Top NHL Betting Picks for Thursday, January 13th (2022)
Another Thursday, another massive 11-game slate. Luckily, there are no postponements tonight. Unluckily, tonight’s matchups are extremely lopsided, with seven of the favorites posting a moneyline larger than -200. However, there are still some great betting angles to take advantage of tonight as I give out my best bets below.
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2022 Betting Record: 11-8-1, +5.34 units
Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook.
Compare odds from all major sportsbooks for today’s games >>
Montreal Canadiens (+145) vs. Chicago Blackhawks (-180), o/u 5.5
First of all, both of these teams stink – there is no getting around that. However, I think the Blackhawks have a big edge at home in this matchup catching the Habs on the second half of a back-to-back. Montreal has now lost four straight, including last night, where they got rolled over by Boston in a game where Montreal was outscored 5-1 and outshot 41-25. To make matters worse, Montreal’s starting goaltender Jake Allen left the game in the first period with a lower-body injury. The Habs will be forced to either play Sam Montembeault for the second straight night or recall Cayden Primeau from the taxi squad. Either way, this wrinkle favors the Hawks.
Aside from Montreal’s struggles, the Hawks have been playing better hockey since their embarrassing loss in Arizona. Winners of two straight over Vegas and Columbus, Chicago returns home after a rest day to take on the league’s worst team. Chicago not only has the advantage in net with Fleury projected to get the nod but the analytics advantage as well. While the two teams are neck-and-neck in the goal-scoring department, the Hawks have a sizeable advantage in 5v5 Expected Goals Allowed per 60 minutes (17th in the league compared to Arizona’s 28th ranking). Chicago has also dominated this matchup over the past few seasons, winning eight of the last 10 meetings against the Habs.
The main storyline in this game will be the call-up of Chicago’s top prospect Lukas Reichel. Chicago’s offense has been brutal recently, and Reichel should give them the immediate spark they need. After dominating in the AHL this season thus far, Reichel practiced today centering a line with Patrick Kane and Dylan Strome as his wingers. I think the United Center will be buzzing with this exciting call-up along with the team returning home on a two-game win streak against the league’s worst club.
Best Bet: Chicago Blackhawks -1.5 (+135)
New York Rangers (-125) vs. San Jose Sharks (+105), o/u 5.5
The Metropolitan Divison’s second-place New York Rangers make the journey west to take on the Sharks in tonight’s nightcap. New York’s season thus far has been inflated due to the Vezina-worthy performance of goaltender Igor Shesterkin, who is slated to miss this game due to COVID protocols. With Shesterkin out, the projected goalie matchup is Georgiev against San Jose’s Adin Hill. Both these backup goalies have similar numbers, statistically and analytically.
Looking for their fourth straight win tonight, I think that the Sharks will take advantage of New York missing Shesterkin. The Sharks have a big edge in the analytics department, posting a better 5v5 Expected Goals For and Allowed per 60 minutes than the Rangers.
The Sharks have been playing good hockey recently, and I think we are catching a good line with them as a home dog.
Best Bet: San Jose Sharks ML (+105)
All betting information was gathered from puckline.org and TopDown Hockey.
Best of luck tonight!
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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.