NHL Preview & Picks – January 19th, 2022

We have thirteen games taking place across the NHL tonight. There are several important matchups including Winnipeg/ Toronto, Boston/ New York, New Jersey/ Seattle, and Dallas/ Los Angeles. I break down a few of the matchups and offer my best bets along with a few player props to take a look at.

Game Previews:

Winnipeg Jets @ Toronto Maple Leafs

• Time: 7:00 PM ET
• Winnipeg Jets: 29-15-1, 1st Central (12-9-1 Away)
• Toronto Maple Leafs: 27-11-7, 2nd Atlantic (16-3-4 Home)

The Winnipeg Jets have been a tear lately winning eight of their last ten games. However, in their most recent game they lost to the Montreal Canadiens 4-1. They’ll face the Leafs tonight in their second game of a five-game road trip.

Toronto is coming off a come-from-behind win against the Florida Panthers where William Nylander was the OT hero. Murray struggled in that game allowing four goals on eight shots before Samsonov took over. Before that, they had dropped two straight games on the road.

WPG: C. Hellebuyck (22-11-1), 2.41 GAA, .924 SV% [CONFIRMED]

TOR: I. Samsonov (13-3-1), 2.24 GAA, .926 SV% [CONFIRMED]

Boston Bruins @ New York Rangers

• Time: 7:00 PM ET
• Boston Bruins: 35-5-4, 1st Atlantic (14-4-1 Away)
• New York Rangers: 25-13-7, 3rd Metropolitan (11-8-4 Home)

The Boston Bruins now have 74 points through 44 games holding a 13-point lead in the Atlantic Division. Last night, they defeated the New York Rangers 4-1 after being down in the first period. On no day’s rest, the Bruins are 5-1.

After a slow start to the year, the New York Rangers have found their groove winning six of their last eight games. They have only beaten the Boston Bruins once in their last five matchups.

BOS: J. Swayman (10-3-3), 2.35 GAA, .912 SV%

TOR: I. Shesterkin (20-7-6), 2.43 GAA, .918 SV%

New Jersey Devils @ Seattle Kraken

• Time: 10:00 PM ET
• New Jersey Devils: 29-12-3, 2nd Metropolitan (18-2-1 Away)
• Seattle Kraken: 26-14-2, 2nd Pacific (10-9-2 Home)

The Devils are currently on a five-game winning streak. They also have one of the best records on the road going 18-2-1.

Seattle has lost their last two games after winning eight games in a row. They’ve been outscored 9-3 during that two-game span.

NJD: M. Blackwood (6-3-1), 2.95 GAA, .895 SV% [CONFIRMED]

SEA: M. Jones (21-6-3), 2.84 GAA, .893 SV% [CONFIRMED]

Dallas Stars @ Los Angeles Kings

• Time: 10:30 PM ET
• Dallas Stars: 26-13-7, 2nd Central (14-8-4 Away)
• Los Angeles Kings: 25-15-6, 3rd Pacific (14-8-2 Home)

The Stars let up a three-goal lead against the San Jose Sharks last night that dropped them to 2nd place in the Central Division. With that loss, they have only won one of their last four games.

The Kings have had a few days off after losing to New Jersey at home on Saturday. That loss ended their three-game winning streak. On three days rest or more, the Kings are 1-0 this season.

DAL: S. Wedgewood (6-6-3), 3.19 GAA, .905 SV%

LAK: P. Copley (12-2-0), 2.59 GAA, .904 SV% [CONFIRMED]

Pick(s):

• Columbus Blue Jackets in Regulation (-105) – DraftKings
  • Risk 0.26 to win 0.25 Units

The Blue Jackets have been much better on home ice this season with a 10-14-1 record while Anaheim has been poor on the road going 4-15-4. Both of these teams have struggled lately with the Ducks dropping their last five and Columbus losing their last two. The Blue Jackets do have the advantage in net tonight which I believe will be the difference. John Gibson has allowed four or more goals in his last three starts.  Elvis Merzlikins, while not much better, has only allowed an average of three goals against in his last two. These are two of the bottom teams in the NHL but given the home/ away splits and netminder advantage, I like Columbus here.

• Los Angeles Kings (-135) – DraftKings
  • Risk 0.34 to win 0.25 Units

Both teams are coming off a loss but the Kings have a significant advantage in terms of rest. Dallas played a tough game against the Sharks last night while Los Angeles hasn’t played since Saturday. The Kings have been great at home this year while Dallas has had some struggles on the road.

