NHL Best Bets and Betting Picks: January 15th
Happy Monday and Martin Luther King Jr. day everyone! Hopefully you have a place of business that gives you today off so you can stay in and bet on some hockey all day long! This is the PSA, the first game starts at noon ET but many games also drop the puck at 1pm ET so be ready! In today's article there is no Dog of the Day (not forcing bets) but there is a pair of Money Line wager and a game total to check out! 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: 72-61-3
- Bankroll: +4.85 units
- Dog of the Day Record: 6-8 (+1.05 Units)
Follow me on twitter @jwaggs10
**all bets are one unit unless specifically mentioned.
NHL Best Bets for January 15th
New York Islanders at Minnesota Wild
I must say it really pains me that this pick came up with a edge through the model because I hate the Islanders this season and have gotten burned betting on them and against them all season long. But numbers are numbers and they don't lie so here we go, the Islanders are in almost every game they play as they've gone to overtime in 15 games this season. They've been a pesky team scoring 3.02 goals per game but the matchup is good and this pick is more about fading the Wild than anything else. Minnesota has now lost 8 of their last 10 games and has sunk to a -23 goal differential on the season. They've become one of the worst teams in Corsi metrics and xGF over the past month and have some key injuries. I don't like the Islanders normally but when they shoe fits, you take the shoe on the Money Line to win the hockey game.
Pick: New York Islanders Money Line (-120 on BetMGM)
Seattle Kraken at Pittsburgh Penguins
It seems to me that this fantastic run of taking the Kraken to win has come to an end this afternoon as they get set for a matinee against the Penguins. I like the Kraken a lot moving forward I just think this is a troublesome matchup for them as the Penguins dominate puck possession and produce scoring chances at a top rate. The Kraken have also struggled with top tier defenseman this season and with Kris Letang and Erik Karlsson they will have their hands full. The Penguins also have a locked in Tristian Jarry back in the net after some time away and has stopped 51 of the last 54 shots he's faced. I also like the under for what it's worth so there may be a same game parlay to be had but for this matchup I will throw my bet down on the Money Line of the Penguins side.
Pick: Pittsburgh Penguins Money Line (-140 on BetMGM)
Colorado Avalanche at Montreal Canadiens
The Avalanche are a runaway train on offense right now and I am here for it! They have scored 4+ goals in 5 of the last 6 games in which 5 of those games during that span did go over as well. They've also been bad defensively on the road allowing 3.7 goals per game over the past month which has the antenna up for an over the game total bet! Its a crowd pleasing bet but one that takes discipline so let's look into Montreal. The Habs have allowed 3.55 goals per game on home ice this season, the 5th most in the NHL and are scoring 2.55 goals per game. Safe to say we shouldn't rely on the Habs to cover their end past 2 goals but I do feel that 5 or more is in the cards for the Avs tonight. It will be tight but over 6.5 goals is the play in this game, no doubt.
Pick: Avalanche & Canadiens Over 6.5 Goals (-115 on BetMGM)
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.