NHL Best Bets and Betting Picks: January 11th
Happy Thursday to everyone out there in the sports betting space, I hope your week has gone well to this point and everyone is keeping warm! Thursday in the NHL is one of my favorite days of the week because they are almost always jam packed slates with tons of action to lay on the books. With that mentioned we do have 13 games tonight and some of them got me real pumped up to dive into and wager on. In today's article you will find a pair of Money Line bets, and a game total bet and of course the Dog of the Day is back! If you like the rationale then tail the picks, if you don't feel free to fade as sometimes the best bets are the ones not taken!
- Season Record: 68-57-3
- Bankroll: +5.25 units
- Dog of the Day Record: 6-6 (+2.05 Units)
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**all bets are one unit unless specifically mentioned.
NHL Best Bets for January 11th
Calgary Flames at Arizona Coyotes
Home and road splits aren't everything when looking into betting a game but I will tell you this it certainly doesn't hurt your cause! The Coyotes have been one of the more surprising teams this NHL season as they were expected bottom feeders but now at the halfway point for most teams they are right in the playoff hunt. This is thanks to a 13-8 record on home ice in front of the college rink crowd and of course clutch goaltending from Connor Ingram. Ingram is leading the league in shutouts right now with 4 to go along with his GAA of 2.62 and record of 14-8 on the season. It's too early for confirmations but if he goes I am backing the Coyotes 100% against a Flames team that has allowed 3.43 goals per game on the road this season and has a record of 8-15 straight up on the Money Line. There's also the added bonus that the Coyotes are underdogs and at plus money, what a great night to root on the Yotes!
Pick: Arizona Coyotes Money Line (+100 on BetMGM)
Edmonton Oilers at Detroit Red Wings
When a game total hits 7 you get a bit nervous as a prospective over bettor but you also know you're in store for a hell of a contest and that's what we have today with the Oilers and Red Wings. Over the past 30 days each offense has hit another gear as the Oilers on the road are averaging 4 goals per game and the Red Wings at home are averaging 3.8 goals per game. Due to these trends and more overall seasonal ones the Red Wings have hit the over in 11 of 19 games this season and the Oilers in 10 of 18 games on the road. The goaltenders have yet to be announced but I will tell you this they better buckle up because each of these teams fly around the ice at all times and are front loaded with talent. Give me the over on 7 goals, I'm not scared one bit.
Pick: Oilers & Red Wings Over 7 Goals (-105 on Caesars)
Toronto Maple Leafs at New York Islanders
In the year of 2024 I can't believe I am saying this but sign me up for any game with Martin Jones in front of the cage for the Toronto Maple Leafs… This was a player I though had retired coming into the season but here is Marty with a 8-3 record, 1.97 GAA and .934 SV%! More recently he has won 4 straight games and has allowed just 3 goals on 106 shots during that span, the man is red hot. Combine that with the fact the Islanders defense isn't daunting anymore you have a recipe for a road team Money Line. The Islanders have allowed 3.6 goals per game over the past 30 days at home and are sliding down the standings losing 6 of their last 10 games. The Islanders love to play overtime though so Puck Lines and regulation lines are tricky but the Maple Leafs have plenty of value just straight up on the Money Line so let's hit that.
Pick: Toronto Maple Leafs Money Line (-125 on BetMGM)
DOG OF THE DAY
Ottawa Senators Money Line vs Buffalo Sabres (+110 on DraftKings)
Player News
Orioles manager Brandon Hyde told reporters that Zach Eflin (lat) is likely to return and start Sunday against the Angels
It was assumed that Eflin would be back this weekend, but now we have a concrete date. The 31-year-old may not be at full strength after throwing fewer than 60 pitches in his rehab start, but the Orioles feel confident enough to have the right-hander back on the bump for the series finale against the Angels.
Riley Greene is not in the lineup for the first game of a doubleheader against the Rockies on Thursday.
Greene will get a break and likely return to the lineup for the second game of the twin-billing. Zach McKinstry will get the start in left field while Greene rests.
Panthers released TE Jordan Matthews.
Matthews converted to tight end a few years ago and hasn’t made much noise at the position. The change has, however, likely kept him in the league for a few more seasons. He appeared in four games with the Panthers last year but didn’t record any stats on offense. The Panthers also released or waived WR Dax Milne, C Andrew Raym, and TE Colin Granger.
Yu Darvish (elbow) is facing live hitters on Thursday.
Darvish has been throwing bullpen sessions and traveled to the team’s complex in Arizona to face live hitters on Thursday. It will be his first time facing live batters since a spring training appearance on March 13th. He will likely need a few sessions like this before the Padres can map out a rehab appearance timeline for him.
Adael Amador is starting at second base and batting ninth for the Rockies on Thursday.
Amador has now started three of the last four games at second base for the Rockies. He’s gone just 7-for-43 this season with 15 strikeouts in 16 games. He’s just 22 years old, so there is plenty of time for him to adjust to the MLB level, but he doesn’t need to be on redraft radars right now.
Jackson Holliday is playing second base and batting second for the Orioles on Thursday against the Twins.
With Cedric Mullins sitting out on Thursday, Gunnar Henderson will bat lead off, and Holliday will jump up from sixth in the order to second. Holliday is riding a hot streak right now, and the Orioles are taking advantage. This is likely just a one-game sample with no Mullins or Adley Rutschman in the lineup, but Rutschman has been struggling, so perhaps it could become a more permanent spot in the lineup for Holliday moving forward.