NHL Preview & Picks – January 20th, 2022

We only have two games taking place across the NHL tonight. I’ll break down both matchups and offer my best bets along with a few player props to take a look at.

Game Previews:

Ottawa Senators @ Pittsburgh Penguins

• Time: 7:00 PM ET
• Ottawa Senators: 20-21-3, 7th Atlantic (18-11-2 Away)
• Pittsburgh Penguins: 22-15-7, 5th Metropolitan (12-5-4 Home)

These teams faced off two nights ago when Ottawa defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins 5-4 in OT. Brady Tkachuk led the Senators in points with 4 while Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby each had 3 for the Penguins.

Ottawa ended their two-game losing streak against the Penguins in their last game. They have been in a slump lately winning just two of their last six games.

Just like the Senators the Penguins are in a slump losing seven of their last ten games. Casey DeSmith has handled the majority of the workload with Tristan Jarry out and has not been good at all. However, Jarry will make his first start tonight since January 2nd after suffering a lower-body injury.

OTT: C. Talbot (11-12-1), 2.91 GAA, .903 SV%

PIT: T. Jarry (15-5-4), 2.75 GAA, .918 SV% [CONFIRMED]

Colorado Avalanche @ Vancouver Canucks

• Time: 10:00 PM ET
• Colorado Avalanche: 23-17-3, 4th Central (11-8-3 Away)
• Vancouver Canucks: 18-23-3, 6th Pacific (10-12-2 Home)

Vancouver defeated Colorado earlier this season 4-2. Oliver Ekman-Larson and Elias Petterson led the way for the Canucks with two points a piece.

After a slow start to the season due to injuries, the Avalanche are relatively healthy and on a three-game win streak. During that span, they’ve outscored opponents 17-4. They’re still without Landeskog and Manson but are expected to get them back next month.

The Canucks on the other hand are in a bit of a slump losing eight of their last ten games. One of their wins during that span was against Colorado. Vancouver has been able to produce offensively but has struggled defensively with the injury to Thatcher Demko.

COL: A. Georgiev (17-11-3), 2.69 GAA, .916 SV%

VAN: S. Martin (11-11-1), 3.89 GAA, .877 SV%

Pick(s):

• Pittsburgh Penguins in Regulation (+105) – DraftKings
  • Risk 0.25 to win 0.26 Units

The Penguins are just coming off a 5-4 OT loss against the Senators in their last game. Ottawa scored four goals on the power play in that game which is something they haven’t done all year. I’m expecting Pittsburgh to tighten things up tonight and not let the 3rd ranked power play have that many chances tonight.

Pittsburgh returns home where they’ve been much better with a 12-5-4 record. Ottawa while decent at home has a sub-.500 record on the road this season. The Senators’ home/away splits reflect that as they average almost a goal less per game away from home. The Penguins will also get Tristan Jarry back after suffering a lower-body injury earlier this month. I’m expecting the Penguins to come out with an inspired effort tonight where they take care of business in regulation.

• Colorado Avalanche (-135) – DraftKings
  • Risk 0.34 to win 0.25 Units

The Avalanche have yet to beat the Vancouver Canucks this season losing both of their matchups against them. However, the momentum has switched to Colorado who’s on a three-game winning streak. Vancouver on the other hand has only won two of their last eight games. The Avalanche have recently got some key players back while Vancouver is still without their number-one netminder.

Colorado has much better numbers at home this year despite the minimal disparity in their home/away record. Vancouver only has one win in their last seven games on the road and has allowed four or more goals against in four of those matchups. The Avalanche have scored at least four or more goals in each of their last three. Colorado’s offense looks to be hitting its stride and given the issues on Vancouver’s back end, I think they should be able to get their first win of the season against the Canucks tonight.

Lean(s):

• Pittsburgh Penguins/ Ottawa Senators Under 6.5 (-110)

Player Prop(s) to Target:

• Alex DeBrincat over 3.5 Shots on Goal (+110) – DraftKings/ FanDuel
  • Alex DeBrincat has gone over this number in four of his last five games. During that span, he’s averaging 3.6 shots on goal and 6.2 shot attempts per game. On the road, he’s recorded over 3.5 SOG in four of his last five. The Penguins rank 26th in shots on goal allowed per game averaging 33.5. At home, that number increases to 34.2. In their previous matchup against the Penguins this season, DeBrincat recorded 4 shots on goal on 6 shot attempts.

• Thomas Chabot over 2.5 Shots on Goal (-115) – DraftKings
  • Thomas Chabot has recorded over 2.5 SOG against the Pittsburgh Penguins in nine of his eleven career matchups. In their previous matchup against the Penguins this season, Chabot recorded 4 shots on goal on 6 shot attempts.  The Penguins rank 26th in shots on goal allowed per game averaging 33.5. At home, that number increases to 34.2. They also give up the 4th most shots on goal per game to Defensemen.

• Evgeni Malkin over 2.5 Shots on Goal (-155) – DraftKings
  • Evgeni Malkin has gone over this number in four of his last five games. During that span, he’s averaging 4.6 shots on goal and 7.8 shot attempts per game. At home, he’s recorded over 2.5 SOG in three of his last four. The Senators rank 18th in shots on goal allowed per game averaging 31.5. On the road, that number stays the same. In their previous matchup against the Senators this season, Malkin recorded 4 shots on goal on 7 shot attempts.

• J.T. Miller over 2.5 Shots on Goal (-118) – Caesars
  • J.T. Miller has gone over this number in four of his last five games. During that span, he’s averaging 3.6 shots on goal and 6.2 shot attempts per game. At home, he’s recorded over 2.5 SOG in each of his last five. The Avalanche rank 21st in shots on goal allowed per game averaging 32.0. On the road, that number increases to 34.1. In their previous matchup against the Avalanche this season, Miller recorded 3 shots on goal on 4 shot attempts.

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