Top NHL Odds, Picks & Predictions: Sunday (1/7)

The NHL is in mid-form! Let's highlight a few key games for today, Sunday, Jan. 7.

Our NHL Prop Bet Cheat Sheet assists bettors by comparing lines from leading sportsbooks with our daily projections >>

Sunday's NHL Best Bets

(Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook)

Detroit Red Wings (-162) at Anaheim Ducks (+134) | O/U 6.5 (-132/+108)

The Red Wings started the season hot, and that's what keeps their record looking good because they have been awful recently. They are coming in 5-9-1 in their last 15, but the team has been missing players during that period, and they are starting to get healthy. This includes Alex Lyon, who is an upgrade to a struggling Detroit defense.

Lyon & Co. won't have much competition against the Ducks, who are 29th in goals scored per game and 25th in expected goals. What will give Anaheim a chance is John Gibson between the pipes. He has a solid 2.97 goals allowed and 5.4 goals saved above expected.

The goaltending matchup is important in today's game. Don't expect much from the Ducks, but the Wings have some troubling metrics including being 28th in expected goals for. This could be a low-scoring one in Anaheim and getting it at plus value makes it for a great return

Pick: Under 6.5 Total Goals (+108)

Winnipeg Jets (-142) at Arizona Coyotes (+118) | O/U 6.5 (-138/+112)

The Jets are coming into this game scorching hot by going 7-0-1 in their last eight. There have been a few forwards playing well, including Vladislav Namestnikov (ten points), Nikolaj Ehlers (nine points), Nino Niederreiter (five goals), and Gabriel Vilardi (six goals) over the last ten games. Most importantly, Connor Hellebuyck is playing like a Vezina Trophy candidate with a 2.28 GAA and a .921 save percentage.

The Coyotes, earlier in the season, put up three goals against Hellebuyck in the losing effort, which could be encouraging. They haven't had much success offensively, scoring 2.97 goals per game, so the chances of that happening again are slim. Another disadvantage is they won't have Connor Ingram between the pipes, who has been their best goalie, allowing 2.61 GAA and a .916 save percentage.

With Ingram playing, this could have been a trap game, but the Jets should keep cruising.

Pick: Jets 60-Minute Moneyline (+110)

Los Angeles Kings (-176) at Washington Capitals (+146) | O/U 5.5 (-114/-106)

Every good team goes through a bad stretch; very rarely does any championship contender have a smooth ride throughout the regular season. The Kings are currently experiencing that, as they are 0-2-2 over their last four games. It was a tough stretch to play Vegas, Edmonton, Toronto, and then Detroit, but they did get two points out of it, and one of those losses was only by a goal.

The Capitals have had some good moments this year, but they've recently struggled by going 1-4-2 in their last seven. The offense is terrible at 30th in goals scored per game, and they are missing T.J. Oshie, along with defenseman Rasmus Sandin and goalie Charlie Lindgren.

They also may not have Alex Ovechkin, as he's questionable. This is a game where the Kings should regain some momentum.

Pick: Kings 60-Minute Moneyline (-120)