Ryan O’Reilly and Pavel Buchnevich for this contest. They could struggle mightily to score against goaltender Karel Vejmelka, who is slated to start between the pipes for Arizona. Through 34 appearances in the crease, Vejmelka boasts a .904 SV%. Among starting goaltenders, he ranks 13th in GSAx/60 at 5-on-5.

On home ice with the better goaltender and only marginally worse efficiency at even strength, back the Yotes to pull off the upset.

Best Bet: Coyotes ML (+135 via Barstool Sportsbook)

Boston Bruins (-110) @ Tampa Bay Lightning (-110) | O/U 6 (-120/+100)

In the best game of Thursday’s slate, there is an Atlantic Division tilt with the third-place Tampa Bay Lightning hosting the first-place Boston Bruins. For this contest, we are targeting superstar winger David Pastrnak to find the back of the net once again.

Pastrnak has been a goal-scoring machine all season, particularly recently. Entering this contest, he has scored 12 goals over his last 10 games, a trend that is likely to continue against a Lightning team that is most vulnerable at the blue line.

At 5-on-5, the Bolts rank just 20th in the league in xGA/60. Backing up this struggling defense is all-world goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy, who is projected to start between the pipes for Tampa Bay.

That said, Vasilevskiy has not been in his sharpest form lately, as he has allowed three or more goals in six of his last nine outings. Pasta has been a never-ending pain in the butt for the Bolts, scoring 20 goals in 29 career outings against them.

Best Bet: David Pastrnak 1+ Goals (+107 via Barstool Sportsbook)

Best of luck!

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Tony Sartori is a featured writer at BettingPros. For more from Tony, check out his archive and follow him @tony_sartori.