• Carolina Hurricanes in Regulation (-110) – DraftKings
  • Risk 0.27 to win 0.25 Units

• Vegas Golden Knights in Regulation (-105) – DraftKings
  • Risk 0.26 to win 0.25 Units

• Washington Capitals in Regulation (-130) – DraftKings
  • Risk 0.33 to win 0.25 Units

Lean(s):

• Florida Panthers/ Montreal Canadiens Over 6.5 (-105) – BetMGM/ Caesars
• Dallas Stars/ Los Angeles Kings Under 6.0 (-115) – DraftKings
• Buffalo Sabres (-120) – BetMGM

Player Prop(s) to Target:

• Jeff Skinner over 2.5 Shots on Goal (-160) – FanDuel
  • Jeff Skinner has gone over this number in three of his last five games. During that span, he’s averaging 2.8 shots on goal and 6.0 shot attempts per game. At home, he’s recorded over 2.5 SOG in each of his last two. The Islanders rank 17th in shots on goal allowed per game averaging 31.1. On the road, that number increases to 32.1. They also give up the 9th most shots on goal per game to Left Wingers.

• Alex Tuch over 2.5 Shots on Goal (-143) – BetRivers
  • Alex Tuch has gone over this number in four of his last five games. During that span, he’s averaging 3.6 shots on goal and 4.8 shot attempts per game. At home, he’s recorded over 2.5 SOG in four of his last five. The Islanders rank 17th in shots on goal allowed per game averaging 31.1. On the road, that number increases to 32.1. They also give up the 12th most shots on goal per game to Right Wingers.

• Nino Niederreiter over 2.5 Shots on Goal (+110) – FanDuel
  • Nino Niederreiter has gone over this number in four of his last five games. During that span, he’s averaging 3.4 shots on goal and 5.6 shot attempts per game. On the road, he’s recorded over 2.5 SOG in four of his last five. The Blues rank 24th in shots on goal allowed per game averaging 32.4. At home, that number drops slightly to 30.5. They also give up the 2nd most shots on goal per game to Left Wingers.

• Connor McDavid over 3.5 Shots on Goal (-125) – BetRivers
  • Connor McDavid has gone over this number in each of his last five games. During that span, he’s averaging 5.8 shots on goal and 7.8 shot attempts per game. At home, he’s recorded over 3.5 SOG in four of his last five. The Lightning rank 12th in shots on goal allowed per game averaging 30.7. On the road, that number drops slightly to 30.1.

• Dylan Larkin over 2.5 Shots on Goal (-124) – BetRivers
  • Dylan Larkin has gone over this number in four of his last five games. During that span, he’s averaging 2.8 shots on goal and 5.8 shot attempts per game. On the road, he’s recorded over 2.5 SOG in three of his last five. The Golden Knights rank 11th in shots on goal allowed per game averaging 30.6. At home, that number drops slightly to 39.7. They also give up the 3rd most shots on goal per game to Centers.

• Kevin Fiala over 3.5 Shots on Goal (+106) – FanDuel
  • Kevin Fiala has gone over this number in four of his last five games. During that span, he’s averaging 4.6 shots on goal and 7.2 shot attempts per game. At home, he’s recorded over 3.5 SOG in four of his last five. The Stars rank 16th in shots on goal allowed per game averaging 31.0. On the road, that number increases to 32.5. They also give up the 10th most shots on goal per game to Left Wingers.

• Alex Iafallo over 2.5 Shots on Goal (-122) – FanDuel
  • Alex Iafallo has gone over this number in four of his last five games. During that span, he’s averaging 3.8 shots on goal and 6.2 shot attempts per game. At home, he’s recorded over 2.5 SOG in four of his last five. The Stars rank 16th in shots on goal allowed per game averaging 31.0. On the road, that number increases to 32.5. They also give up the 10th most shots on goal per game to Left Wingers.

• Alex Pietrangelo over 2.5 Shots on Goal (-114) – BetRivers
  • Alex Pietrangelo has gone over this number in four of his last five games. During that span, he’s averaging 3.4 shots on goal and 5.4 shot attempts per game. At home, he’s recorded over 2.5 SOG in four of his last five. The Red Wings rank 14th in shots on goal allowed per game averaging 30.9. On the road, that number increases to 32.2.

Best of luck, and as always you can find me on Twitter @GatorBetting and Instagram @Gator_Sports_Betting.