NHL Best Bets Today, 1/31: Picks, Predictions & Player Props - Friday

It's been a solid week of NHL Best Bets, and we have four games tonight to keep things rolling.
Despite the smaller slate, there are some elite players to target tonight, as we look to keep stacking up units!
NHL Picks, Predictions & Best Bets Today, 1/31
We had a very solid slate of NHL games yesterday and NHL Best Bets went 2-1, with both wins being at plus money!
Let's close out the week on a high note with a few more wins.
Predators vs. Sabres Prediction: Friday, January 31st
Filip Forsberg is, and always has been, a high-volume shooter. As usual, we see Forsberg in the top 10 of the league for shots on goal this season with 178 through 49 games, or 3.6 per game. While it's been a rough season for the Predators overall, Forsberg brings consistency every night, as we've seen over the last 10 games, where he has piled up 49 shots on goal.
This has been his calling card for years and it's not slowing down a decade into his career. As for tonight's matchup against the Buffalo Sabres, it shouldn't be slowing down either. Over the last month, the Sabres have allowed 59.9 Total Shot Attempts per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations, which is the 11th worst in the league.
For the Predators, they have generated 62.55 Total Shot Attempts in the same situations over the last month, which is the sixth-highest in the NHL. We have a team in the Predators who are using the pace on offense and the Sabres, who are allowing opposing offenses to pile up the attempts. It's a great spot for Forsberg to do his thing.
- Expert Predators vs. Sabres Picks:
- Filip Forsberg Over 3.5 Shots on Goal (-110 on DraftKings)
Blues vs. Avalanche Prediction: Friday, January 31st
After a huge trade last week, the new-look Colorado Avalanche offense has a good thing going with Martin Necas.
Right from the jump, they put him on the first forward line and the first power-play unit, which has led to four points and seven shots on goal in his first three games. I think all of that continues tonight and we see Necas get his first goal on his new team, in his first home game for his new team.
Over those three games, Necas has led the team with 16 High Danger Scoring Chances created, per NaturalStatTrick. He's always been great at driving to the net and that should be on full display tonight versus the Blues. Over their last five games, the Blues have allowed 1.48 High Danger Goals against per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations, which is the 11th worst in the league.
The Blues have been struggling on defense and Necas is good at precisely the thing the Blues are weak at. Simply put, Necas piles up the shots and will be in a good spot to grab his first goal on the Avalanche tonight.
- Expert Blues vs. Avalanche Picks:
- Martin Necas To Score a Goal (+220 on FanDuel)
- Martin Necas Over 2.5 Shots on Goal (-125 on DraftKings)
Best NHL Prop Bets & Other Picks Today, 1/31
- Dallas Stars 3-Way Money Line (+100 on FanDuel Sportsbook)
Player News
Blue Jays signed LHP Joe Mantiply to a minor league contract.
Mantiply was released by the Diamondbacks on July 2, and it took a bit for the former All-Star reliever to find a new home. He’ll head to Triple-A Buffalo to try and find that form — or at least a semblance of it — and could be an option for the Toronto bullpen at some point this summer. The Blue Jays will need to add him to the 40-man roster for that promotion to take place.
The Athletic’s Chad Graff believes Stefon Diggs (knee) will “likely open camp by working on the side until he’s cleared from his injury.
Diggs suffered a torn ACL in Week 8 of last season, but surprised during spring practices when he took the field in a limited capacity with the team. While he’s yet to be cleared for full football activities, Graff believes the encouraging spring we saw from Diggs may lead to some limited work to the side in camp while leaving the door open for Diggs to eventually participate in full closer to the end of camp. While opening the season on the PUP list, which would require him to miss a minimum of four games, remains a possibility, Diggs’ involvement in camp will be worth monitoring as the Patriots aim to get their WR1 back on the field.
Mariners optioned LHP Tayler Saucedo to Triple-A Tacoma.
Saucedo pitched in just one game in this stint with Seattle while firing a scoreless inning to end a 15-7 blowout. The 32-year-old will likely be back at some point this summer.
Mariners activated RHP Carlos Vargas off the paternity list.
Yankees claimed RHP Rico Garcia off waivers from the Mets.
Garcia was designated for assignment despite pitching well in his two outings with the Mets, so it’s not a huge surprise the 31-year-old saw interest on the wire. The Yankees will likely have him operate in low-leverage situations with the club.
Royals placed RHP Michael Lorenzen on the 15-day injured list with a left oblique strain.
The Royals won’t announce a corresponding move until after the break. Lorenzen will be out through the majority of July with a chance to return July 26 if there are no setbacks. Kansas City should give a timeline — and an update on who starts with Lorenzen out — in the coming days.